Household Clothes Dryer Demand Load (NEC 220.54)
The clothes-dryer feeder/service demand under NEC 220.54.
Example
You enter
- Number of dryers 4
- Each dryer nameplate (W) 4500
- Service voltage (V) 240
You get
- Per-dryer load (5000 W floor) 5000
- Demand load 20000
- Demand a 83.333
Details, formula, and sources
Each dryer counts at the larger of 5,000 W or its nameplate, then a Table 220.54 demand factor applies at five or more (four 4.5 kW dryers -> 20 kW / 83.3 A; five 5 kW dryers -> 85% -> 21.25 kW / 88.5 A). Five dryers demand only slightly more than four once the factor kicks in. The AHJ governs counts beyond the table.
per_dryer = max(nameplate, 5000 W); connected = per_dryer x count; demand = connected x factor; demand_a = demand / supply_v. Table 220.54 factor: 1-4 -> 100%, 5 -> 85%, 6 -> 75%, declining.
Electric clothes dryers, dwelling unit(s), NEC 2023 220.54 and Table 220.54, by name.
NEC is free to read at nfpa.org/freeaccess. The per-dryer load is the larger of 5,000 W or the nameplate; the demand factor for counts past the table is the published continuation.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed electrician govern. Verify against the NEC edition adopted in your jurisdiction.
Field names used by the API: num_dryers, nameplate_w, supply_v, per_dryer_w, demand_w, demand_a
- Per-dryer floor each dryer counts at the larger of 5,000 W or its nameplate ratingNEC 220.54
- Demand factors 100% for 1-4 dryers, 85% at 5, then declining per the bundled Table 220.54 seriesNEC Table 220.54