What is the demand load for one 12 kW electric range?

Under NEC Table 220.55 Column C, the demand load for a single household electric range rated not over 12 kW is 8 kW. At 240 V that is 8000 / 240 = 33.3 A. Table 220.55 recognizes that a range rarely draws its full nameplate rating, so the calculated demand (8 kW) is well below the 12 kW connected load. A range rated 8.75 kW or more still requires at least a 40 A branch circuit under NEC 210.19(A)(3).

How do I apply Note 1 for a range over 12 kW?

NEC Table 220.55 Note 1 increases the Column C demand 5 percent for each additional kW (or major fraction thereof) by which each range exceeds 12 kW, for ranges of the same rating up to 27 kW. For one 16 kW range the base Column C value is 8 kW and the rating is 4 kW over 12, so the demand is increased 4 x 5 percent = 20 percent: 8 kW x 1.20 = 9.6 kW (40.0 A at 240 V).

What is the demand load for a cooktop and two wall ovens on one circuit?

NEC Table 220.55 Note 4 allows a counter-mounted cooking unit and not more than two wall-mounted ovens supplied by a single branch circuit in the same room to be added together and treated as one range. Add the nameplate ratings, then take Column C for one range (8 kW, increased by Note 1 if the total is over 12 kW). For example, a 6 kW cooktop plus a 4 kW oven is 10 kW connected but only 8 kW of demand load.

Does a single wall oven or cooktop get a demand reduction?

No. NEC Table 220.55 Note 4 sets the branch-circuit load for one wall-mounted oven or one counter-mounted cooking unit at its full nameplate rating, with no demand factor. The Column C diversity only applies to a range, or to a cooktop grouped with up to two ovens on the same circuit. A 6 kW wall oven on its own circuit is a 6 kW load (25.0 A at 240 V).

Is this the same as a whole-house load calculation?

No. This tool computes only the cooking-appliance line of NEC Article 220 (Table 220.55). A full dwelling service calculation adds general lighting, small-appliance and laundry circuits, the dryer, heating or air conditioning, and the largest motor. Use the Electrical Load Calculator (220.82 optional method) or the Residential Electrical Load Calculator (Article 220 standard method) for the complete service load.

Range / Cooktop Demand Load Calculator

Get the NEC Table 220.55 demand load for household electric ranges, wall ovens, and cooktops. Handles Column C for one or more identical ranges, the Note 1 step for ratings over 12 kW, and the Note 4 branch-circuit cases, with the demand current at 240 V.

What are you sizing?

Calculation

Number of appliances

Rating of each (kW)

How to use this calculator

Pick Feeder / service to size the cooking load for one or more identical ranges, or Single branch circuit for one circuit under Note 4.
For a feeder, enter the number of appliances and the kW rating of each (all the same rating). For a branch circuit, choose a range, a single oven or cooktop, or a cooktop grouped with up to two ovens, and enter the rating.
Read the demand load in kW and VA, and the demand current at 240 V. The Column C base and connected load are shown for comparison.
The notes explain each rule applied (Column C, Note 1 over 12 kW, Note 4 grouping) and flag the 40 A minimum branch circuit for a range 8.75 kW or larger.

NEC reference

Demand loads follow NEC 2020 Table 220.55, Column C (maximum demand in kW for household electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, and other household cooking appliances over 1¾ kW). Note 1 adds 5% per kW for ranges of the same rating over 12 kW through 27 kW; Note 4 governs the branch-circuit load for a single range, a lone oven or cooktop, and a cooktop grouped with up to two ovens. Column C, Note 1, and Note 4 are identical in the 2017, 2020, and 2023 editions, so no edition toggle is offered. The 40 A minimum branch circuit for a range 8¾ kW or larger is NEC 210.19(A)(3).

Results are for reference only. Verify against the applicable adopted edition of the NEC and consult a licensed electrician for code compliance.

NEC 2020 Table 220.55 Column C

Column C gives the maximum demand in kW for the number of household cooking appliances, each not over 12 kW. It is the default method; the smaller Column A and B demand factors are a permitted alternative for appliances rated 1¾ kW through 8¾ kW and are not used here (Column C never undersizes). The values below are read directly from the published table.

Appliances	Column C demand (kW)	At 240 V (A)
1	8	33.3
2	11	45.8
3	14	58.3
4	17	70.8
5	20	83.3
6	21	87.5
7	22	91.7
8	23	95.8
10	25	104.2
15	30	125.0
20	35	145.8
25	40	166.7

Values are NEC 2020 Table 220.55 Column C. For 26 to 30 appliances the demand is 15 kW + 1 kW per appliance; for 31 and more it is 25 kW + 0.75 kW per appliance. Currents are the demand kW divided by 240 V.

Worked example: one 16 kW range

A single household range is rated 16 kW. Because it is over 12 kW, Note 1 applies. The Column C base for one range is 8 kW. The rating is 16 - 12 = 4 kW over 12, so Column C is increased 4 x 5% = 20%: 8 kW x 1.20 = 9.6 kW. At 240 V that is 9600 / 240 = 40.0 A of demand load. The connected load is 16 kW, so the Table 220.55 demand factor saves 6.4 kW against sizing the feeder for the full nameplate rating.

Note 4: cooktops and wall ovens

Many kitchens use a separate counter-mounted cooktop and one or two wall-mounted ovens instead of a single range. NEC Table 220.55 Note 4 sets three rules for the branch circuit:

One range: the branch-circuit load is Column C for one appliance (8 kW, or more with Note 1 above 12 kW).
One oven or one cooktop alone: the load is the full nameplate rating, with no demand reduction.
One cooktop and up to two ovens, same circuit and same room: add the nameplate ratings and treat the total as a single range, then take Column C for one appliance.

The grouping rule is why a 6 kW cooktop and a 4 kW oven on one circuit compute to an 8 kW demand load rather than the 10 kW they connect: the pair is treated as one range and gets the Column C diversity.

What this tool does not do

Unequal-rating feeders (Note 2). Feeders serving ranges of different ratings over 8¾ kW use the Note 2 averaging method. Enter identical units here, or use the residential load calculator.
Branch-circuit conductor and breaker sizing. This tool gives the demand load; size the wire and overcurrent device with the Wire Size and Breaker Size calculators (NEC 210.19, 240.4, Table 310.16).
The neutral conductor. The range neutral may be smaller per 210.19(A)(3) Exception and 220.61; that is not computed here.
Commercial kitchen equipment (220.56), which is a different table and demand structure.

Frequently asked questions

What size circuit does an electric range need?

The demand load for one range up to 12 kW is 8 kW (33.3 A at 240 V), but NEC 210.19(A)(3) requires a range rated 8¾ kW or more to be on a branch circuit of at least 40 A. Most residential ranges land on a 40 A or 50 A circuit; confirm the conductor with the Wire Size Calculator and the breaker with the Breaker Size Calculator.

Why is the demand less than the nameplate rating?

Table 220.55 applies a demand factor because cooking appliances rarely run every element at full power at once, and multiple units are almost never all on together. That is why one 12 kW range counts as 8 kW, and ten 12 kW ranges count as 25 kW rather than 120 kW.

Does this use NEC Column A or B?

No. This tool uses Column C throughout, which is the NEC default and never undersizes. Columns A and B are a permitted lower-demand alternative for appliances rated 1¾ kW through 8¾ kW; for that option, use the Residential Electrical Load Calculator.

Related calculators

Residential Electrical Load Calculator: the full Article 220 standard method, with Table 220.55 as one line of a complete service load.
Electrical Load Calculator: the NEC 220.82 optional-method dwelling load.
Breaker Size Calculator: the overcurrent device for the range branch circuit per 210.20(A) and 240.6(A).
Wire Size Calculator: the branch-circuit conductor for ampacity and voltage drop.

Studying for the licensing exam? Our own NEC Code Quickstart works all twelve exam calculations start to finish, each with the code reference. Also in paperback.

Running an electrical contracting business? Jobber handles scheduling, invoicing, and job management. Start a 14-day free trial.

For deeper NEC training on range and cooktop circuits, Mike Holt's NEC courses are the industry standard.

Working from the printed code? NEC code books and tab sets are available from Mike Holt.

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