Electrical Load Calculator

The Electrical Load Calculator estimates the total electrical demand for a residential home based on the NEC 2023 standard — useful for sizing a service panel or planning a new electrical installation. Enter your living space square footage, small appliance circuits, laundry circuits, and major appliances like an electric range, dryer, HVAC units, and EV charger to get your Total Calculated Load in VA. Secondary outputs break the result into General Load, Fixed Appliances Load, Major Loads, and a Demand Load with NEC demand factors applied.

sqft

Total living area, calculated at 3VA per sqft per NEC 2023

circuits

Minimum 2 circuits required (1500VA each) per NEC

circuits

1500VA per circuit

900VA load

1500VA load

1200VA load

fans

250VA per fan

units

Number of heating/cooling systems

VA

Nameplate rating (0 if not applicable)

VA

Nameplate rating (0 if not applicable)

7200VA load

Results

Total Calculated Load

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General Load

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Fixed Appliances Load

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Major Loads

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Demand Load (with factors)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum electrical service size for my home?

The minimum service size is determined by your calculated demand load. Most modern homes require at least 100-amp service, with 200-amp being common for homes over 2000 sqft or with significant electric appliances.

How is the general load calculated for living space?

General load is calculated at 3VA per square foot of living space according to NEC 2023. This covers lighting and general receptacles throughout the home.

What are demand factors and why are they applied?

Demand factors account for the fact that not all electrical loads operate simultaneously. The NEC specifies demand factors to prevent oversizing electrical services while maintaining safety.

Do I need to include every appliance in the calculation?

You should include all permanently connected appliances and major loads. Plug-in appliances are typically covered by the general load calculation unless they have significant power requirements.

What if my appliance nameplate rating differs from the default values?

Always use the actual nameplate rating from your appliances for the most accurate calculation. The default values are typical examples but actual ratings can vary significantly.

Can this calculator be used for commercial properties?

This calculator is designed for residential applications only. Commercial load calculations follow different NEC requirements and demand factors.

How often should electrical load calculations be updated?

Recalculate your electrical load whenever you add major appliances, HVAC systems, EV chargers, or make significant home additions that increase the electrical demand.