Amps to KVA

Input Parameters

Live Calculation
A
V

Result

11 kVA
50 A × 220 V ÷ 1000

Formula Used

kVA = Amps × Volts ÷ 1000
kVA = 50 × 220 / 1000
kVA = 11,000 / 1000
kVA = 11
Watts (PF 1.0)
11,000 W
Kilowatts (PF 1.0)
11 kW
VA
11,000 VA
Electrical HP (PF 1.0)
14.75 HP

W, kW, and HP equivalents assume unity power factor (PF 1.0).

How Amps to KVA works

Choose the phase, enter current and voltage, then verify the formula and result.

AAmpsMeasure amperes
VVoltageRead circuit volts
φPhase factor1, √3, or 3
kVAApparent powerCalculated result
The conversion pathMeasure the circuit, choose the matching phase factor, then scale volt-amperes to kilovolt-amperes.
1

Identify the Phase Type

Determine whether the electrical system is single-phase or three-phase. Single-phase circuits are standard in residential buildings across the United States and Europe. Three-phase circuits are standard in commercial and industrial power distribution systems, including electric motor and generator installations.

2

Measure Current and Voltage

Read the current in amperes (A) using a clamp meter or multimeter. Read the voltage in volts (V) from the electrical panel or with a power analyzer. For three-phase systems, record whether the voltage is line-to-line (VLL) or line-to-neutral (VLN).

3

Apply the Amps to KVA Formula

Plug the values into the correct Amps to KVA equation based on the phase type. The calculator above applies the formula and returns the result in kilovolt-amperes (kVA), watts (W), kilowatts (kW), volt-amperes (VA), and horsepower (HP).

The kVA rating represents the apparent power in an electrical circuit. Apparent power is the product of voltage and current without factoring in the power factor. Transformers, generators, and UPS systems are rated in kVA because the electrical load on the equipment depends on the total current, not just the real power (kW) being consumed.

Amps to KVA formula

There are 3 Amps to KVA formulas — one for single-phase and two for three-phase systems.

φChoose the wiring configurationThe voltage reference determines the multiplier
Single phaseA × V ÷ 1,000One voltage waveform
Three phase · L–L√3 × A × VLL ÷ 1,000Measured between phases
Three phase · L–N3 × A × VLN ÷ 1,000Measured from phase to neutral
The phase and voltage reference select the formulaUse VLL for line-to-line readings and VLN for line-to-neutral readings.

Single Phase Amps to KVA Formula

kVA = (Amps × V) ÷ 1,000

To convert Amps to KVA in a single-phase circuit, multiply the current in amperes by the voltage in volts and divide by 1,000. This Amps to KVA equation works for all single-phase alternating current (AC) circuits used in residential electrical panels.

Amps to KVA formula three phase — Line to line

kVA = (√3 × Amps × VLL) ÷ 1,000

To convert Amps to KVA in 3 phase with line-to-line voltage, multiply the current by the voltage by √3 (1.732) and divide by 1,000. The √3 factor accounts for the 120° phase offset between the three alternating current waveforms in a three-phase power distribution system.

Amps to KVA formula three phase — Line to neutral

kVA = (3 × Amps × VLN) ÷ 1,000

To convert Amps to KVA in 3 phase with line-to-neutral voltage, multiply by 3 instead of √3. Line-to-neutral voltage is measured between one phase conductor and the neutral wire, which is √3 times lower than the line-to-line voltage.

KVA calculation examples

Single Phase: 30 A at 240 V

kVA = 30 × 240 ÷ 1,000 = 7.2 kVA

Three Phase (L-L): 100 A at 415 V

kVA = 1.732 × 100 × 415 ÷ 1,000 = 71.878 kVA

Three Phase (L-N): 100 A at 240 V

kVA = 3 × 100 × 240 ÷ 1,000 = 72 kVA

Single Phase: 15 A at 120 V

kVA = 15 × 120 ÷ 1,000 = 1.8 kVA

√3 ≈ 1.7320508. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) uses this constant in all three-phase apparent power calculations.

Amps to KVA Excel formula

Place the amps value in A2 and the voltage in B2, then select the formula that matches the circuit phase.

To calculate Amps to KVA in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, use one of these 3 formulas depending on the phase type. Place the amps value in cell A2, the voltage in cell B2, and the result will appear in cell C2.

A2AmpsCurrent input
B2VoltsVoltage input
ƒxApply formulaUse the phase factor
C2kVAResult cell
Spreadsheet data flowKeep the inputs in separate cells so the formula can be copied safely down the sheet.

Single Phase Excel Formula

=(A2*B2)/1000

Three Phase (Line-to-Line) Excel Formula

=(SQRT(3)*A2*B2)/1000

Three Phase (Line-to-Neutral) Excel Formula

=(3*A2*B2)/1000

The SQRT(3) function returns 1.7320508, the exact value of √3. These Amps to KVA calculation formulas work in Excel 2016, Excel 365, LibreOffice Calc, and Google Sheets without modification.

Amps to KVA conversion chart

Quick reference Amps to KVA table for 11 common amperage values at 6 standard voltages, covering both United States and European electrical systems.

1Choose a tableSingle or three phase
2Find the amps rowCurrent runs vertically
3Find the voltageVoltage runs across
✓Read the intersectionThe cell shows kVA
How to read the conversion chartThe value where the chosen current row and voltage column meet is the kVA result.

Single Phase — Amps to KVA Conversion Table

Amps (A)kVA @ 120 VkVA @ 208 VkVA @ 220 VkVA @ 240 VkVA @ 277 VkVA @ 480 V
10 A1.22.082.22.42.774.8
15 A1.83.123.33.64.1557.2
20 A2.44.164.44.85.549.6
30 A3.66.246.67.28.3114.4
40 A4.88.328.89.611.0819.2
50 A6.010.411.012.013.8524.0
60 A7.212.4813.214.416.6228.8
80 A9.616.6417.619.222.1638.4
100 A12.020.822.024.027.748.0
150 A18.031.233.036.041.5572.0
200 A24.041.644.048.055.496.0

Three Phase (Line-to-Line) — Amps to KVA Conversion Chart

Amps (A)kVA @ 208 VkVA @ 220 VkVA @ 380 VkVA @ 400 VkVA @ 415 VkVA @ 480 V
10 A3.603.816.586.937.198.31
20 A7.217.6213.1613.8614.3816.63
30 A10.8111.4319.7520.7821.5624.94
50 A18.0219.0532.9134.6435.9441.57
80 A28.8330.4852.6655.4257.5066.51
100 A36.0338.1165.8269.2871.8883.14
150 A54.0557.1698.73103.92107.82124.71
200 A72.0776.21131.64138.56143.76166.28
400 A144.14152.42263.28277.13287.51332.55

All three-phase values use line-to-line voltage and the Amps to KVA equation kVA = √3 × Amps × V ÷ 1,000. For line-to-neutral voltage, use kVA = 3 × Amps × V ÷ 1,000. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard transformer ratings follow these same conversion formulas.

kVA to amps shortcut and thumb rule

The reverse conversion — kVA to amps — is the same formula rearranged. There are 2 practical shortcuts electrical engineers use on job sites.

kVAApparent powerStarting value
×1kConvert to VAMultiply by 1,000
VφVoltage termV or √3 × V
AAmpsResult in amps
Reverse the conversionStarting with kVA, multiply by 1,000 and divide by the voltage term to recover current.

KVA to amps shortcut

The kVA to amps shortcut is: Amps = (kVA × 1,000) ÷ Volts for single-phase. For three-phase line-to-line: Amps = (kVA × 1,000) ÷ (√3 × Volts). These are the standard Amps to KVA equations solved for amps instead of kVA.

Amps = (kVA × 1,000) ÷ V
Amps = (kVA × 1,000) ÷ (1.732 × VLL)

KVA to amps thumb rule

The kVA to amps thumb rule for three-phase at 415 V is: 1 kVA ≈ 1.39 A. This approximation works because 1,000 ÷ (1.732 × 415) = 1.39. Electrical engineers and electricians use this rule when sizing wire, selecting a circuit breaker, or estimating the electrical load on a transformer without a calculator.

There are 4 common kVA to amps thumb rules at standard three-phase voltages:

  • At 208 V: 1 kVA ≈ 2.78 A
  • At 380 V: 1 kVA ≈ 1.52 A
  • At 415 V: 1 kVA ≈ 1.39 A
  • At 480 V: 1 kVA ≈ 1.20 A

KVA to amps examples

How many amps is 1 kVA?

1 kVA = 4.55 A at 220 V single-phase.
Amps = (1 × 1,000) ÷ 220 = 4.55 A

How many amps is 80 kVA?

80 kVA = 111.28 A at 415 V three-phase (L-L).
Amps = (80 × 1,000) ÷ (1.732 × 415) = 111.28 A

How many amps is 100 kVA?

100 kVA = 139.12 A at 415 V three-phase (L-L).
Amps = (100 × 1,000) ÷ (1.732 × 415) = 139.12 A

100 kVA at 480 V Three-Phase

100 kVA = 120.28 A at 480 V three-phase (L-L).
Amps = (100 × 1,000) ÷ (1.732 × 480) = 120.28 A

What is kVA in amps?

KVA and amps measure 2 different electrical quantities. KVA measures apparent power. Amps measure current.

Electrical power triangleA right triangle with real power in kilowatts on the base, reactive power in kilovolt-ampere reactive on the vertical side, and apparent power in kilovolt-amperes on the hypotenuse.kW · real powerkVAR · reactivekVA · apparent
kVA² = kW² + kVAR²Apparent power is the complete AC power demand.
Amps still depend on voltageThe same kVA rating draws different current at different voltages.
How kVA, kW, and kVAR relateThe power triangle explains apparent power; voltage and phase determine the corresponding current.

What is KVA in amps?

KVA (kilovolt-ampere) is a unit of apparent power that equals the product of voltage and current divided by 1,000. The ampere (A) is a unit of electrical current — the rate at which charge flows through a conductor. KVA combines both current and voltage into a single power measurement.

Nikola Tesla's work on alternating current (AC) systems established the framework for measuring apparent power. James Watt's unit — the watt — measures real power (the power that does work), while kVA measures the total power including reactive power from inductors and capacitors in AC circuits.

The relationship between kVA and amps depends on voltage. At 240 V single-phase, 1 kVA = 4.17 A. At 120 V single-phase, 1 kVA = 8.33 A. The same kVA rating produces different amp readings at different voltages.

KVA vs kW vs kVAR — Apparent Power, Real Power, Reactive Power

There are 3 types of electrical power in AC circuits:

  • kVA (kilovolt-ampere) = apparent power, the vector sum of real and reactive power
  • kW (kilowatt) = real power, the portion that performs useful work in an electric motor or heater
  • kVAR (kilovolt-ampere reactive) = reactive power, the portion that oscillates between source and load in inductors and capacitors

The power triangle defines their relationship: kVA² = kW² + kVAR²

Power factor (PF) links kVA to kW: kW = kVA × PF. With a power factor of 1.0, kVA equals kW. Most industrial electrical loads have a power factor between 0.80 and 0.95 per IEEE standards.

Sub calculators

Open a calculator tuned to a specific phase, voltage, direction, or DC supply.

3φThree phaseLine-to-line or line-to-neutral
240 VFixed voltageCalculate directly at 240 volts
UKReverse conversionkVA to amps at UK voltages
DCDirect currentUse the DC conversion path
Choose the calculator that matches the circuitEach focused tool keeps only the inputs needed for that conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions