Water Heater Size Calculator

Get a quick recommendation for storage tank capacity or tankless flow rate based on your household size.

Advertisement
Advertisement

What Is the Water Heater Size Calculator?

This calculator gives a quick recommendation for water heater sizing — either the storage tank capacity in gallons or the flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM) for a tankless unit — based on your household size.

Formula

Sizing follows standard plumbing industry rules of thumb: storage tank capacity and tankless flow rate both scale with the number of people in the household and expected simultaneous hot water use (showers, dishwasher, laundry).

How to Use This Calculator

Worked Example

A household of 3–4 people sizing a storage tank should look at roughly a 40-gallon unit, while the same household sizing a tankless unit should look for one rated at least 6 GPM.

Tips

If your household regularly runs multiple hot water fixtures at once (e.g., a shower and the dishwasher), size up to the next bracket to avoid running out of hot water.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is water heater size determined?

Based on household size, peak hour demand, and the heater's recovery rate.

What is first hour rating?

How many gallons of hot water a tank heater can deliver in the first hour of high demand.

Do tankless heaters get sized differently?

Yes — sized based on maximum simultaneous flow rate needed.

Suggest a Calculator

👋 We noticed you might be using an ad blocker. This site is free thanks to ads — consider allowing them here to support us. Thanks!