How Many Amps Does A Space Heater Use [Know Easy Calculation]

You just bring a space heater in your home to boil the frigid conditions.  But you hesitate to plug it in a single circuit board. Using the same circuit board, you also operate your micro-oven. The circuit breaker may get tripped if you plug the space heater into it. 

So, you decide to run your heater using a separate circuit breaker. The problem is- you don’t know how many amps a space heater use. 

Well, you can easily figure out the amps your space heater requires. Just divide the watt power of your heater by its operating volt. Then, multiply it by 1.25 to determine what breaker size you need. 

For example, you get a 1500-watt space heater, and it requires 120-volt to run. So, amps this space heater will draw- 1500÷120=12.5. Indeed, a 1500-watt space heater draws 12.5 amps. 

If you want to determine what size circuit breaker you need to run this heater, just multiply 12.5 by 1.25. So, the equation will be 15.6. Indeed, you need a breaker of 15.6 to operate your 1500-watt space heater. 

How Many Amps Does A Space Heater Use

Here is a chart on the amps your space heater requires to operate based on its watt and volt. 

Watt of The Heater	@120-Volt	@208-Volot	@220-Volot	@230-Volot	@240-Volt
5000-watt Heater	41.6	24.03	22.72	21.73	20.83
2000-watt Heater	16.6	9.6	9.09	8.69	8.33
1500-watt Heater	12.5	7.21	6.81	6.52	6.25
750-watt Heater	6.25	3.60	3.40	3.26	3.12

According to this formula- Amps= Power ÷ Volt x 1.25

How Many Amps Does A 5000-Watt Heater Draw

Generally, it depends on where you live. If you live in Canada or the USA, a 5000-watt heater will be rated at 240 volts. In other words, you need 240 volts to run a 5000-watt heater. So, the amps in your heater will draw 20.83 amps (according to this formula- power ÷ volt). 

Now, let’s know how much it will cost to run a 5000-watt heater for 24 hours. The following formula will help you calculate the electricity bill. 

“Wattage x Hours ÷ 1000 x Price per kilowatt.”

5000 x 24 ÷ 1000 x 0.19= 22.8

Indeed, you need to spend $22.8 if you live in New York and run your 5000-watt heater for 24 hours. 

Note: The price of electricity may differ from state to state. You can check out this article to know the price based on different states. 

How Many Amps Does A 2000-Watt Heater Draw

Again, it depends on where you reside. In North America, 120v is the typical residential power. So, a 2000-watt heater will draw 16.6 amps. Indeed, you need at least a circuit breaker of 16.6 amps to operate a 2000-watt heater. But, it’s the lower amps level. So, we recommend you multiply the value by 1.25. 

Now, let’s know the cost of operating a 2000-watt heater in New York for 24 hours. It will cost you $9.12 to run the unit for a day. 

How Many Amps Does A 1500-Watt Heater Draw

In the USA, the standard power of every house is 120 volts. So, a 1500-watt heater will draw 12.5 amps. It means you need at least a circuit breaker of 12.5 amps to run the heater.

However, the limit will be reached quickly if you operate a few lights or tv on the same circuit breaker and the break gets tripped. 

So, multiply the amps value by 1.25. In other words, you need at least a circuit breaker of 15.6 amps. But the heck is- it would also be too small. So, get the next highest rating (20 amps) to operate the unit safely. 

And to operate a 1500-water for 24 hours in New York, you need to spend $6.84. 

How Many Amps Does A 750 Watt Heater Draw

A 750-watt heater at 120v will draw 6.25. It means a 750-watt heater requires at least a circuit breaker of 6.25 amps. 

To run a 750-watt heater for 24 hours in New York, you need to spend $3.42 from your wallet on electricity bills. 

FAQ:

How many amps does a 400w heater use?

A 400 watts heater uses 3.333 Amps on a 120-volt circuit breaker.

How many amps does a 1000-watt heater use?

A 1000-watt heater uses 8.33 Amps.

How many heaters can you run on a 20-amp circuit?

You can run a total of heaters that is the combination of 3,840 watts in a 20 amp circuit breaker. For instance, if you run 1000 watts heater, you will be capable of running 3 heaters. But, while using a 1500 watts heater, the number will be 2.

What size breaker do I need for a 1500-watt heater?

You will need a 15.6 amps breaker on a 120-volt circuit.

How many amps is a small space heater?

A small space heater coming with 1500 watts uses 12.5 amps and 1000 watts heater uses 8.33 amps.

How many watts can I run off a 20-amp breaker?

2400 watts on a 120-volt circuit breaker.

How many amps does a 3kw heater use?

13.04 amps. The calculation is 3000 ÷ 230=13.04 amps.

Do circuit breakers give off heat?

Conclusion

Depending on the power and volt, the amps your space heater uses will vary. For example, a 1500-watt heater will draw 12.5 amps at 120 volts. But the value will be changed if you run it at 230 or 240 volts. 

We recommend you hire a certified electrician to determine the amps of your heater and use a circuit breaker based on its requirements. 

Note: If you find your heater is not lighting or staying light and don’t find any solution, you can read our ultimate solution guide to why your heater shutting off and won’t stay lit.