Restaurant Kitchen Load Calculation
Calculate the electrical load for a commercial restaurant kitchen — cooking equipment demand factors per NEC Table 220.56.
Scenario Overview
Calculate the electrical demand for a full-service restaurant kitchen with commercial cooking equipment, applying NEC Table 220.56 demand factors for commercial kitchen loads.
Given Information
- •Full-service restaurant: 2,800 sq ft
- •6-burner electric range: 20 kW
- •Electric convection oven: 12 kW
- •Deep fryers (2×): 8 kW each
- •Electric griddle: 10 kW
- •Commercial dishwasher: 6 kW
- •Walk-in cooler: 3 HP (240V, 3Φ)
- •Walk-in freezer: 5 HP (240V, 3Φ)
- •Exhaust hood: 2 HP (240V, 3Φ)
- •HVAC: 15 ton packaged unit (208V, 3Φ)
Calculation Steps
List All Kitchen Cooking Equipment
Total connected cooking load:
Range: 20 kW
Convection oven: 12 kW
2× deep fryers: 16 kW
Griddle: 10 kW
Dishwasher: 6 kW (not always counted as cooking equipment — check AHJ)
Total cooking equipment: 58 kW (without dishwasher) or 64 kW (with).
Result: 58-64 kW total cooking equipment
Apply NEC Table 220.56 Demand Factor
For 5+ pieces of cooking equipment: NEC Table 220.56 allows 65% demand factor.
58 kW × 0.65 = 37.7 kW demand.
Note: Ventilation required by the equipment is not eligible for this demand factor.
Result: 37.7 kW kitchen equipment demand
Motor Loads (Compressors, Exhaust)
Walk-in cooler 3 HP: NEC Table 430.250 → 9.6A at 230V 3Φ.
Walk-in freezer 5 HP: → 15.2A at 230V 3Φ.
Exhaust hood 2 HP: → 6.8A at 230V 3Φ.
Largest motor (15.2A) at 125%: 19A.
Total motor: 19 + 9.6 + 6.8 = 35.4A.
Motor VA: 35.4 × 208 × √3 = 12,757 VA.
Result: 12,757 VA motor loads
General Lighting & Receptacles
Restaurant: NEC Table 220.12 = 2 VA/ft² for restaurants.
2,800 × 2 = 5,600 VA lighting.
Receptacles: 20 outlets × 180 VA = 3,600 VA.
Total: 9,200 VA (under 10 kW, no demand reduction).
Result: 9,200 VA lighting + receptacles
HVAC Load
15 ton packaged HVAC: approximately 65A at 208V 3Φ.
VA = 65 × 208 × √3 = 23,423 VA.
100% demand — no demand factor for HVAC.
Result: 23,423 VA HVAC
Total Service Demand
Kitchen: 37,700 VA
Motors: 12,757 VA
Lighting/Receptacles: 9,200 VA
HVAC: 23,423 VA
Total: 83,080 VA.
Service amps: 83,080 / (208 × √3) = 230.7A.
Next standard service: 400A (provides growth capacity).
Result: 231A demand → 400A service recommended
Final Answer
Total calculated demand: 83,080 VA (231A at 208V 3Φ). Recommended: 400A, 208Y/120V, 3-phase service. Kitchen cooking equipment demand reduced from 58 kW to 37.7 kW using NEC Table 220.56 (65% demand factor for 5+ units).
Key Takeaways
- •NEC Table 220.56 significantly reduces kitchen equipment demand — 65% for 5+ units
- •Motor loads use NEC 430 FLC tables, not nameplate amps, for sizing
- •Restaurant electrical services are typically 400A due to heavy cooking and HVAC loads
- •Exhaust hood motors are NOT eligible for the cooking equipment demand factor
Calculators Used
NEC References
- NEC Table 220.56 — Kitchen Equipment Demand
- NEC 220.12 — Lighting by Occupancy
- NEC 430 — Motor Circuits