How Many Amps Is 200 kVA at 460V?

A load with an apparent power of 200 kVA at 460V draws 251.02 amps per line on a three-phase circuit. 460V is a commercial or industrial panel voltage where three-phase is the dominant interpretation. On single-phase at the same voltage the same apparent power would pull 434.78 amps. At a load power factor of 0.8 the load's real power is 160 kW (load-side conversion; a generator or UPS feeding this load has its own separate kW rating set by the manufacturer).

200 kVA equals 251.02 amps at 460 volts (three-phase, L-L)

251.02 Amps

Single Phase (460V)434.78 A

Try: 150kVA at 460V 250kVA at 460V 100kVA at 460V 75kVA at 460V

kVA

Volts

Amps (3Φ per line)

251.02

Assumes an AC three-phase line-to-line circuit at the input voltage. kVA is apparent power, so no power factor term is involved.

Formulas

Single Phase

I_(A) = (kVA × 1000) ÷ V

(200 × 1000) ÷ 460 = 200,000 ÷ 460 = 434.78 A

Three Phase (460V Line-to-Line)

I_(A) = (kVA × 1000) ÷ (V_L-L × √3)

200,000 ÷ (460 × 1.732) = 200,000 ÷ 796.72 = 251.02 A

Single Phase vs Three Phase

The same 200 kVA unit draws very different current depending on the phase configuration:

Configuration	Formula	Current at 460V
Single Phase	200,000 ÷ 460	434.78 A
Three Phase (460V L-L)	200,000 ÷ (460 × √3)	251.02 A

For this specific case, 200 kVA at 460V, three-phase carries about 42.26% less current per line than single-phase at the same voltage. That gap tracks the 1 ÷ √3 factor for L-L three-phase (or 1 ÷ 3 for L-N), which is why three-phase distribution is common at commercial and industrial scale: the same apparent power rides on smaller conductors and smaller breakers.

Generator & UPS Sizing

Load-Side Real Power by Power Factor

A load with an apparent power of 200 kVA draws different amounts of real power depending on the load's own power factor. The table below is a load-side conversion, not a forecast of what a generator or UPS will output for that load: generators and UPS units publish their own independent kW rating set by the engine or inverter design, and that rating is often lower than kVA × the load's PF.

Load Type	Load PF	Load Real Power (kW)	Current at 460V (three-phase, per line)
Resistive (heaters, lights)	1.0	200 kW	251.02 A per line
Mixed typical	0.85	170 kW	251.02 A per line
Motors/HVAC	0.80	160 kW	251.02 A per line
Computers/servers (no PFC)	0.65	130 kW	251.02 A per line

Note: current draw stays the same across the rows because kVA sets the current, not the load's power factor. PF only affects how much real work (kW) the load does per amp drawn.

Sizing a load against a source. If you are feeding this load from a UPS, generator, or transformer, check the load against both the source's kVA rating AND the source's kW rating. Those are two independent numbers published by the manufacturer. A 10 kVA / 8 kW generator, for example, can supply up to 10 kVA of apparent power AND up to 8 kW of real power, whichever limit is reached first. Do not use the kW figures above as a substitute for the source's published kW rating.

Circuit Sizing: Starting Points

The numbers below are rough order-of-magnitude starting points under typical assumptions (copper conductors, 75°C terminations, short run, no ambient or bundling derates, non-continuous duty). They are not install specs. Actual breaker and wire selection depends on the equipment nameplate, conductor and termination temperature ratings, cable type, run length and voltage-drop target, ambient and bundling conditions, whether the load is continuous, any NEC 430/440 motor or HVAC provisions, and local code.

	Single Phase	Three Phase
Current draw (at full kVA)	434.78 A	251.02 A
Ballpark branch OCP	~500A	~300A

For a real install, run the full wire-size calculator with your actual run length, voltage, and drop target, and verify breaker selection against the equipment nameplate and local code.

Energy Cost at Full Load

A load with an apparent power of 200 kVA at load PF 0.85 draws 170 kW of real power. Running cost at that draw: $28.90/hour at $0.17/kWh (rates last reviewed April 2026), or $6,936.00/month (8h/day). Full breakdown.

kW Equivalent

200 kVA at PF 0.85 = 170 kW. See 170 kW to amps at 460V.

Other kVA Ratings at 460V

kVA	Three Phase Amps (L-L, per line)	Single Phase Amps	Real Power (PF 0.8)
10 kVA	12.55 A	21.74 A	8 kW
15 kVA	18.83 A	32.61 A	12 kW
20 kVA	25.1 A	43.48 A	16 kW
25 kVA	31.38 A	54.35 A	20 kW
30 kVA	37.65 A	65.22 A	24 kW
40 kVA	50.2 A	86.96 A	32 kW
50 kVA	62.76 A	108.7 A	40 kW
75 kVA	94.13 A	163.04 A	60 kW
100 kVA	125.51 A	217.39 A	80 kW
150 kVA	188.27 A	326.09 A	120 kW
200 kVA	251.02 A	434.78 A	160 kW
250 kVA	313.78 A	543.48 A	200 kW

Frequently Asked Questions

How many amps is 200 kVA at 460V?expand_more

200 kVA at 460V is 251.02 amps per line on a three-phase circuit, or 434.78 amps on single-phase at the same voltage.

Why are UPS and generators rated in kVA not kW?expand_more

Because the current on the output (and therefore the conductor, switchgear, and winding sizing) is set by apparent power, kVA = V×I, regardless of the load's power factor. UPS and generator manufacturers publish a separate kW rating in addition to the kVA rating, set by the inverter or engine design, and it is often lower than the kVA rating. You cannot derive a UPS or generator's kW output from its kVA rating and the load's power factor: the two ratings are independent specs and a load has to fit under each of them when sizing against the source.

What size breaker would I need for 200 kVA at 460V?expand_more

This is a sizing question, not a conversion question, and there is no single answer from a page like this. Breaker selection depends on the equipment nameplate FLA, whether the load is continuous (NEC 210.19(A) applies the 125% continuous-load rule), conductor ampacity and termination temperature, any NEC 430/440 motor or HVAC provisions, and local code. The current draw on this page is the input to that sizing process, not the output. Verify against the equipment nameplate and a licensed electrician.

What is the difference between kVA and kW?expand_more

kVA is apparent power (V×I), which sets the current on the circuit and the sizing of conductors, breakers, and windings. kW is real power (the portion that does useful work), equal to kVA×load PF. A load with an apparent power of 200 kVA at load PF 0.8 draws 160 kW of real power. For a source such as a generator or UPS, kVA and kW are two independent manufacturer ratings, not two views of the same spec, and both have to be checked when sizing a load.

How much fuel does a 200 kVA generator use?expand_more

Fuel burn is set by the generator's specific-fuel-consumption curve, not a rule of thumb tied to the kVA rating. It varies sharply with fuel type (gasoline vs diesel vs natural gas vs propane), load percentage (partial-load efficiency is much worse than full-load), engine size and age, altitude, and ambient temperature. For a specific unit, check the manufacturer's fuel-consumption curve at your expected load percentage. Generic per-hour estimates from the kVA rating alone are not reliable enough to plan fuel capacity from.

This calculator provides estimates for reference purposes only. Always consult a licensed electrician and verify compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local electrical codes before performing any electrical work.