TryBuildCalc

All-Electric Home Panel Calculator (No Gas Appliances — Electric Heat + Electric Everything)

Size an all-electric home's panel.

Inputs

sq ft

ℹ️Outside-dimension floor area per NEC 220.82 — excludes open porches, garages, and unfinished/unused spaces not adaptable for future use.

ℹ️NEC 220.52(A) requires a minimum of 2 (1,500 VA each) — this calculator enforces that floor automatically.

ℹ️NEC 220.52(B) requires a minimum of 1 (1,500 VA) — this calculator enforces that floor automatically.

Fixed-in-Place Appliances

Include every permanently connected appliance — range, dryer, water heater, dishwasher, disposal, and similar — at full nameplate VA/watts. Don't include portable, cord-and-plug appliances.

Appliance 1

VA

Appliance 2

VA

Appliance 3

VA

Appliance 4

VA

Heating / Cooling

ℹ️NEC 220.82(C) uses only the larger of heating or cooling load, never both added together.

VA

ℹ️65% demand factor applies with fewer than 4 units; 40% applies with 4 or more, per NEC 220.82(C).

Cost

Enable Cost Estimation?

Recommended Service/Panel Size: 125A

From 27,630 VA total demand load at 240V (115.1A)

Load Breakdown (NEC 220.82 Optional Calculation)

General lighting + receptacle load (2,000 sq ft × 3 VA)6,000 VA
Small-appliance circuits (2 × 1500 VA)3,000 VA
Laundry circuit(s) (1 × 1500 VA)1,500 VA
Range8,000 VA
Dryer5,500 VA
Water Heater4,500 VA
Dishwasher1,200 VA
Subtotal29,700 VA
After demand factor (100% of first 10,000 VA + 40% of remainder)17,880 VA
Heating/cooling load (Electric Space Heating Only)9,750 VA
Total demand load27,630 VA

Service Sizing

Total demand current: 115.1A

Recommended standard service: 125A

Headroom above calculated demand: 9.9A (7.9%)

Assumptions Used

NEC 220.82 Optional Calculation for dwelling units — a single 120/240V or 208Y/120V service ≥100A. Heating and cooling loads are never added together, only the larger is used. This is a reference estimate — confirm with a licensed electrician before final installation.

Sizing an individual circuit's breaker next? Circuit Breaker Size Calculator →

Need the feeder or service wire size for this load? Wire Size Calculator →

Service Panel SizingUtility Service125ATotal Demand27,630 VAHeadroom9.9 ADiagram simplified for clarity (not to scale)

Looking for the verification checklist, reference tables, tips, or common mistakes?See the complete Electrical Load / Panel Size Calculator.

All-electric home service sizing

An all-electric home — electric space heating instead of gas, plus an electric range, dryer, and water heater — typically needs a larger service than an equivalent home with gas heat and appliances.

This page is pre-set to a fully electric mid-size home; edit the heating nameplate rating and unit count to match your actual equipment.

  • Electric space heating is usually the single largest load-driver toward a bigger service size.
  • The 65%/40% demand factor split depends on the number of separately controlled heating units/zones, not total heating capacity.
  • All-electric homes commonly need 200A or larger; run your actual numbers rather than assuming.

Panel Size Formula: How Is Service Size Calculated?

NEC 220.82 combines a general load subtotal (subject to one demand factor) with a separate heating/cooling load, then rounds the total current up to a standard service size.

Step 1 — General Load Subtotal

General Load = (Floor Area × 3 VA) + (Small-Appliance Circuits × 1,500 VA)

+ (Laundry Circuits × 1,500 VA) + Sum of Fixed Appliance Nameplate VA

Per NEC 220.82(B), general lighting/receptacle load, small-appliance and laundry circuits, and every fixed-in-place appliance (including range and dryer, at full nameplate VA) are all summed into one subtotal.

Step 2 — Apply the Demand Factor

General Demand = 100% of first 10,000 VA + 40% of the remainder above 10,000 VA

This single demand factor reflects that not every load in the general subtotal runs at full power simultaneously — it's applied to the general subtotal only, before the heating/cooling load is added.

Step 3 — Add the Larger of Heating or Cooling

Total Demand = General Demand + MAX(Heating Load, Cooling Load)

Per NEC 220.82(C), heating and cooling are never added together — only the larger of the two is included, since a dwelling's heating and cooling equipment isn't assumed to run simultaneously.

Step 4 — Convert to Current and Round to a Standard Size

Total Demand Current = Total Demand (VA) ÷ Voltage

Recommended Service = smallest standard size ≥ Total Demand Current

Standard dwelling service sizes (100, 125, 150, 200, 225, 300, 400A) come from what's actually manufactured and installed — the calculated current is always rounded up, never down.

Worked Example

This example walks through your current inputs above, using the same steps as the Formula section.

Input Values Used

InputValueWhy it is used
Floor Area2,000 sq ftSets general lighting/receptacle load
Fixed Appliances4 appliances, 19,200 VAAdded to general subtotal before demand factor
HVACElectric Space Heating OnlySets the heating/cooling load added after demand factor

Steps 1-2 — General Load and Demand Factor

CalculationResult
General load subtotal29,700 VA
After 10,000 VA / 40% demand factor17,880 VA
Heating/cooling load (Electric Space Heating Only)9,750 VA
Total demand load27,630 VA

Therefore, for 27,630 VA of total demand load at 240V (115.1A), you need a 125A service/panel.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides approximate results for planning and estimation purposes only. Actual requirements may vary based on site conditions, materials, workmanship, and local building regulations. Always consult a qualified engineer, architect, or construction professional before making final decisions.

FAQ

Electric space heating adds a substantial load that a gas-heated home simply doesn't have, and it's counted at a relatively high demand factor (65% for most homes) — this is typically the single biggest driver pushing an all-electric home to 200A or larger.
Not always — a smaller, well-insulated all-electric home can still fit 150A or even 100A. Calculate your actual floor area, appliances, and heating nameplate rather than assuming a fixed answer.