how many volts is a lightning strike

A typical lightning strike is about 300 million volts , though estimates vary widely and some strikes can reach around 1 billion volts. The National Weather Service also notes that a typical flash is about 300 million volts and about 30,000 amps.

Quick Scoop

For a simple comparison, that is vastly more than a household outlet at 120 volts.

Why the number varies

Lightning is not one fixed number because the voltage depends on the type of strike, the storm conditions, and how the charge builds and moves through the air. Some sources give lower averages, such as around 100 million volts, while others report much higher peak values.

Easy takeaway

If you just want the short answer: hundreds of millions of volts is the usual estimate, with some strikes reaching a billion volts.