What the amp rating means
The amp rating is how much power your home can pull from the grid at once. 200-amp service is the standard for a modern home. 400-amp service roughly doubles that ceiling.
When 200 amps is enough
Most homes run fine on 200 amps. One EV charger, a normal mix of appliances, even a Powerwall fit inside that budget for the majority of homes.
When the math runs tight, a load-management device lets a 200-amp service host an EV and a battery without a bigger upgrade.
When 400 amps makes sense
A 400-amp service earns its cost when several large loads run at once. Think a big all-electric home with a heat pump, two EVs, a Powerwall, and a pool or a shop, or a property adding an ADU.
The signal is simultaneous demand. Many big loads that could all run together is what pushes a home past 200 amps.
The cost and complexity jump
A 200-amp panel replacement generally runs $1,000 to $4,000. A 400-amp service costs meaningfully more. It often means a 400-amp meter main feeding two 200-amp panels, a heavier service entrance, and closer utility coordination.
How we size it
We run a load calculation against how you actually live, then plan for the next ten years. The goal is enough capacity for what is coming, without paying for an amp rating you will never use.
Not sure which one fits? See our electrical panel upgrade services or get a free panel upgrade quote and we will size it to your home.
