How Many Amps Is 2.04 kW at 120V?

2.04 kilowatts at 120V works out to roughly 20 amps on AC single-phase at PF 0.85. That is typical for residential water heaters, dryers, ranges, EV chargers, and HVAC equipment. See the DC and alternate-phase numbers below for other circuit types.

2.04 kW at 120V, AC single-phase (PF 0.85)

20 Amps

2.04 kilowatts at 120V on AC single-phase ≈ 20 amps

DC (ideal baseline)17 A

Try: 2kW at 120V 2.5kW at 120V 1.5kW at 120V 3kW at 120V

Volts

Amps (AC single-phase, PF 0.85)

Formulas

DC: kW to Amps

I_(A) = 1000 × P_(kW) ÷ V_(V)

1000 × 2.04 ÷ 120 = 2,040 ÷ 120 = 17 A

AC Single Phase (PF = 0.85)

I_(A) = 1000 × P_(kW) ÷ (PF × V_(V))

2,040 ÷ (0.85 × 120) = 2,040 ÷ 102 = 20 A

Equipment & Circuit Sizing

Breaker Sizing

Breaker ratings are in amps, not watts, so the real install answer depends on the equipment nameplate FLA, whether the load is continuous (NEC 210.19(A) sizes the conductor and OCP at 125% of a continuous load, equivalently 80% of breaker rating), conductor ampacity and temperature rating, ambient and bundling derates, and any motor or HVAC provisions (NEC 430 / 440). At roughly 20A on AC single-phase at 120V, the load sits in the bracket between a 20A standard size (non-continuous) and the next size up that covers a continuous load under 210.19(A) (around 25A). The actual install pick depends on whether the load is continuous and the factors above; a conversion page can't pick a single "right" breaker from the amp draw alone.

Energy Cost

2.04 kW costs $0.35/hour at $0.17/kWh (rates last reviewed April 2026). See breakdown.

Power Factor Reference (AC single-phase)

How the line current for 2.04 kW at 120V changes with load power factor, on the same AC single-phase circuit basis the rest of the page uses. DC has no power factor; PF 1.0 represents resistive AC loads.

Load Type	PF	2.04 kW at 120V (AC single-phase)
Resistive (heaters, incandescent)	1	17 A
Fluorescent lamps	0.95	17.89 A
LED lighting	0.9	18.89 A
Synchronous motors	0.9	18.89 A
Typical mixed loads	0.85	20 A
Induction motors (full load)	0.8	21.25 A
Computers (without PFC)	0.65	26.15 A
Induction motors (no load)	0.35	48.57 A

AC Conversion Comparison

On DC, 2.04kW at 120V draws 17A. AC single-phase at PF 0.85 pulls 20A because reactive current is added on top of the real power.

Circuit Type	Formula	Result
DC	2,040 ÷ 120	17 A
AC Single Phase (PF 0.85)	2,040 ÷ (0.85 × 120)	20 A

Other kW Values at 120V

kW	AC 1-Phase PF 0.85	DC Amps PF 1.0 baseline
0.5 kW	4.9 A	4.17 A
0.75 kW	7.35 A	6.25 A
1 kW	9.8 A	8.33 A
1.5 kW	14.71 A	12.5 A
2 kW	19.61 A	16.67 A
2.5 kW	24.51 A	20.83 A
3 kW	29.41 A	25 A
3.5 kW	34.31 A	29.17 A
4 kW	39.22 A	33.33 A
5 kW	49.02 A	41.67 A
6 kW	58.82 A	50 A
7.5 kW	73.53 A	62.5 A
8 kW	78.43 A	66.67 A
10 kW	98.04 A	83.33 A
12 kW	117.65 A	100 A

Same kW, Other Voltages

Each destination page leads with the interpretation most common for that voltage, so the amps shown below use the same basis as the page you'd land on: single-phase for residential voltages, three-phase for commercial/industrial panel voltages, DC for low-voltage.

Related Calculations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many amps is 2.04 kW at 120V?expand_more

2.04 kW at 120V draws about 20 amps on an AC single-phase circuit at PF 0.85. Alternate cases at the same voltage: 17A on DC.

How many amps does a 2.04 kW EV charger draw at 120V?expand_more

At 120V, this is Level 1 territory (120V AC, single-phase, typically 12-16A). A 2.04 kW draw on a standard 120V household outlet is at or above the 1,440W NEC 210.19(A) continuous figure, which is why Level 1 EVSE ships at 1.4-1.9 kW and takes 20+ hours for a full charge. If you need 2.04 kW of charging, you want Level 2 on a 240V dedicated circuit, not 120V.

What is 2.04 kW in watts?expand_more

2.04 kW equals 2,040 watts. Multiply kilowatts by 1000.

How much does 2.04 kW cost to run?expand_more

2.04 kW costs $0.35 per hour at $0.17/kWh (US residential average, last reviewed April 2026). At 8 hours/day that is $83.23 per month.

Is 2.04 kW single-phase or three-phase?expand_more

2.04 kW can be either. Residential loads up to about 5 kW (water heaters, dryers, EV chargers at 240V) are usually single-phase; commercial panels often serve the same load three-phase at 208V or 480V.

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.