How Many Christmas Lights Can I Plug Into a Circuit?

1. The type of Christmas lights you will be using

2. If there is anything else running on the same circuit

3. Your circuit's amperage

Generally, holiday lights will inform you on the package instructions, how much power they require. If you have plan to light up the neighborhood with Christmas spirit this year, we suggest that you run separate electrical circuits. This ensures that nothing else will get plugged into the circuit, stealing power away from your holiday lights.

The number of holiday lights a circuit will handle is dependent on a few factors:

How Do I Calculate My Circuits Ameperage?

If you want to know how many watts of bulbs your circuit can handle, the equation is:

Household Outlets	120 volts
Circuits in Avg. Home	15 amp or 20 amp

Household Outlets can handle about 120 volts, and average circuits at home are usually 15 or 20 amps. In order to calculate the number of watts your circuit can handle, use the equation above. Below are two examples:

1. To calculate the number of watts that a 15-amp circuit could handle, you would calculate:

Watts = 120 (volts) x 15 (amps

= 1,800 watts

80% = 1,440 watts

*Please Note* Never load your circuit to the absolute maximum wattage. The rule of thumb is to load 80% of the wattage to leave room for error, or expansion. So this circuit can only handle 1,440 watts.

2. To calculate the number of watts that a 20-amp circuit could handle, you would calculate:

Watts = 120 (volts) x 20 (amps)

= 2,400 watts

80% = 1,920 watts

Although this circuit can handle an absolute maximum wattage of 2,400 watts, 80% of this circuit can handle up to 1,920 watts.

What if there are other lights or appliances hooked up to the same circuit?

If you are installing Christmas lights to a circuit that also has, for example 5 60-watt lightbulbs, you must subtract the total wattage of the lightbulbs from the number of watts your circuit can handle.

For example, if your circuit can handle 1,440 watts, you must subtract 300 watts from the total. After subtracting the existing lightbulbs’ wattage, you should have a total of 1,140 watts left available. A small string of LED lights may only use 12 watts, so you should be able to string 95 led lights without causing any fire hazard for your circuit.

How did I get 95, as an answer?

Simply divide 1,140 watts by 12 watts, to get the total number of stringed lights that can run safely from your circuit.

Recommended Reading

Holiday Lighting Safety Tips: The Do's and Don'ts

Ensure holiday lighting safety by checking each lightbulb and cord for nicks or abrasions. Learn more do's and don'ts of holiday lighting!

How to Determine the Load Capacity of Your Circuit Breaker

Circuit breaks act as a safety buffer to disconnect power when they detect a passing current that exceeds the amperage. Determine the number of electrical devices the breaker can handle.

Why Is the Circuit Breaker Tripping? Troubleshooting Tips for your Breaker Box

Circuit breakers can trip during certain hazardous situations, like during a circuit overload, short circuit, or ground fault. These circuit breakers work in many commercial and residential applications.

Shakir Williams

A true creative with a penchant for the spiritual and natural order. She loves the Earth, almost as much as she loves writing about it.