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Home Electrical Load Calculator

Estimate your home's electrical load and the service panel size (amps) it needs, using a simplified version of the NEC standard method.

How to use

  1. 1Enter the home's floor area and the major appliances you have.
  2. 2See the calculated load and the next standard service size.

How it's calculated

General lighting 3 VA/ft² + 2 small-appliance circuits (1,500 VA each) + laundry 1,500 VA; first 10 kVA at 100% and the rest at 40% (NEC 220.82 optional method), plus fixed appliances at their nameplate VA. Amps = VA ÷ 240 V.

Frequently asked questions

Is 100 A enough for a house?

Often not for modern homes with electric heating, EV charging or an electric range. 200 A is common for new single-family homes.

Does an EV charger need a bigger panel?

A 48 A Level 2 charger adds about 11.5 kVA; many homes need a load calculation, a load-management device or a service upgrade.

Can I size my service with this?

It's an estimate for planning. A licensed electrician must perform the official NEC load calculation.