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Answer a few questions to diagnose your electrical issue in your area.
What electrical issue are you experiencing?
How much electrical capacity does your home actually need? If you're adding major appliances, considering an EV charger, or wondering if your panel can handle a renovation, you need to know your electrical load.
Most older homes have 100-amp or 150-amp service. Modern homes often have 200 amps. But the panel rating doesn't tell you how much you're using—or how much headroom you have for additions.
Our electrical load calculator helps you estimate your home's electrical demand. Understanding your load helps you plan additions, evaluate whether you need a panel upgrade, and ensure you're not overloading your system.
We estimate total load based on your electrical usage:
Know if your panel can handle new loads before you invest in equipment or start a project.
Overloaded panels trip breakers, overheat, and in worst cases, cause fires. Know your limits.
Panel upgrades cost $1,500-$3,000+. Know if you actually need one before spending money.
Electrical permits require load calculations. Having yours ready streamlines the process.
Mistake: Adding up all loads without demand factors
Solution: A 100-amp house might have 150 amps of potential loads—but they never all run together. Code allows demand factors for realistic calculations.
Mistake: Ignoring future needs
Solution: If you might add an EV charger, hot tub, or workshop in 5 years, factor that into current planning. Panel upgrades are easier during construction.
Mistake: Assuming panel size equals available capacity
Solution: A 200-amp panel with 150 amps of breakers already installed doesn't have 50 amps free—it depends on actual loads and demand factors.
Mistake: Not considering utility limitations
Solution: Your utility may limit service size based on their transformer and lines. A panel upgrade might require utility work too.
Load calculations should be verified by a pro when:
Most modern homes need 200-amp service. Smaller homes or condos might be fine with 100 amps. Larger homes with multiple AC units, EV chargers, or electric heat may need 300-400 amps (often split into multiple panels).
Upgrading from 100 to 200 amps typically costs $1,500-$3,000 for the panel work. If the utility needs to upgrade their service line or transformer, add $1,000-$5,000+.
Only if you have open spaces AND your calculated load allows it. An empty breaker space doesn't mean you can add load—you need headroom in your total amperage calculation.
Simply the maximum current available. A 200-amp service delivers twice the power of 100-amp. Modern homes with AC, electric dryers, and potential for EV charging typically need 200 amps.