Free PoE Budget Calculator

Calculate your PoE requirements

Check your switch's total power budget before installing cameras, access points, or other powered devices. No sign-in required.

Free to calculate. Use each device's rated maximum draw—including IR, heaters, or accessory loads where applicable.

How to size a PoE switch

Device load: number of devices × maximum watts per device. Headroom: reserve a portion of the switch's available PoE budget. Max planned load: switch PoE budget × (1 − reserve percentage). The estimated device load should be below that planned maximum.

Example: 24 security cameras

If 24 cameras each draw up to 12 W, the total is 288 W. A switch providing 370 W of available PoE power has a 296 W planned device-load limit when reserving 20% of its budget (74 W). The 288 W camera load passes this total-budget check, provided each port can supply its attached device.

What else should you check?

• Use manufacturer maximum draw, including IR illumination, heaters, or other peak loads where applicable.
• Confirm the IEEE PoE standard and per-port power limit match each device.
• Verify the quoted switch budget is available to powered devices, not only the switch's AC input rating.
• Review cable length, wiring quality, voltage drop, and UPS runtime separately.

This is an estimate, not an electrical compliance determination or a replacement for manufacturer specifications.