How Many Amps Does a Stove Use

Whether to save on electric bills or invest in a battery backup, understanding how many amps a stove uses is essential. It usually depends on the type of stove, as an electric stove uses 20-50 amps, an induction stove uses 40-50 amps, while for pellet and gas stoves, it’s 2-3 amps and around 1.5 amps, respectively.

Understanding the power consumption of your stoves is crucial to making an informed decision to invest in an alternate power source and save on electric bills. Also, it helps you save money in the long run.

When it comes to alternate power sources, solar-powered generators come as a reliable, safe, and efficient option. Jackery Solar Generators stand out in the market with their efficiency, portability, and ability to power your stove for hours.  

Key Takeaways

• The amps of a stove depend on whether it’s an electric, induction, gas, or pellet. A standard electric stove uses 20-50 amps, an induction stove uses 40-50 amps, while it’s 2-3 amps for a pellet and around 1.5 amps for a gas stove. However, they don’t require any additional power to start up.
• To calculate the stove amps, you can use the formula Amps = Watts ÷ Volts, check on the stove’s user manual or manufacturer’s website, or install a power meter to get accurate amps readings.

Stoves consume a lot of power, and keeping burners clean, inspecting the wiring, using gas stoves, and checking control operation are the best ways to save on electric bills.

How Many Amps Does a Stove Use?

The number of amps a stove uses depends on its type: an electric, gas, induction, or pellet stove. The amperage of an electric stove ranges between 20-50 amps, while it’s 2-3 amps for a pellet stove. A gas stove typically uses around 1.5 amps, and an induction stove takes between 40 to 50 amps. The amp used for each stove type depends on its size, efficiency, and age. For example, a regular electric cooktop draws around 48 amps, while a typical oven requires around 33 amps.

Definition of Amps, Volts, Watts, Running Watts

To determine how many amps a kitchen stove uses, it’s crucial to acquaint yourself with some technical terminologies. So here it goes:

Amps: The ampere, or amps, in short, is a measuring unit of an electrical current or the rate at which the electrons flow through a stove. For a stove, the amps value varies with its type. For example, a gas stove typically operates at around 1.5 amps, while an electric stove uses 20-50 amps. Its value is calculated using the following formula:

Amps = Watts ÷ Volts

Volts: Volts, represented by the letter “V,” measure the pressure that makes an electric current flow throughout the stove. In other words, volts are the difference in electric potential between two points in the appliance circuit that regulate the movement of electrons. Similar to amps, voltage requirements of stoves vary with their type. For example, a gas stove requires 120V, while an electric stove requires 240V.

Volts = Watts ÷ Amps

Watts: Watts is simply defined as the rate at which the stove produces or consumes electric energy. For example, consider a gas stove that uses 1.5 amps and 120V, so its watts are 180W (120V × 1.5A = 180W). Represented by W, how many watts a stove uses can be calculated using the following formula: 

Watts = Volts × Amps

Running Watts: This refers to the number of watts a stove needs to operate continuously. It’s different from starting watts, which is the extra watts an appliance consumes to start running. The formula to calculate running watts is as follows:

Running Watts = Volts × Running Amps

If you’re interested in learning more about amps, watts, and volts, read this ultimate guide, which details everything about it and more.   

How Many Amps Do Different Types of Stove Use?

The number of amps a stove uses depends on multiple factors, including the heating requirements, the number of burners, and the type, size, and efficiency. For example, on average, small domestic electric stoves use around three to four kilowatts, while the number is around six to eight kilowatts for standard domestic stoves.

The table below lists the wattage requirements of different stove types alongside how to calculate the actual amps a stove uses.

Note: The voltage requirements of gas stoves and pellet stoves is 120V, while for electric and induction stoves, it’s 240V. So, the amperage calculations are performed accordingly.

How Many Amps Does a Stove Draw on a Startup

Usually, a stove (electric, gas, pellet, or induction) doesn’t need additional power to start up. In other words, the amount of power a stove uses to start up is the same as the power it uses to operate continuously. For example, a typical electric stove requires around 1000 to 3000 Watts to start and keep running.

Startup Watts vs. Running Watts

Starting watts are the extra watts an electric appliance needs for a few seconds to start up. These are typical for appliances with electric motors, such as pumps, fans, air conditioners, and dryers. Check the appliance wattage chart to determine if your appliance needs extra power.

Stoves, irrespective of the type, model, and size, don’t fall in this category and won’t need an extra power supply to start up.  

It, however, needs a steady supply of power, also known as running watts, to keep operating the normal mode. This running watt is a stove’s continuous power consumption, which depends on the stove type. For example, the running watts of a pellet stove lie between 125 and 400 watts, while for an induction stove, it’s between 2,000 and 5,000 watts.

Startup Amps vs. Running Amps

As with the starting watts, no change is evident in the amps value when the stove is first turned on, and it stays the same during operation. So, in this case, the starting amps are equal to the running amps.

How to Calculate Your Stove Amps

Stoves can consume a lot of power, especially if they are old or commercial-grade, with warming drawers, additional burners, or dual-fuel options. If you’re trying to minimize your energy usage or size your battery backup, you’ll determine how many amps a stove top uses. The methods are as follows:  

Method #1: User Manual or Online

Typically, manufacturers provide the amperage details of their stoves, so check it first. You can find them on the user manual and the nameplate or label inside the door frame, backside, or drawer beneath the oven. You can also find the details on the manufacturer’s website. You only need to input your product’s model number; the website will fetch the necessary information.

Method #2: Determine Amps From the Wattage

If you can’t find the information on the label, website, or user manual, its wattage information is useful for calculating the amps. Let’s assume your electric stove consumes 3,000W per hour, then:

Amps = 3,000W/240V = 12.5A

Method #3: Use a Power Meter

Another way to determine the amperage of a stove is by using a power meter. Installing them is straightforward: plug the meter into the wall outlet and the stove. It calculates the amount of power a stove consumes over time by considering the actual operating condition. This way, it yields the most accurate value, which you can use to cut down the running time and, in turn, the electric bills.   

Tips to Save Your Electricity Bill

As per EIA, the national average electricity price in 2024 is 16.41 cents per kWh, which is around a 2% hike from last year. The increasing prices every year burden homeowners, and they are looking for ways to cut down on electric bills. If you feel the same, here are a few practical tips to save your electric bill:

• Invest in a Gas Oven: If your primary concern is saving on electric bills, investing in a gas range is a smart option. Natural gas customers have incurred lower bills than those who use electricity, propane, or others.
• Keep Burners Clean: Clean the gas burners regularly to ensure an efficient heat transfer. If you own an electric stove with coil burners, clean or replace the drip pans to ensure it heats properly, which ensures steady energy usage for a long period.
• Inspect the Accessible Electric Wiring: Call a technician to inspect the wiring on electric and gas ranges for insulation damage, secure connections, and proper grounding. Damaged or insecure wiring affects the heating efficiency and leads to energy wastage.
• Use Solar Energy: With induction stoves incurring heavy energy usage, investing in a reliable battery backup is a safe bet to offset your dependence on electric grids. Solar energy, being a clean and safe fuel, is a smart option. Jackery Solar Generators are reliable, efficient, and safe, which adds portability to its portfolio and makes it stand out as one of the best options.   

Solar Generators for Stove

It’s now established that stoves (especially electric and induction) are high-consumption appliances. Solar generators are a top solution to limit the use of grid power as these work on clean and zero-cost fuel. The Jackery Solar Generators are one of the best equipment for high performance, reliability, and safety.

Jackery Generators combine foldable solar panels and portable power stations. The solar panels collect and convert the sun’s rays into DC current and send it to the inverter for final conversion to AC power, which the appliances use. These generators are known for their portability, durability, and high-quality battery management system.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator is a great companion for you, irrespective of whether you’re at home or camping/traveling outdoors. Its massive capacity and power output are ideal for powering your 120V gas and pellet stoves for hours. This way, you can cook up a feast for your family without worrying about lengthy electric bills. Besides, its multiple ports let you power other electrical appliances simultaneously.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another versatile battery backup solution with an expandable capacity. Irrespectively, it can charge your 120V gas, and pellet stoves can run for hours without failing. Whether you’re trying to offset your electric bills, cook food during power outages, or on camping trips, it’s a safe and reliable battery backup solution.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Double Kit

The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Double Kit is a reliable option if you have an electric or induction cooktop. It’s two Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Stations connected in parallel and can power up 240V stoves and potentially cut down your dependence on electric grids for cooking. Besides, its advanced safety features ensure your stoves work issue-free.

FAQ about Stove Amps

Is 40 amps enough for a stove?

Yes, 40 amps are enough for a stove (even electric and induction), especially for medium to larger homes. An electric stove can handle between 20 and 50 amps, depending on its size and model, so 40 amps should fare well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, by having an answer to how many amps a stove uses, you can be mindful of the stove’s power consumption and implement energy-efficient practices that save you money in the long term. By making conscious choices in your cooking habits, you can positively impact your pocket and the environment. The Jackery Solar Generators are one of the best ways to power your gas, electric, and induction stoves. With it, you don’t have to worry about increasing electric bills due to stoves.