How Many Amps Does an Electric Oven Use – (Answered)

Electric ovens are becoming a more popular choice over gas ones. Their fumeless burning has made them a staple in American homes. They might bump up your electric bill, but do ovens use a lot of electricity?

We need to estimate how many amps does an electric oven use when preparing the circuit and estimating the operating cost. Electric ovens can draw currents from 15 amps up to 50 amps, depending primarily on the number of heating appliances.

Average Current Draw and Energy Consumption

Single ovens will have the lowest electric oven amperage. Electric ranges with ovens have the highest current draws, while double ovens lie in the middle.

Single oven models can draw 15 to 20 amps. Here are some of the wall oven models we looked at and their power ratings and current draws at their required voltage:

How many amps does an electric oven use? Read on to learn about current, power, and costs of running an electric oven.

Double oven models can draw 35 to 40 amps of current. We also listed the power ratings and current draws of the wall oven models we found:

Electric ranges with ovens can have a high power rating listed (thus, a high current draw) because of the combined oven and electric stove amps. The number of additional stoves can make electric ranges draw up to 50 amps. Here are some models we found:

Examples aside, here are the estimated amps of different ovens:

Importance and Impact of Electric Oven Amps Rating

The appliance amperage draw can be used to estimate the safe circuit breaker size for your electric oven. If the breaker is too small for the unit, then the breaker might frequently trip while cooking or baking.

Single ovens can use a 20 amp breaker, while double ovens can use 30 or 40 amp breakers depending on their current, and electric ranges can use a 50 amp breaker or bigger.

Also, the wire thickness depends on the current draw. If the wire is too thin for the oven, the oven might experience voltage drops that decrease the performance of the unit, or worse, the wire might get too hot and start a fire.

30 amp circuits will need 10 gauge copper wires; 40 amps will need 8 gauge copper wires; and 50 amps will need 6 gauge wires.

Electric Oven Amperage Calculation

In most cases, the manual, brand website, or the appliance’s nameplate lists how many amps does a range use. The calculation method below may give you a rough estimate in case the current rating is not immediately available.

The simplest way to calculate the electric range amperage is using the definition of electric power. Just divide the listed electric wattage of the device by the voltage. For example, the estimated current draw of a 3600W, 240V Single Wall Oven would be:

Factors that Affect the Amount of Electric Oven Amp Usage

A lot of factors can affect how much electricity is used by the electric oven. The biggest factor would be how many of the heating elements of the electric range are running simultaneously. You may expect a higher stove amperage if you use multiple stove tops while baking in the oven than using only a single stove burner.

Other factors that increase the amp draw or the power use will be:

One factor that can decrease the amp draw or power consumption is the use of a convection oven over a conventional one. A convection oven has a fan that can redistribute the hot air inside the oven and allows baking or cooking in multiple racks faster, reducing energy consumption.

Costs of Running an Electric Oven

We can calculate the cost of running an oven. The cost would be:

Power will be expressed in kilowatts in this case. Thus, simply divide watts by 1000 to get the kilowatts.

For example, let’s use a Single Wall Oven at maximum capacity (3600 watts) for a 2-hour oven usage. Since the average cost of electricity in the US as of March 2023 is $0.166 per kilowatt-hour, this low amp oven has an operating cost of:

However, this is an extreme estimate. Most of the time, ovens cycle their heating elements when they reach the desired temperature.

The average power consumption of an oven is 2.3 kilowatt-hours. Thus, the cost for running this oven will be $0.38 per hour. Also, since the average annual consumption of an oven is estimated to be 500 kilowatt-hours, the cost of operating the oven for a year is $83.

Here is a table that compares the average electric oven’s operating cost per month and per year in different parts of America. Electricity rates were taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and rounded up.

Tips to Reduce Electric Oven’s Energy Consumption and Save Money

1. Cook multiple dishes in a convection oven at the same time.

Remember that a convection oven can redistribute hot air within itself. Cooking multiple dishes in one go helps shorten your overall cooking time and lower energy usage.

2. Use the right temperature.

The oven temperature is often listed in the recipe you use. Setting the temperature higher will waste excess heat, while setting it lower will extend the cooking time. Stick to the prescribed temperature in your recipe.

3. Do not open the oven door multiple times.

The heat escapes from the oven every time you open the door, and the oven will turn the heating element on again to return to the desired temperature. Open the door only when needed.

4. Clean the oven.

Grease and other food residues left in the oven reduces the efficiency of the heating elements. Regular cleaning can help maintain the oven’s operation.

Tips to Choose the Right Circuit Breaker for Your Electric Oven

The power requirements determine the right circuit breaker size. We previously mentioned the circuit breaker capacity needed for the right oven current rating. Here are some more tips when buying your circuit breaker:

1. Choose double-pole breakers, since most electric ovens use 240 volts.
2. Use GFCI breakers. The NEC, as of 2023, includes electric ranges and wall-mounted ovens under appliances requiring GFCI protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use oven and stove at the same time?

Yes, you can. If your electric oven was installed in the right circuit, using them both at the same time would not be an issue. You can even multitask if you need to preheat your oven while boiling pasta on the stove.

Do bigger ovens use more electricity?

Yes, they do. Our table shows that most of the 30” models have higher average oven wattage than the 27” ones. Also, double ovens have higher ratings than single ovens.

How often should I clean my electric oven to maintain energy efficiency?

Most ovens should be cleaned after 3 to 4 months. Frequent users may need to clean more frequently than that, particularly if there are a lot of food remnants and grease in the unit.

Are gas ovens more energy-efficient than electric ovens?

Yes, they are. However, gas is not the most eco-friendly option, considering we can use solar power to run electric units.

Conclusion

How many amps does an electric oven use? It can use 15 to 50 amps, but the oven’s size and number of heating elements also affect how many watts the oven is rated at. The ovens might need circuit breakers and wires fit for 30-, 40- or 50-amp circuits.

Knowing the amps drawn by the electric oven can help you safely operate the appliance. Also, estimating your energy consumption can help you use your appliance within your monthly budget.

Related:

• How Many Amps Does a Light Bulb Use
• How Many Amps Does a Gas Stove Use
• How Many Amps Does a Vacuum Use