What is the NEC general lighting load for a dwelling?

NEC 220.12 sets the general lighting and receptacle load at 3 VA per square foot of habitable area for dwellings. Add 1500 VA for each 20 A small-appliance branch circuit and 1500 VA for the laundry circuit.

Do I size the service to total connected load?

No. NEC 220 lets you apply demand factors. For a single dwelling, the first 10 kVA of general load is taken at 100 percent and the remainder at 40 percent, then add the largest of the heating or cooling load at 100 percent.

What size service does a typical 2000 sq ft house need?

Almost always 200 amps at 120/240 V. After applying the NEC 220 demand factors a typical 2000 sq ft all-electric house lands between 90 and 130 amps of calculated load, and 200 A is the standard residential service size.

Electrical Load Calculator (NEC 220)

Residential Load Calculator (NEC 220 Standard)

Standard-method dwelling load calculation per NEC Article 220, Part III. Inputs in volt-amperes (VA) where applicable.

Dwelling square footage Heated/conditioned area only. NEC 220.12: 3 VA/ft^2 general lighting.

Small-appliance circuits (#) NEC 210.11(C)(1): minimum two 20 A circuits at 1500 VA each.

Laundry circuits (#) NEC 210.11(C)(2): minimum one 20 A circuit at 1500 VA.

Range nameplate (kW) NEC 220.55: range <= 12 kW counts as 8 kVA demand.

Dryer nameplate (kW) NEC 220.54: minimum 5 kVA demand for one dryer.

A/C condenser (kVA) Largest unit; A/C and heat are non-coincident, the larger wins.

Electric heat (kVA) Total fixed electric space-heating load. NEC 220.51.

Largest motor load (VA) NEC 220.50 / 430.24: add 25% of the largest motor.

Service voltage

Other fixed loads (VA) Water heater, dishwasher, disposal, etc. (nameplate VA, sum).

Calculated load

General lighting + small-appliance + laundry—

After 220.42 demand factors—

Range demand (220.55)—

Dryer demand (220.54)—

A/C vs heat (larger of)—

Other fixed loads—

Largest motor + 25%—

Total calculated load (VA)—

Amps at service voltage—

Recommended service size—

Recommended service is rounded up to the next standard ampacity (100/125/150/200/225/300/400 A). NEC 230.79: minimum 100 A for a one-family dwelling.

Last reviewed: April 2026 (NEC 2023)

Tools we used or recommend for this work: a Klein receptacle tester to verify each circuit you load-counted, a Milwaukee M12 inspection camera for verifying conductor sizes inside the panel without pulling the dead-front, and a labeling kit (Brady or DYMO Rhino) for the panel schedule this calculator helps you build. Links may be affiliate-tagged where the brand has a program.

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