Induction Cooktop Amperage Calculator
Switching from gas to induction usually means a new dedicated circuit, and most advice online is conflicting forum guesswork. Enter your cooktop's power rating and voltage to get an estimated amperage, breaker size, and wire gauge. Nothing uploaded.
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Important
Always verify against your specific cooktop's nameplate rating and local electrical code - have a licensed electrician confirm before installing. This is an estimate, not an electrical inspection.
Learn more: sizing a circuit for an induction cooktop
How the calculator sizes the circuit
The calculator divides the cooktop's wattage by the voltage to get the current, multiplies by 1.25 as a safety margin, and rounds up to the next standard breaker size from 15 to 60 amps. A 7.4 kW cooktop on 240 V draws 7,400 / 240 = 30.8 A, which becomes 38.5 A with the margin and a 40 A breaker. The tool then lists 8 AWG copper (60 degree C NM-B) as the matching wire, and the table runs from 14 AWG for 15 A to 4 AWG for 60 A.
Cooktop Hunter's guide to induction cooktop circuits lists 40 A at 240 V for most 30-inch units, 50 A for boost-heavy 30-inch models and for 36-inch units, and 60 A on some 48-inch models. It says the circuit needs to be sized to 125% of the continuous load, and the calculator uses the same margin.
Where the estimate stops
The 125% factor is a cautious margin. Electrical codes have their own rules for household cooking appliances, so the figure the code requires for your cooktop can differ from this estimate. Always confirm the breaker, wire and panel capacity with a licensed electrician and the manufacturer's installation sheet.
The wire gauge table is the US one. For the UK and EU voltage option the calculator gives the breaker size but leaves wire sizing to local rules, which use square millimeters, not AWG. If you enter your panel's spare amps, the tool warns when the breaker would be bigger than that.
FAQ
Can I run an induction cooktop on 120 V?
Not a built-in one. Cooktop Hunter says built-in 30 and 36 inch units need a dedicated 240 V circuit, since at 120 V they would draw 65 to 100 A. Portable single-burner units run on standard 120 V outlets and top out around 1,800 W.
Why does my panel's spare capacity matter?
If the breaker the calculator suggests is larger than your panel's spare amps, the circuit cannot just be added. Knowing that before an electrician visits saves time.
Is a bigger breaker than needed a problem?
Yes. A breaker larger than the wire can safely carry will not trip before the wire overheats. The breaker and wire must always be matched together.