Home & DIY

Water Heater Size Calculator

Tank or tankless size for your home.

Enter your values

Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed.

Results
Recommended tank size
70 gallons
Tankless flow needed
4.4 gpm
Required heating capacity
154,000 BTU/h
First hour rating target
112 gallons
Peak demand
264 gallons/hour

Quick answer

Tank heaters are sized on first hour rating and household size; tankless units are sized on peak simultaneous flow.

How to use the Water Heater Size Calculator

  1. 1Enter household size and bathroom count.
  2. 2Estimate how many fixtures run at once.
  3. 3Set the temperature rise for your climate.

Frequently asked questions

Tank or tankless?

Tankless suits steady demand and saves standby losses; tanks handle short heavy peaks better.

What is first hour rating?

The gallons a tank can deliver in one hour starting fully hot — the number that really matters.