How many amps and watts do household appliances use?
The domestic appliance power ratings shown below are indicative only. We’ve used the highest that we could find for popular household appliances.
Electrical power is measured in watts, W, a unit of power. Electrical current is measured in amps, A, the rate at which it flows.
Ratings of commonly used household appliances
| Domestic Portable Appliance | Amps Used | Watts Used |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | <0.5 | 65 – 100 |
| Mobile phone charger | <0.5 | <12 |
| Kettle | 13 | 3000 |
| Satellite TV box | <0.5 | 30 |
| Printer | <0.5 | 50 |
| Radio | <0.5 | 40 |
| Radiator | 8.5 | 2000 |
| DVD player | <0.5 | 28 |
| Hair dryer | 10.0 | 2200 |
| Landline cordless telephone charger | <0.5 | 10 |
| Computer monitor | <0.5 | 100 |
| Desktop computer | 3.0 | 700 |
| Television 42″ HD | 0.5 | 120 |
| Games console | 0.86 | <200 |
| Washing machine | 10 | 2200 |
| Toaster | 9.0 | 2000 |
| Tumble dryer | 11.0 | 2500 |
| Dishwasher | 10.0 | 2200 |
| Iron | 12.5 | 2800 |
| Microwave | 4.5w | 1000 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 9.0 | 2000 |
| Radiator (oil filled) | 13.0 | 3000 |
How do you convert watts and amps?
How to check if your household appliances are safe
It’s a good idea to check plugs and wires regularly, as your household appliances can be damaged with use.
Find out how to check the plugs on your household appliances here.