Use this free kilowatts to amps calculator to estimate current from kW, voltage, phase type, power factor, and efficiency.
5 kW at 240 V
Use this as planning math only. Breakers, conductors, voltage drop, duty cycle, motor starting current, code rules, and nameplate limits need qualified electrical review.
Estimate current for a kW-rated load.
Turn a motor kW rating into a rough running-current estimate.
Compare DC, single-phase AC, and three-phase AC current.
See how power factor changes AC amperage.
See how lower efficiency raises input watts and current.
Check a 480 V three-phase planning example before reading the nameplate.
Decide whether a kW or kVA calculator matches the equipment label.
5,555.56 input W and about 25.72 A
16,304.35 input W and about 22.27 A
25 A
About 16.67 A
About 34.38 A
About 23.15 A vs 25.72 A
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Plain-language answers about when to use the tool, what it does with your inputs, what to double-check, and how privacy works.
Use it when your task matches one of these common needs: Estimate current for a kW-rated load. Turn a motor kW rating into a rough running-current estimate. It works best when you already know the measurements, amounts, units, or options the page asks for.
In plain language: Input watts = kW x 1,000 / (efficiency / 100). DC amps = input watts / volts. Single-phase AC amps = input watts / (volts x power factor). Three-phase AC amps = input watts / (volts x sqrt(3) x power factor). The examples on the page are there so you can compare your inputs with a worked example before copying the answer.
Kilowatts: real power in thousands of watts, often shown as kW on equipment data. Voltage: the supply voltage used by the load, such as 48 V DC, 120 V, 240 V, 208 V, or 480 V. Phase: DC, single-phase AC, or three-phase AC formula selection. Power factor: AC correction factor between 0 and 1 for real power versus apparent power. Efficiency: the percent of input power that becomes useful output power; lower efficiency raises estimated input watts and amps.
Read the headline answer, then check the supporting lines and examples to understand how the calculator got there. If one input changes, rerun the tool and compare the new answer instead of guessing.
This is a simplified electrical estimate for planning and comparison. Breaker size, conductor size, voltage drop, duty cycle, motor starting current, local code, and equipment-nameplate rules still need manufacturer data and qualified electrical review. Also check the unit, scale, mode, and result limit because small input changes can change the answer.
First convert kW to watts, then adjust for efficiency when needed. For DC, divide input watts by volts. For single-phase AC, divide by volts times power factor. For three-phase AC, divide by volts times sqrt(3) times power factor.
If the kW value describes output power, the equipment may need more input power because of losses. For example, 5 kW at 90% efficiency uses about 5,555.56 input watts before the current calculation.
Use the equipment nameplate, manual, or specification when you have it. A power factor of 1 is only a best-case AC assumption; motors and many larger AC loads are usually lower.
Use kW when you know real power. Use the kVA to Amps Calculator when the rating is apparent power, such as many transformer, UPS, and generator labels.
No. Treat the result as planning math only. Real breaker and conductor sizing depends on code rules, continuous-load rules, temperature, insulation, run length, starting current, and equipment instructions.
The calculator estimates running current from steady power. Motors can draw much more current while starting, and the nameplate full-load amps can differ from a simple kW estimate.
No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Your recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.