How many amps does a refrigerator use? A typical full-size fridge draws about 1–6A running at 120V, with a short spike at startup, while a 240V electric dryer runs around 20–25A on a 30A circuit, according to U.S. Department of Energy appliance guidance and typical nameplate ratings. Here’s how to read those amps from the label, size circuits under the National Electrical Code, and plan backup power around them.
Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every cable correctly, and use a licensed electrician for anything connected to household wiring.
How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Use? Plus Other Appliances
| Appliance | Voltage | Typical running amps | Typical circuit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 120V | 1–6A (startup higher) | 15–20A dedicated is common |
| Chest freezer | 120V | 1–3A | 15–20A |
| Microwave (countertop) | 120V | 10–15A | 20A |
| Window AC (10,000 BTU) | 120V | 7–11A | 15–20A |
| Ductless mini-split (12,000 BTU) | 240V | 3–8A (variable) | Per nameplate MOCP |
| Electric dryer | 240V | 20–25A | 30A |
| Electric range | 240V | Up to 40A+ in use | 40–50A |
| Electric water heater | 240V | 15–19A (4,500W) | 30A |
| Level 2 EV charger | 240V | 32–48A | 40–60A |
Typical ranges. The appliance nameplate and installation manual are the authority, and HVAC equipment lists MCA and MOCP for wire and breaker sizing.
Converting Watts and Amps
Amps = watts ÷ volts. Example math: a 600W fridge defrost cycle at 120V is 5A. A 5,600W dryer element at 240V is about 23A.
Running Amps vs Startup Amps
Compressors and motors draw a brief inrush current, often several times their running amps. AC units list LRA (locked-rotor amps) on the nameplate. That’s what backup batteries and generators have to handle.
How Breakers Relate to Amps
- Breakers protect the wire, sized for the conductor and the equipment per the NEC (Articles 210, 240, 310 and 440 for AC equipment)
- Continuous loads (3+ hours) are generally limited to 80% of the breaker rating for sizing purposes
- For HVAC, use the nameplate MCA (minimum circuit ampacity) and MOCP (maximum overcurrent protection)
Measuring Amps Yourself
A clamp meter around one conductor (hot, not the whole cord) reads current safely without opening anything. For plug-in loads, a line splitter makes this easy. Plug-in watt meters show amps too.
How to Read Amps From the Nameplate
Every appliance has a rating plate, usually inside the fridge, on the back of a dryer, or on the outdoor unit of a mini-split. What it shows depends on the appliance:
| Label shows | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Volts and amps (e.g., 115V 6A) | Maximum rated current | Watts ≈ volts × amps |
| Watts only | Rated input power | Amps = watts ÷ volts |
| MCA (minimum circuit ampacity) | Smallest wire ampacity allowed | HVAC wire sizing |
| MOCP or “max fuse/ | Largest breaker allowed | HVAC breaker sizing |
| RLA (rated load amps) | Compressor running current rating | Shows running load |
| LRA (locked-rotor amps) | Compressor current at stall or startup | Backup power surge sizing |
| kWh per year (EnergyGuide) | Estimated yearly energy | Battery and solar sizing |
The label amps for a fridge are a maximum, often covering the defrost heater. Running current is usually lower, and the compressor cycles on and off, so average power is lower still.
Refrigerator Amps vs Energy Use
For battery sizing, the yearly kWh on the EnergyGuide label matters more than amps. Illustrative: a fridge rated 500 kWh a year uses about 500 ÷ 365 ≈ 1.37 kWh a day, an average of about 57W. That average is far below the running watts because the compressor is off much of the time. See how many watts does a refrigerator use.
| Fridge type (typical) | Running amps at 120V | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mini fridge | about 0.5–1.5A | Label and EnergyGuide kWh |
| Top-freezer, full size | about 1–4A | Defrost heater can be higher |
| French door / side-by-side | about 2–6A | Ice maker heaters add load |
| 12V compressor fridge (RV) | about 2–5A at 12V while running | Duty cycle sets daily Ah |
Typical ranges; your nameplate and a clamp meter are the authority.
Dryer, Range, Water Heater and EV Charger Circuits
These big 240V loads have their own sizing rules in the NEC:
| Load | Typical rating | Common circuit | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric dryer | 5,000–5,600W | 30A, 4-wire (NEMA 14-30) | NEC 220.54 uses 5,000W or nameplate, whichever is larger |
| Electric range | 8–12 kW nameplate | 40–50A (NEMA 14-50) | NEC 220.55 demand factors |
| Storage water heater, 4,500W | 18.75A at 240V | 30A | NEC 422.13 treats it as continuous: 18.75 × 1.25 ≈ 23.4A |
| Level 2 EV charger, 48A | 48A continuous | 60A | NEC 625 sizes the circuit at 125%: 48 × 1.25 = 60A |
| Gas dryer | A few amps at 120V | 15–20A, 120V | Only the drum motor and controls run on electricity |
New dryer and range circuits use a 4-wire connection with a separate ground and neutral. See 120V vs 240V split phase.
Mini-Split Amps by Size
Inverter mini-splits ramp their compressors up and down, so running amps vary with how hard they’re working. The nameplate lists MCA and MOCP for the circuit, and the spec sheet lists rated and maximum input current.
Illustrative example: a spec sheet showing 1,100W rated cooling input at 230V works out to 1,100 ÷ 230 ≈ 4.8A, while the MCA might be 15A and the MOCP 20A. The circuit is sized from the MCA and MOCP, not from the running number. Many inverter mini-splits also ramp up gently, so their startup current is modest compared with older fixed-speed units, which matters for battery backup.
Worked Example: Can a 15A Kitchen Circuit Handle It?
Illustrative loads:
| Load | Watts | Amps at 120V |
|---|---|---|
| Microwave input | 1,500W | 12.5A |
| Toaster | 900W | 7.5A |
| Together | 2,400W | 20A |
20A is above a 15A circuit’s rating and at the limit of a 20A circuit. That’s why the NEC requires at least two 20A small-appliance circuits for kitchen countertop receptacles in homes (Article 210.11(C)(1)).
Sizing Backup Power Around Amps
For a battery or generator, add the running watts of everything that runs together, then check that the largest startup surge fits within the inverter’s surge rating. Illustrative: a fridge running at 150W with a startup surge of about 5 times that needs roughly 750W of surge capacity for a moment, plus whatever else is running. See surge watts vs running watts.
Fridge Amps on a 12V Battery and Inverter
Running a household fridge from a battery means converting its AC amps to DC amps at battery voltage. Illustrative: a fridge drawing 1.5A at 120V while the compressor runs.
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| AC watts | 120 × 1.5 | 180W |
| DC watts at 90% inverter efficiency | 180 ÷ 0.9 | 200W |
| DC amps at 12.8V | 200 ÷ 12.8 | about 15.6A |
| DC amps at 25.6V | 200 ÷ 25.6 | about 7.8A |
| DC amps at 51.2V | 200 ÷ 51.2 | about 3.9A |
The same 1.5A at 120V becomes about 16A at 12V, which is why battery cables are so much thicker than household wiring. See what size inverter do I need.
How to Measure Running Amps With a Clamp Meter
- Plug the appliance into a line splitter, a short adapter that separates the hot and neutral so you can clamp one.
- Set the clamp meter to AC amps.
- Clamp around the splitter’s measurement loop (or the ×10 loop, then divide by 10 for small loads).
- Watch through a full compressor cycle: startup, running and off.
- For hardwired 240V loads, only a qualified person should clamp a single conductor inside a disconnect.
Whole-House Amps
Your service size, such as 100A, 150A or 200A, is the limit for the whole home at 240V, not the total of all the breakers. Breakers in a panel almost always add up to far more than the main breaker, because not everything runs at once. NEC Article 220 load calculations decide what service a home needs.
FAQ
Does a fridge need a dedicated circuit?
Many manufacturers and local codes recommend one. Check the fridge’s installation guide and your local code.
How many amps does a mini-split use?
A 12,000 BTU inverter mini-split often runs around 3–8A at 240V, varying with load.
Can a 15A circuit run a microwave and a toaster?
Often not. Together they can exceed 15A and trip the breaker.
How many amps does a dryer use?
An electric dryer typically draws about 20–25A at 240V. A gas dryer needs only a 120V circuit, because gas does the heating.
How many amps does a mini fridge use?
Usually about 0.5–1.5A at 120V while the compressor runs.
What size breaker does a mini-split need?
Use the MOCP printed on the outdoor unit’s nameplate. It’s often 15–25A at 240V for small units.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, “Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use”; ENERGY STAR; NFPA 70 (NEC) 2023 Articles 210, 240, 310 and 440; FTC EnergyGuide labels; manufacturer installation manuals. Accessed Oct 2026.
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