---
title: "What Is Amperage? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "Amperage is the amount of electric current moving through a circuit, measured in amps. It sets how large breakers and wires must be."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/amperage
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

Power and utility

# Amperage

Amperage is the amount of electric current moving through a circuit, measured in amps. It sets how large breakers and wires must be.

Amps measure how much current moves through a wire. A breaker's amp rating is the most current its circuit should carry. The CPSC explains that a breaker should trip when overloading pushes current above the breaker's amperage rating. Wire has its own limit, called [ampacity](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/ampacity).

Amperage is not the same as [voltage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage) or [wattage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/wattage), though the three are linked. Matching breaker, wire and load is work for a licensed electrician. See [why a breaker keeps tripping](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/blog/breaker-keeps-tripping).

[Daniel Electric can helpResidential electrician](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/electrician)

## Related terms

-   [Ampacity](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/ampacity)
-   [Voltage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage)
-   [Wattage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/wattage)
-   [Overload](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/overload)

## Sources

1.  [CPSC: Commission Closes Investigation Of FPE Circuit Breakers And Provides Safety Information For Consumers](https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1983/Commission-Closes-Investigation-Of-FPE-Circuit-Breakers-And-Provides-Safety-Information-For-Consumers)
2.  [OSHA: 1910.399 Definitions applicable to this subpart](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.399)

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