Determining whether your home has 100 or 200 amp electrical service is an important factor in evaluating your home’s electrical capacity. The amperage rating indicates the maximum amount of electricity that can be safely drawn through your home’s electrical panel and wiring. Knowing this information helps ensure you don’t overload your home’s circuits or attempt to add more appliances and devices than your system can handle.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the key differences between 100 and 200 amp service, how to determine which one your home has, what to do if you need an upgrade, and answer other common questions homeowners have about their electrical service amperage. Having a clear understanding of your home’s electrical service capabilities allows you to make informed decisions about current and future usage needs.
What is a 100 Amp Electrical Service?
A 100 amp electrical service is the minimum standard size for new homes built today. This means it can deliver up to 100 amps of electric current to a home at any given time. Some key characteristics of 100 amp service include:
- Standard for older homes, condos and apartments
- Has a 100 amp main circuit breaker in the electrical panel
- Usually consists of three wires: two 120-volt “hot” wires and one neutral wire
- Provides 120/240-volt power to the home
- Can power up to 1,500 square feettypically
- Best for households with basic electricity needs
A 100 amp service can handle a refrigerator, furnace, lights, kitchen appliances and laundry simultaneously. But it may struggle if too many high-wattage appliances like space heaters, window air conditioners and tools are used at once. The more electronics in a home, the more likely 100 amps will need to be upgraded.
What is a 200 Amp Electrical Service?
A 200 amp service doubles the available power of 100 amp capacity. Key features include:
- Considered standard for new construction
- Has a 200 amp main circuit breaker in the electrical panel
- Typically contains two 120-volt hot wires, one neutral wire and one ground wire
- Provides 120/240-volt power to the home
- Can handle 2,000-4,000+ square feet homes
- Supports more high-wattage appliances without overloading
With 200 amps, there’s reduced risk of tripping breakers, allowing major appliances, heating/cooling systems, and electronics to run simultaneously. It’s ideal for larger homes with electric stoves, central air, home theaters, computers and more high-power devices. The extra capacity leaves room for expansion.
How to Tell if Your Home has 100 or 200 Amp Service
Here are the steps to determine your electrical service amperage:
Check your main circuit breaker
The quickest way is to locate your home’s main circuit breaker box. Inside you will see one large circuit breaker that controls power to your entire electrical system. This main breaker will be labeled with the amperage capacity such as “100 amps” or “200 amps.” If you cannot find this label, the number should be printed somewhere on the switch itself. Match that number to determine if you have 100 amp or 200 amp service currently installed.
Count your main wires
Removing the cover on your electrical panel provides another clue. A 100 amp service will have only three main wires coming into the box—two hot wires and a neutral. A 200 amp service will have an additional wire—a ground wire—for a total of four main wires. The ground wire provides added protection. If you see four wires, it indicates 200 amps.
Check your circuit breakers
If you have a row of two-pole breakers (double breakers taking up two slots) in your panel, it’s a sign you likely have at least 150 amps. Homes with only single-pole breakers typically have 100 amps. Not a definitive method, but provides supporting evidence in cases where the main breaker or wires are inconclusive.
Consult an electrician
When in doubt, call a professional electrician. They can inspect your electrical panel, wiring, meter and other components to determine your exact service amperage. The age of your home and how the electrical system has been maintained over the years will factor in. An electrician can provide a conclusive answer and recommend any needed upgrades.
Upgrading from 100 to 200 Amp Service
There are several scenarios when upgrading makes sense:
- You move into an older home with 100 amp capacity
- Your 100 amp panel frequently trips breakers under normal use
- You do major renovations or additions
- You install new higher-wattage appliances
- Your home is under 100 amps grandfathered from outdated codes
Here are the steps involved:
Hire an electrical contractor
A licensed electrician will evaluate your current system and design a new 200 amp service plan meeting building codes. Never attempt do-it-yourself electrical panel upgrades.
Install a new panel and breakers
Your existing 100 amp panel will be replaced with a new 200 amp version. Added slot spaces allow installing separate circuits and breakers for all your home’s needs.
Run new wires
New wires rated for 200 amps will be run from the utility pole and meter to your electrical panel. The existing wires designed for 100 amps cannot handle the increased electrical flow.
Pass inspection
Your city or town will require an inspection of the new 200 amp service to ensure it meets local building codes and safety regulations. The permit process varies by location.
Connect to utility power
Once everything checks out, the utility company will take care of connecting the new service to their lines and restoring power to your home.
Cost to Upgrade to 200 Amp Service
Upgrading your electrical service is a significant home improvement project. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost for a 200 amp upgrade is $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the scope of work. Variables include:
- Existing wiring gauge – smaller wires must be replaced
- Panel location – more labor if set far from the meter
- Additional electrical needs – more breakers and circuits add cost
- Conduit installation – running new exterior wires
- Remodeling along with upgrade – walls opened, more repairs
- Local electrician rates – pricing varies by region
With so many factors impacting price, it’s essential to get multiple quotes from qualified electricians in your area. Many provide free estimates to survey your home’s setup and give a personalized upgrade quote.
Alternatives to a Full 200 Amp Upgrade
If your 100 amp service mostly meets your needs, there are a couple alternative options to consider.
Install a subpanel – $500 to $1,500
This gives you additional circuit capacity while using your existing wiring and main panel. A licensed electrician can install a subpanel or auxiliary breaker box adjacent to your main panel. It’s connected by tapping off some of the power from the main 100 amp breaker. This allows for extra breakers, circuits and amperage selectively allocated just for the new subpanel.
Install a new 100 amp subpanel – $1,000 to $2,000
Another option is installing a new 100 amp subpanel fed from the utility meter instead of tapping your main panel. This gives a standalone box with its own 100 amp circuit just for additional circuits and outlets. The advantage over tapping your main panel is reducing strain on the existing 100 amp service. A qualified electrician can determine if this makes sense.
While these solutions provide more capacity, you are still limited to a total of 100 amps of power to the home in most cases. And it may be a temporary fix if your needs continue growing. But subpanel installation buys time at a lower initial cost if the full 200 amp upgrade is not affordable currently.
Electrical Load Calculator
Determining your home’s electrical needs is an important step in deciding whether to upgrade amperage. This helps estimate how much power you currently use and how much you may need in the future.
Online calculators allow you to input your home’s size, appliances, electronics and other devices. It then calculates the estimated electric load and recommends the service amperage to handle it.
Be as specific as possible when entering the wattage or electric rating of all lights, appliances and equipment. The total load number calculated tells you the recommended amperage. Results much higher than your existing service indicate upgrading is advised.
While not 100% precise, it provides a useful ballpark figure and starting point to discuss with electricians. They can evaluate if your home’s actual usage warrants amperage expansion based on the calculator recommendation.
How to Lower Electrical Load on 100 Amp Service
If upgrading amperage is not possible immediately, you can take steps to reduce your electrical load and avoid frequent tripped breakers.
Avoid using multiple high-wattage appliances at once
Stagger usage so washer/dryer, AC units, electric oven, and other large loads are not running simultaneously.
Switch to energy-efficient lighting
Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs to reduce lighting load.
Plug high-draw appliances into own circuits
Give appliances like refrigerators and freezers dedicated outlets rather than combining on one circuit.
Adjust your electric HVAC system settings
Keep temperatures moderate instead of drastic heating/cooling. Clean filters regularly.
Eliminate extension cords where possible
Power strips with overcurrent protection are safer options. But reducing cords avoids overloading circuits.
Inspect for any faulty wiring
Damaged wires, bad connections and outdated wiring insulation stress electrical systems.
Upgrade older low-efficiency appliances
New ENERGY STAR models consume less electricity.
Call an electrician for full assessment
They may find specific ways you can reduce electrical load in your unique home setup.
While you can manage a 100 amp service with conservation steps, upgrading to 200 amps provides needed headroom as home power needs grow over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 100 amp service enough for a small house?
In many cases, yes. A 1,000 to 1,500 square foot home with typical appliances and minimal high-power electronics may operate fine on 100 amps. Though an upgrade provides flexibility.
Is 60 amp service still used?
Sixty amp service is now outdated and well below code minimums. You may see it still active in very old homes, but it should be upgraded. One hundred amps is the modern basic standard.
Is 100 amp service enough for central air?
Window AC units can sometimes work on 100 amp circuits. But central air conditioning really requires a 200 amp service in most homes. The large AC compressor starting current can overload a 100 amp panel.
Does house size determine amps needed?
House square footage is one factor, but the total number of appliances and electronics is just as important. A small home packed with equipment can use more power than a larger home with minimal devices. Calculate your total electric load.
Is 150 amp service good?
One hundred fifty amps provides a middle ground between 100 and 200 amps. It can work well for mid-sized homes. But many electricians recommend going full 200 amp service if possible for capacity and resell value.
What requires upgrading from 100 amps?
Common reasons to upgrade include having central AC installed, finishing attics/basements increasing home size, adding pools/hot tubs, installing EV chargers, running short of circuit space, or frequently tripping your main breaker.
Conclusion
Checking your electrical panel and wires provides the quickest way to determine if your home’s electrical service is 100 amp or 200 amp capacity. While 100 amps meets basic needs for small homes, upgrading to 200 amps allows powering more appliances, electronics and devices as your needs grow over time. If a full 200 amp upgrade is not possible immediately, alternatives like installing subpanels can provide some added capacity at lower cost. But for whole home flexibility now and futureproofing, a complete upgrade to 200 amp service is recommended for most modern households.
