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Calculators / Ventilation and power

Can your panel run an induction range?

Pick the range and tell us what's at the wall now. Then a few questions about your house. You'll know if the circuit works and if the panel has room.

These are example numbers. Put in yours.

The range

Range
Circuit at the range now

The breaker for the range is a double one, marked 30, 40 or 50.

Your panel

Main breaker

The big breaker at the top of the panel. The number is on the handle.

sq ft

Finished, lived-in floor space.

Water heater
Clothes dryer
Heat and AC
EV charger
kW

Pool pump, well pump, sauna, shop heater. Add up the nameplates. Leave blank if none.

Your panel can run it

40 A circuit, 60 A to spare

The circuit you have works, and the panel has 60 A to spare.

Range
12 kW40 A circuit
At the range now
40 A
Panel
90 Aof 150 A

circuit = 12 kW × 1000 ÷ 240 V × 80% = 40 A → 40 A breaker

lights and plugs = 1800 sq ft × 3 VA = 5.4 kVA

house loads = 5.4 kVA + kitchen and laundry circuits 4.5 kVA + appliances 7.5 kVA + induction range 12 kVA = 29.4 kVA

counted = 8 kVA + (29.4 kVA − 8 kVA) × 40% = 16.6 kVA

with heat and AC at 100% = 16.6 kVA + 5 kVA = 21.6 kVA

load = 21.6 kVA ÷ 240 V = 90 A of your 150 A panel

The two checks

  • Circuit at the rangeRange needs 40 A at 240 V
    40 A works

    Same size circuit. Plug it in.

  • Panel90 A of 150 A with the range
    60 A to spare

    Room for it.

Your pans

Stick a fridge magnet to the bottom of each pan. If it grabs hard, it works on induction. Aluminum, copper and glass won't.

See induction-ready cookware on Amazon

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Try it first

Not sure you like induction? A single plug-in burner runs on any 120 V outlet. You can test your pans on it too.

See portable induction burners on Amazon
Nameplate

The install manual has the final say on breaker size. Check it before you buy wire. Some 30 in ranges want 50 A.

How we work it out

Two checks. First, the circuit at the range. Most 30 in induction ranges ask for 40 A. Most 36 in ones ask for 50 A.

breaker = nameplate kW × 1000 ÷ 240 V × 80%, rounded up to 40, 50 or 60 A

If the circuit you have is smaller, the wire has to be replaced. A bigger breaker on small wire is a fire risk. If you cook on gas now, you need a new 240 V run.

Second, the panel. We add the range to your house with the NEC 220.83 method for existing homes. The 2026 NEC moved load calcs to a new Article 120, so it's 120.83 there.

house loads = sq ft × 3 VA + 4.5 kVA kitchen and laundry circuits + appliances + range

counted = first 8 kVA + 40% of the rest + heat and AC

panel amps = counted VA ÷ 240 V

Over your main breaker is a no. Under 10 A to spare is tight. If the panel is full, a 120 V induction range with a battery inside plugs into a normal outlet.

Where the numbers come from

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