On this page, you will find out how many watts a car cigarette lighter can handle.
I use my Volvo’s 12V socket every time I drive; it’s funny because I don’t smoke! These sockets aren’t used for lighting cigarettes anymore. Instead, it’s perfect for charging my phone, plus for long journeys, it makes sure Google Maps doesn’t drain my battery.
Recently, I’ve added a power inverter so I can charge devices like laptops. If you’re adding equipment like this it’s important to know how many watts your cigarette lighter socket delivers.
Below we will discuss and test cigarette lighter wattage, explain how to find it out for your vehicle, and look at some examples.
How Many Watts Can a Car Cigarette Lighter Handle?
The average car cigarette lighter port outputs between 120 and 150 watts.
Generally, this is a standard size for most cars, although modern vehicles sometimes have an increased power capacity.
You should also know that these outlets are 12 Volt Direct Current (DC). This means you’ll only be able to run DC devices directly. To run higher 120 Volt AC electronics you’ll need a car power inverter.
A car inverter comes with a 12V plug designed to fit your car cigarette lighter outlet. An inverter will only be able to draw the maximum wattage the outlet is rated to. This means an inverter can only draw 150 watts from this outlet, even if the inverter has a higher maximum power capacity.
For example, a 500W inverter will only be able to draw 150W from your car’s cigarette lighter. To draw higher power, you should hook up your inverter directly to your starter battery. This gives you access to the full wattage of the alternator.
The exact capacity of your vehicle’s 12V socket might be slightly different so it’s best to check your manual for exact specification.
Cigarette Lighter Wattage Examples
Let’s take a look at specific examples of how many watts a cigarette lighter draws. Below is a collection of modern cigarette lighters with their listed power ratings.
| Cigarette Lighter Car Model | Power Rating (Watts) |
| Volvo V90 2017 | 150 |
| Jaguar F-Pace 2020 | 120 |
| Range Rover Evoque 2020 | 120 |
| VW Golf | 120 |
| Ford MME 2022 | 240 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 144 |
| Toyota Rav4 | 120 |
As you can see, the power ratings vary between different cigarette lighters. So you should take the time to check your own socket.
How Many Watts From a Cigarette Lighter Summary
I hope you now have a clear understanding of how many watts a car cigarette lighter socket produces.
It is important to understand these sockets can’t provide an unlimited amount of power. They were originally designed to run very small heating elements. I’ve seen many people overload their car’s electrical system by running multiple entertainment systems for their kids!!
With more and more electronics in vehicles, you should refrain from trying to use more than 120 watts from a 12V socket. It simply won’t cope with your demands.
