How Many Amps Does a Wi-Fi Router Use?
Wi-Fi Router draws about 0.17 amps at 120 volts (20 watts running). At 0.17 A, a Wi-Fi router fits comfortably on a standard 15 A or 20 A household circuit.
Amps = watts ÷ volts. Enter the wattage from your appliance's nameplate or label for an exact figure.
Current draw: a Wi-Fi router
0.2 A
- At 120 V
- 20 W
- Typical breaker
- 15 A
Breaker figure is guidance for a simple resistive load, sized at 125% for continuous running; confirm against the nameplate and a licensed electrician.
Wi-Fi Router amperage at 120 V and 240 V
Same 20 W load: the current halves when the voltage doubles. Wi-Fi Router is typically a 120 V appliance in US homes.
| Draw | Watts | Amps at 120 V | Amps at 240 V |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running | 20 W | 0.17 A | 0.08 A |
The 20 W figure covers a router and modem together, since most homes run both around the clock; a router on its own draws less. Both run from low-voltage DC adapters, so the current inside the devices is much higher than the current they pull from the wall.
Reading the power adapter label
Most home routers and modems run from a 12 V DC adapter (check yours; some use 5 V USB-C or 19 V). The label gives the adapter's maximum output, not what the router actually draws.
| Adapter label | Max output | Max amps from 120 V wall |
|---|---|---|
| 12 V 1 A | 12 W | 0.1 A |
| 12 V 1.5 A | 18 W | 0.15 A |
| 12 V 2 A | 24 W | 0.2 A |
| 12 V 2.5 A | 30 W | 0.25 A |
| 12 V 3 A | 36 W | 0.3 A |
Wall figures are output ÷ 120 V. Adapter losses add a little, but real draw usually sits well below the label.
How long a power station keeps your Wi-Fi on
Hours of internet during an outage, router and modem together, from a fully charged portable power station. Based on a 20 W load and 85% inverter efficiency.
| Battery capacity | Approx. runtime |
|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 13 hours |
| 500 Wh | 21 hours |
| 1,000 Wh | 43 hours |
| 2,000 Wh | 85 hours |
See power station vs ups for backup for how to size one, or the power station picks for units at each capacity.
Breaker and circuit for a Wi-Fi router
At 0.17 A, a Wi-Fi router fits comfortably on a standard 15 A or 20 A household circuit. For a dedicated circuit, guidance is a 15 A breaker with 14 AWG copper (75°C terminations), sized at 125% of the running current because it runs 3+ hours at a time (NEC 210.20).
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 a Wi-Fi router 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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Plug-in power meter
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400
Best for: Measuring what one plug-in appliance really uses
Clamp meter
Fluke 323
Best for: Measuring what a hardwired circuit actually draws, even in a crowded panel
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