When planning upgrades to your home—like adding a hot tub, EV charger, or finishing your basement—you may wonder: What electrical panel size do I need?
Your electrical panel size determines how much power your home can safely handle. Choosing correctly prevents tripped breakers, fire hazards, and future headaches. Whether your house uses a 100-amp, 150-amp, or 200-amp panel, understanding your home’s electrical panel size helps you stay safe and code-compliant.
At Gaddie Electric, we help homeowners across El Paso County and Peyton, Colorado, evaluate their electrical panel size with a professional load calculation and honest recommendations—never upsells.
Understanding Electrical Panel Sizes
Your electrical panel—or breaker box—is the hub of your home’s power system. It routes electricity to every outlet and appliance and protects your wiring from overloads.
Modern homes usually rely on one of three electrical panel sizes: 100-amp, 150-amp, or 200-amp. Let’s look at what each means.
100-Amp Electrical Panel Size
A 100-amp electrical panel size used to be the standard for most homes built before the 1980s. It can still work for smaller, energy-efficient homes, but it comes with limits.
Electricians often use the “Rule of Three” for this electrical panel size: you can usually run only three major 240-volt appliances at once—such as an electric range, dryer, and water heater.
If you add a hot tub, A/C system, or EV charger, you can quickly exceed what this electrical panel size can handle. Some air conditioners and hot tubs can draw 40–60 amps on their own—half the panel’s total capacity!
150-Amp Electrical Panel Size
A 150-amp electrical panel size is a practical middle ground between cost and capacity. It works well for mid-sized homes with both gas and electric systems.
If your home uses gas heat but electric cooking, cooling, or a smaller hot tub, this panel size often meets your needs without upgrading to 200 amps.
However, if you’re planning to install solar, a new HVAC system, or an EV charger, you may quickly outgrow this electrical panel size.
200-Amp Electrical Panel Size
A 200-amp electrical panel size is now standard for new homes—and for good reason. Modern lifestyles demand more power for home offices, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and luxury features like hot tubs, saunas, and outdoor kitchens.
In the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) area, building codes now require homes to be EV-charger-ready and solar-ready, which means this larger electrical panel size is essential.
With 200 amps of service, you can enjoy your hot tub, charge your EV, and run your central A/C all at the same time—without tripping breakers.
🔗 External Resource: National Electrical Code (NEC) residential service sizing
Why Load Calculations Matter for Your Electrical Panel Size
If you’re not sure which electrical panel size is right for you, a professional load calculation is the best way to find out.
Gaddie Electric offers a load calculation form that factors in your home’s square footage, number of circuits, and major appliances—everything from your dryer and range to your hot tub, A/C, and EV charger.
This calculation ensures your electrical panel size is safe, code-compliant, and future-ready—so you can power your lifestyle without worry.
Signs It’s Time to Reevaluate Your Electrical Panel Size
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Frequent breaker trips or flickering lights
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Adding a hot tub, EV charger, or new HVAC system
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Remodeling, finishing a basement, or adding square footage
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Having an old fuse box or outdated panel
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Insurance company requests an upgrade
If these sound familiar, your current electrical panel size may no longer meet your needs.
The Gaddie Electric Difference
Determining your electrical panel size shouldn’t be complicated. At Gaddie Electric, we’ll assess your home, calculate your load, and explain exactly what panel size makes sense for your household—without pressure or unnecessary upsells.
Our licensed electricians have more than 100 years of combined experience, proudly serving Colorado Springs, Fountain, Falcon, Peyton, and Monument.
📞 Call Gaddie Electric today or request a free quote to find the right electrical panel size for your home.