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Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V Review

Written from the listing and 2,187 buyer reviews, not from our own use · How we rate

We like the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) for the mix: up to 4.4 GPM, 18 kW of heating power and self-modulating power. It's our #1 pick for whole-house electric tankless water heaters, and a natural fit for a smaller home or one main bathroom on electric.

Variants of this model

These are sold as variants of one listing family. Each variant has its own page.

Price$422.92Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
Compare side by side ↗
Specifications
BrandRheem
CategoryElectric tankless water heaters
FuelElectric
Stated maximum flow4.4 GPM
Stated heating power18 kW
Stated voltage240 V
Buyer reviews2,187 · 4.2/5
ASINB01MR7Z39V

Full listing title: Rheem 18kW 240V Tankless Electric Water Heater, Gray

Listing evidence
Fuel18kW Full listing title
Stated maximum flowup to 4.4 GPM Listing text
Stated heating power18kW Full listing title
Stated voltage240V Full listing title
Updated October 2026
Exact listing, ASIN B01MR7Z39V
Rating from a published formula

Compared with its closest rivals

The two picks next to it in our whole-house electric tankless water heaters ranking, with their rating and a dated price.

Compare side by side ↗

Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V

Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V

9.3Excellent · out of 10$422.92 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
  • Stated: 4.4 GPM · 18 kW · 240 V
  • 2,187 buyer reviews
  • Electric tankless water heaters
This product ↑
WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric, 240V

WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric, 240V

8.1Very good · out of 10$499.98 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
  • Stated: 8.7 GPM · 36 kW · 240 V
  • 203 buyer reviews
  • Electric tankless water heaters
See the review ↗
Stiebel Eltron Tempra 29 Plus

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 29 Plus

7.9Very good · out of 10$798.99 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
  • Stated: 28.8 kW · 240 V
  • 451 buyer reviews
  • Electric tankless water heaters
See the review ↗

18 kW at 240 V

The heating power the listing states. At 240 V it draws about 75 A. Before you think about showers, your electrician has to say yes to that number at the panel in the garage.

Why it made our list

What changes in the morning shower rush

4.4 GPM max. That is the headline figure, usually at a modest temperature rise. Our calculator counts a shower at 2 GPM, so think one shower at a time.

Self-modulating. It draws only the power the flow and the setpoint need, instead of slamming every element on. Steadier temperature, and no wasted amps on a summer afternoon.

Warm tap water or a cold January?

Warm tap water: where it comes in around 62 °F (much of the South), 18 kW gives about 2.9 GPM of 105 °F water on our calculator's maths. That's one 2 GPM shower at a time.

A cold January: where it comes in at 42 °F, it's about 1.9 GPM, less than one 2 GPM shower. Up north, that's the figure to size against, and it's why the honest answer is sometimes a second unit or gas.

Great for you if…

  • You want our #1 whole-house electric tankless water heater
  • You live somewhere the tap water never gets icy
  • You want the shower temperature to stay put
  • You trust a long track record: 2,187 buyer reviews

Skip it if…

  • Your panel is already close to full: 18 kW is about 75 A at 240 V
  • Your tap water comes in icy in January: 18 kW gives about 1.9 GPM at a 63 °F rise

What Rheem promises

The seller states, word for word, in the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) listing:

  • External digital thermostatic control with LED display (+/1 degree accuracy).
  • Durable Copper immersion two heating elements, field Serviceable.

That's the seller talking, not us. No listing tells you how it copes with 42 °F water at 6:45 in the morning.

Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V, view 3

Power, wiring and what's in the box

What the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) listing names:

  • 18 kW
  • 240 V
  • Up to 4.4 GPM
  • Self-modulating
  • Digital display

For the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V), the installation manual settles the breakers and the wire.

Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V, view 4

Price and cost per kW

$422.92 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed

At the price on Sep 30, 2026, each kW of stated heating power works out at about $23.50 (price ÷ stated kW, our arithmetic). That puts it in the pricier third of the 27 whole-house electric tankless heaters we have a price and a stated power for.

The electrician comes on top: new double-pole breakers, heavy wire and, in some houses, a panel upgrade.

The button opens the exact listing (ASIN B01MR7Z39V), where today's price, stock and seller apply. Sizes and variants of the same family often sit at different prices.

Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V, view 5

A better fit for your house and panel?

Colder tap water where you live? The WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric, 240V (8.1/10) is rated 36 kW.

Only one sink far from the heater? The ThermoMate 14 kW Electric, 240V (7.9/10) is a 14 kW point-of-use unit.

Want to spend less? The SIVUATEK 18 kW Electric, 240V (7.7/10) was listed at $245.99 on Sep 30, 2026.

Our take

The verdict

If a friend asked us for one whole-house electric tankless water heater, we'd point them to the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V). 2,187 buyers give it 4.2/5, good but not spotless. Where it falls short: no word on the breakers it needs. If it covers your morning rush in January, we'd start here. If not, the WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric (240V) is plan B.

Living with it

Install day

New breakers, the unit on the wall next to the old tank's spot, water in and out. An electrician does the panel side.

The first shower

Hot in a few seconds once the water in the pipes has passed, and the power steps up and down with the flow (self-modulating, per the listing). Set it, then leave it.

The first winter

With 42 °F water coming in, 18 kW gives about 1.9 GPM at 105 °F on our calculator's maths. Low-flow shower heads stretch that further.

Upkeep

Clean the inlet screen and flush out scale on hard water. Our flushing and descaling guide has the routine.

What buyers say

Buyers give it 4.2/5, a solid record, slightly below this ranking's 4.3 average. And with 2,187 reviews behind it, that number is hard to argue with.

The numbers
Buyer rating
4.2/5
Reviews
2,187
This ranking's average
4.3/5

The one thing we'd check first

Before the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) goes in your cart, check your panel: 18 kW at 240 V is roughly 75 A, so an electrician should look at the panel first.

Before you buy

Your panel

Take a photo of the panel label (main breaker size and free slots) and send it to the electrician with the listing. Our electrical requirements guide explains what they will look for.

Your winter flow

On our calculator's maths, 18 kW gives about 1.9 GPM with 42 °F winter water and 2.9 GPM with 62 °F water. Our flow-rate calculator does it for your region.

The install

Hardwired 240 V work needs a licensed electrician and often a permit. Our install cost guide shows what usually ends up on the quote.

Scale

Hard water still builds up on the elements and the inlet screen. Our flushing and descaling guide covers the routine.

How it compares

How the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) stacks up against the closest alternative in our ranking, the WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric (240V).

CriterionRheem 18 kW Electric, 240VWINTEMP WN-36kW Electric, 240V
Our rating9.3/108.1/10
Heating power18 kW36 kW
Max flow4.4 GPM8.7 GPM
BreakersNot stated1 × 50 A
WarrantyNot stated2 years
Buyer reviews2,187 · 4.2/5203 · 4.4/5

Pick the WINTEMP WN-36kW Electric (240V) if more power (36 kW) and more stated flow (8.7 GPM) matter more to you; on our rating, the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) comes out ahead.

The score in detail

How we rated it

Our score: 9.3/10

Buyer rating (45%)

37.8 / 45

4.2/5 average

Review volume (35%)

31.6 / 35

2,100 buyer reviews

Documented specifications (20%)

14.6 / 20

73/100 listing documentation score

Our rating is an evidence index on a 0–10 scale. It is not a buyer star rating, and we have not used the product ourselves.

  • Buyer rating (45%): the captured average shown on this variant's own listing page (not shared with the other Rheem variants), damped when there are fewer than 50 reviews.
  • Review volume (35%): more reviews mean more reliable evidence, on a logarithmic scale up to 5,000 reviews.
  • Documented specifications (20%): how completely the exact listing documents the attributes that matter.

Our editors then look at how it compares with the other heaters we rate. A commission is never an input to the rating. Read the full methodology.

Read the methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) any good?

We rate it 9.3/10 (excellent), #1 of 5 in our whole-house electric tankless water heater ranking. It is based on 2,187 buyer reviews averaging 4.2/5 and the specifications stated in the listing.

How much hot water can the Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V deliver?

The listing states a maximum flow of 4.4 GPM and a heating power of 18 kW on 240 V. The headline flow is a mild-weather number: with cold winter water coming in, the same unit gives you less. Read the maker's flow chart at your winter rise, or let our flow-rate calculator do the sums.

What electrical service does the Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V need?

The listing states 240 V and 18 kW. At 240 V, that is roughly 75 A. A licensed electrician checks the panel, the breakers and the wiring before it goes on the wall.

What do you get with the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V)?

Its listing states up to 4.4 GPM, 18 kW of heating power and self-modulating power. These are the seller's figures, not our measurements: how steady the temperature is in your shower and how it copes with your winter water can't be read from a listing.

What should I check before ordering the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V)?

Your panel: take a photo of the panel label (main breaker size and free slots) and send it to the electrician with the listing. Our electrical requirements guide explains what they will look for. Your winter flow: on our calculator's maths, 18 kW gives about 1.9 GPM with 42 °F winter water and 2.9 GPM with 62 °F water. Our flow-rate calculator does it for your region. The install: hardwired 240 V work needs a licensed electrician and often a permit. Our install cost guide shows what usually ends up on the quote. Scale: hard water still builds up on the elements and the inlet screen. Our flushing and descaling guide covers the routine.

Where can I buy the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V)?

We link to the exact listing on Amazon, where today's price, stock and seller apply. It is an affiliate link, and it has no effect on the rating.

Have you used the Rheem 18 kW Electric (240V) yourselves?

No, we haven't used it ourselves. Everything on this page comes from its listing and 2,187 buyer reviews, read line by line and weighed with our published formula.

Keep comparing

If the Rheem 18 kW Electric, 240V hasn't sold you yet, see where it ranks, read the guides that feature it or browse all electric tankless water heaters.

Where it ranks

Read this before you buy