Watts to amps calculator (Australia, 230 V)

By Sithum Imarsha Last reviewed 23 September 2026

At Australia's standard 230 V, amps = watts ÷ 230. So 1,000 W draws about 4.35 A, and 2,400 W about 10.43 A. A heater or kettle labelled 2,400 W draws less at 230 V, about 9.58 A: the watts on its label are for 240 V. A standard 10 A power point is rated for about 2,300 W at 230 V (2,400 W at 240 V, which is why power boards say 10 A / 2,400 W). On 400 V three phase, 11 kW is about 15.88 A per phase.

Result

10.43 A

2,400 W ÷ (230 V × 1) = 10.43 A

You typed: 2,400 W at 230 V, power factor 1
Apparent power (kVA): 2.4
Power factor used: 1

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Power point check2,400 W ÷ 230 V is 10.43 A, over a standard 10 A power point's rating. That sum reads high for a heater or kettle: the watts on its label are for 240 V, and at 230 V the same element draws about 9.58 A. A 15 A power point (larger earth pin) is rated for 15 A. A 15 A plug will not fit a 10 A socket, on purpose. An estimate, not electrical advice.

How we calculated this

Check the inputs
An empty voltage means the standard at the meter: 230 V single phase, 400 V three phase. On three phase the voltage is line to line and the amps are per phase. kVA to kW and kW to kVA use no voltage, only the power factor.
2,400 W at 230 V, power factor 1
Use the formula
Amps = watts ÷ (volts × power factor). Three phase adds √3 under the line. kW = kVA × power factor.
2,400 W ÷ (230 V × 1) = 10.43 A

Common appliances on single phase at power factor 1 (your voltage, or 230 V for kVA to kW and kW to kVA)
Appliance	Watts	Amps	Source
Kettle (rated 220 to 240 V: the watts are at the top of that range)	2,400 W	10.43 A	Official source: Breville BKE425 the Soft Top Dual: 2400 Watts, 220 - 240 Volts
Oil column heater	2,400 W	10.43 A	Dated third-party source: CHOICE electric heater lab tests, updated 27 May 2026
Fan heater	2,000 W	8.70 A	Dated third-party source: CHOICE electric heater lab tests, updated 27 May 2026
Panel heater	2,200 W	9.57 A	Dated third-party source: CHOICE electric heater lab tests, updated 27 May 2026
Clothes dryer (vented, 5 kg)	1,750 W	7.61 A	Official source: Fisher & Paykel vented dryer user guide (DE5060M): Rated Power (W) 1750, 220 to 240 V
Split system (3.5 kW, cooling)	870 W	3.78 A	Official source: Energy Rating registry median rated cooling input, 185 models
Induction cooktop (60 cm)	6,500 W	Hardwired, own circuit	Official source: Westinghouse WHI633BC 60 cm induction cooktop (hardwired)
EV wall charger	7,360 W	Hardwired, own circuit	Estimate: Worked out as 230 V × 32 A, single phase

Amps are the watts in the row ÷ the voltage. For a heater or kettle that reads a little high at 230 V: the watts on its label are for 240 V.

Typical power factors (Schneider Electric)
Load	Power factor
Heater, kettle, oven element	1
Induction motor at 0% load	0.17
Induction motor at 25% load	0.55
Induction motor at 50% load	0.73
Induction motor at 75% load	0.8
Induction motor at 100% load	0.85
Fluorescent light, uncompensated	0.5
Fluorescent light, compensated	0.93

Every figure this calculator uses
Value	Figure	Status	Source
Standard voltage, single phase	230 V	Official source	ESC Electricity Distribution Code of Practice v3.1 (1 Jan 2026), Table 1, p.86: "230 V Meter"
Standard voltage, three phase	400 V	Official source	ESC Electricity Distribution Code of Practice v3.1 (1 Jan 2026), Table 1, p.86: "400 V Meter"
WA voltage	240 V and 415 V	Official source	Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements (April 2023), p.41: 240 volt single-phase (+/- 6%)
Range at the meter in Victoria	216 to 253 V	Official source	ESC Electricity Distribution Code of Practice v3.1 (1 Jan 2026), Table 2 notes (from AS 61000.3.100)
What homes measure	240 to 245 V in Qld, NSW and Vic	Official source	UNSW CEEM, Voltage Analysis of the LV Distribution Network in the Australian NEM, report for the ESB (May 2020): average in Qld (p.59), median in NSW and Vic (pp.69, 82)
Standard power point	10 A	Dated third-party source	Wikipedia, AS/NZS 3112: a standard socket-outlet is 230 V at a maximum of 10 A
Larger power point	15 A	Official source	WorkSafe Victoria safety alert (27 Mar 2012): 15 amp plug tops do not fit 10 amp socket-outlets (read via the Wayback Machine)
Power board label	10 A / 2,400 W	Official source	NT WorkSafe, safe use of power boards: "maximum capacity of 10 Amps/2400 Watts" (read via the Wayback Machine)
Power factor, watts and amps	1	Estimate	Our choice: resistance heating is cos φ = 1 (Schneider Electric Electrical Installation Guide, read via the Wayback Machine)
Power factor, kVA and kW	0.8	Estimate	Our choice: large generator sets are rated at 0.8 PF under ISO 8528 (Caterpillar / FG Wilson and Kohler spec sheets)

Sources

Questions

Is Australia 230 V or 240 V?

The standard at the meter is 230 V in the eastern states. Victoria's Electricity Distribution Code of Practice gives a range of 216 to 253 V at the meter. Many homes measure 240 to 245 V in Qld, NSW and Vic (UNSW, 2020). WA is still 240 V. At the same watts, 240 V gives about 4% fewer amps than 230 V. Type your own voltage if you know it.

Why does my heater's label give a voltage range?

The watts on the label are for the top of the range, 240 V. A heater or kettle element is close to a fixed resistance. So a 2,400 W heater rated at 240 V draws about 9.58 A and 2,204 W at 230 V. The calculator divides the watts you type by the voltage, so for 2,400 W it shows 10.43 A. That is a little high for a heater with that label, which errs on the cautious side.

How many watts can a 10 A power point take?

About 2,300 W at 230 V and 2,400 W at 240 V. That is why power boards are labelled 10 A / 2,400 W (NT WorkSafe). Everything on one power point or power board shares that 10 A.

Can I plug a 15 A appliance into a 10 A power point?

No. A 15 A plug has a larger earth pin, so it will not fit a 10 A socket, on purpose (WorkSafe Victoria). Ask a licensed electrician to fit a 15 A power point.

Can I run a heater from a power board?

Plug heaters and other high-current appliances straight into the wall. A board shares one 10 A power point between everything on it. Do not use piggyback adaptors (Energy Safe Victoria), and do not join boards together (NT WorkSafe).

What about motors, pumps and fridges starting?

They draw several times more for a moment when they start: about 7.5 times the running current for a motor started direct on line (Schneider Electric). The calculator shows the running current only.

What is power factor?

Real power (kW) ÷ apparent power (kVA). A heater is 1. An induction motor is 0.85 at full load and 0.17 with no load (Schneider Electric). Large generators are rated at 0.8, so kVA equals kW only for heaters and kettles.

On three phase, is it 400 V or 230 V?

Both. 400 V is between two phases (line to line). Each phase to neutral is 230.94 V (400 ÷ √3). Use 400 V here, and the amps are per phase. WA is 415 V.

What size circuit breaker do I need?

We do not give breaker sizes. Only blogs publish typical values, and your wiring decides. A load over a power point rating is usually hardwired on its own circuit. Ask a licensed electrician.

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