---
title: "What Is Wattage? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "Wattage is how much power a device uses at one moment, measured in watts. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/wattage
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

Power and utility

# Wattage

Wattage is how much power a device uses at one moment, measured in watts. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains that electricity is measured in units of power called watts, and that one kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. A small bulb and a space heater draw power at very different rates. Watts tie together [voltage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage) and [amperage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/amperage): volts times amps equals watts.

Watts show the rate. The bill counts [kilowatt-hours](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/kilowatt-hour), which are watts used over time. Adding up the wattage on one circuit helps show when it may overload. Circuits that trip often need 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

-   [Kilowatt-hour](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/kilowatt-hour)
-   [Voltage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage)
-   [Amperage](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/amperage)
-   [Overload](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/overload)

## Sources

1.  [U.S. Energy Information Administration: Measuring electricity](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/measuring-electricity.php)
2.  [U.S. Energy Information Administration: Measuring electricity](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/measuring-electricity.php)

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