3000 Watts to Amps
3000 W = 25 A
3000 watts draws 25 amps on a 120-volt circuit (12.5 A at 240 V).
Step by step
- Use the formula amps = watts ÷ volts (I = P ÷ V).
- At 120 V: 3000 ÷ 120 = 25 A.
- At 240 V: 3000 ÷ 240 = 12.5 A.
For a continuous load, size the circuit so this draw is no more than 80% of the breaker rating — at least a 40 A circuit.
Details
- At 120 V (US outlet)
- 25 A
- At 240 V
- 12.5 A
- At 230 V (Europe, UK)
- 13.04 A
- At 12 V DC
- 250 A
- Kilowatts
- 3 kW
- Heat output
- 10,236 BTU/h
How it works
Current in amps equals power in watts divided by voltage: I = P ÷ V. This is exact for DC and for resistive AC loads like heaters, kettles and incandescent bulbs. Motors and some electronics on AC have a power factor below 1, which means they draw a little more current than this simple formula shows. The same appliance draws half the current at 240 V as at 120 V.
Nearby values
| Watts | Amps |
|---|---|
| 1500 W | 12.5 A (120 V) · 6.25 A (240 V) |
| 1600 W | 13.33 A (120 V) · 6.67 A (240 V) |
| 1700 W | 14.17 A (120 V) · 7.08 A (240 V) |
| 1800 W | 15 A (120 V) · 7.5 A (240 V) |
| 2000 W | 16.67 A (120 V) · 8.33 A (240 V) |
| 2500 W | 20.83 A (120 V) · 10.42 A (240 V) |
| 3000 W | 25 A (120 V) · 12.5 A (240 V) |
| 3500 W | 29.17 A (120 V) · 14.58 A (240 V) |
| 4000 W | 33.33 A (120 V) · 16.67 A (240 V) |
Related conversions
Frequently asked questions
How many amps is 3000 watts?
25 A at 120 V, or 12.5 A at 240 V.
Can a 15 amp circuit handle 3000 watts?
No — 25 A exceeds a 15 A circuit at 120 V.
How many amps is 3000 watts at 12 volts?
250 A.
How do you convert watts to amps?
Divide the watts by the voltage. For AC motors, also divide by the power factor.