What is 200 amp service?
Updated August 2026
200-amp service is an electrical supply rated to deliver up to 200 amps at 240 volts, about 48,000 watts, into the house. The rating describes an entire chain, not one part: the utility drop or underground lateral, the meter socket, the main breaker, and the panel busbars all have to be rated for it. 200 amps has been the default for new construction since the 1990s. Homes built before the mid-1980s commonly have 100-amp service, and a few pre-1960 houses still run on 60.
Where it is
Read the number stamped on the main breaker at the top or bottom of the panel: 100, 125, 150, 200, or 400. The panel label inside the door lists a maximum bus rating too, and the two are not always the same. A 200-amp-rated panel fed by a 100-amp main breaker is 100-amp service, because the smallest link governs. If the numbers disagree or the label is missing, an electrician can size it from the service conductors and the meter base in about ten minutes.
What it does
Amperage is a ceiling, not a consumption figure. A typical house idles at 15–40 amps and only approaches its limit when several big 240-volt loads run at once. The modern electrification stack is what breaks 100-amp panels: a Level 2 EV charger pulls 32–48 amps continuous, a heat pump 20–40 amps, an induction range wants a 40–50 amp circuit, a heat pump water heater 15–30, and a hot tub 40–60. Add two of those to an older house and the math stops working. A licensed electrician settles it with a load calculation under NEC Article 220, which counts square footage, fixed appliances, and the largest heating or cooling load rather than guessing. If you come up 20 or 30 amps short, a load-management device that pauses the EV charger while the dryer runs often costs less than a service upgrade.
Maintenance
The service itself needs little, but the panel does. Look it over once a year for rust streaks, moisture at the top knockouts, scorch marks, or a cover that feels warm, and work through the rest of the panel maintenance checklist while you are there. Have an electrician torque the lugs and thermal-scan a fully loaded panel every 5–10 years. Panels themselves last 25–40 years before the breakers and bus start to age out.
What it costs to replace
A replacement 200 amp service runs $2,000–4,000 to go from 100 to 200 amps, and $4,000–8,000 if the utility drop, meter base, or grounding needs rework.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need 200-amp service to install an EV charger?
Often not. A load calculation on a gas-heated 1,800 square foot house with 100-amp service frequently leaves room for a 32-amp charger, which adds about 25 miles of range per hour and covers most commutes. If the calculation comes up short, a load-management charger that throttles when the dryer or range fires costs $200–500 and avoids a $2,000–4,000 upgrade. Get the calculation before you get the quote.
How can I tell what service I have without an electrician?
Open the panel door, do not remove the cover, and read the number on the single largest breaker, usually a double-wide switch at the top. That figure is your main. Then count the service conductors entering the meter base if they are visible: heavier cable generally means higher amperage, though sizing by eye is unreliable. If the main breaker reads 100 and you are planning any electrification project, start the conversation now rather than after you buy the appliance.
How long does a service upgrade take?
Field work is usually one day. The sequence is a permit, a utility disconnect appointment, 4–8 hours with the power off while the electrician sets the new meter base and panel and moves every circuit, then a utility reconnect and an inspection that may land a day or two later. Expect to be without power for most of a workday, and plan for the refrigerator. Permit fees generally run $150–400 depending on the jurisdiction.
Is 400-amp service ever necessary?
Rarely, and mostly in large all-electric homes: over 4,000 square feet with heat pumps, an electric range, two EV chargers, a pool, and a workshop. It is usually built as a 400-amp meter feeding two 200-amp panels rather than one giant box. The upgrade runs $4,000–10,000. Before going there, ask whether load management or a straightforward 200-amp panel replacement solves the same problem for a third of the money.