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How Many Amps Does an Air Compressor Use?

Air Compressor draws about 13 amps at 120 volts (1,500 watts running) and briefly spikes to around 38 amps at startup. At 13 A, an air compressor is too much for a shared 15 A circuit under the 80% rule; it belongs on a 20 A circuit, ideally with little else running on it.

Voltage

Amps = watts ÷ volts. Enter the wattage from your appliance's nameplate or label for an exact figure.

Current draw: an air compressor

13 A

At 120 V
1,500 W
Typical breaker
15 A

Breaker figure is guidance for a simple resistive load; confirm against the nameplate and a licensed electrician.

Air Compressor amperage at 120 V and 240 V

Same 1,500 W load: the current halves when the voltage doubles. Air Compressor is typically a 120 V appliance in US homes.

DrawWattsAmps at 120 VAmps at 240 V
Running1,500 W13 A6.3 A
Starting (surge)4,500 W38 A19 A

The startup surge lasts a fraction of a second; it matters for generator sizing and breaker trip curves, not for your electric bill.

Breaker and circuit for an air compressor

At 13 A, an air compressor is too much for a shared 15 A circuit under the 80% rule; it belongs on a 20 A circuit, ideally with little else running on it. For a dedicated circuit, guidance is a 20 A breaker with 12 AWG copper (75°C terminations).

Worth knowing: Compressors up to ~1.5 HP run on 120 V; larger stationary compressors are 240 V.

Guidance only: actual circuit sizing depends on your unit's nameplate, wire run length, and local code. Confirm with a licensed electrician. See the wire & breaker size chart for the full NEC ampacity table.

Measure what an air compressor actually draws

The figures above are typical ratings. A plug-in power meter between the outlet and the cord shows the real amps and watts with nothing opened up. A clamp meter reads one conductor at a time, so it is the tool for hardwired and 240 V circuits; clamped around a whole cord it reads close to zero.

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Frequently asked questions

Air Compressor typically draws about 13 amps at 120 volts, based on a typical rating of 1,500 watts (amps = watts ÷ volts). Because it has a motor or compressor, it briefly pulls around 38 amps at startup. Check the nameplate on your specific unit: ratings vary by model.

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