Resistor Power Rating Calculator

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Ω

Resistor Power Rating Calculator

Enter the resistor value and either voltage or current, then pick a safe standard wattage rating

Inputs
Ω
V
Resulting Current
Power Dissipated
Actual Power
Recommended Rating (2× margin)
Minimum Safe (no margin)
Relations used: V = I×R, P = V×I = I²R = V²/R. Enter the resistor's value plus whichever of voltage or current your circuit provides — the other electrical quantity and the dissipated power are computed automatically. Recommended rating applies a conservative 2× headroom over the actual dissipated power (e.g. 0.3W actual → use a 0.5W or larger resistor), which is standard practice for reliability and heat margin, especially in enclosed or high-ambient-temperature spots.
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