Can your electrical panel handle an EV charger?
Panel size alone doesn't answer the question. What matters is how much of the panel's capacity your home already uses, which an electrician works out with a load calculation.
Charger amps and circuit size
EV charging counts as a continuous load under the National Electrical Code, so the circuit has to be sized at 125% of the charger's output. In practice:
- 32A charger
- 40A circuit
- 40A charger
- 50A circuit
- 48A charger
- 60A circuit
Many Level 2 chargers can be set to a lower output, which lets them fit on a smaller circuit.
100A vs. 200A panels
A 200A panel usually has room for a Level 2 circuit. A 100A panel sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. It depends on whether the home has electric heat, an electric range, a dryer, air conditioning and other large loads. Your electrician can calculate the existing load to find out.
If the panel is short on capacity
- Turn the charger down. A charger set to 16A or 24A still adds meaningful range overnight.
- Load management. Some chargers and devices reduce charging automatically when the house is using a lot of power.
- Circuit sharing. Some devices let a charger share a circuit with a dryer, switching between them.
- Level 1. A dedicated 120V circuit may be all you need. See Level 1 vs. Level 2.
- Panel or service upgrade. The most expensive option, and sometimes the only one. Costs vary widely by home and utility.
Electrical work needs a licensed electrician and a permit. This page explains the general rules; your electrician and local code have the final word.
Next step
Find the guide for where you live. Choose your living situation and read the charging guide written for it. Ready for an electrician? Request an installation quote.
Choose your charging guideGet an installation quoteCommon questions
Can a 100 amp panel handle an EV charger?
Sometimes. It depends on what else the home already uses. An electrician does a load calculation to find out, and a lower-amperage charger or load management device can often make it work without an upgrade.
What size breaker does a 40 amp EV charger need?
A 50 amp circuit, because EV charging is a continuous load and the circuit must be rated at 125% of the charger output.