110V vs 220V: Which Electric Still Setup Fits Your Space?

Every still starts with one question you can't skip: where does the heat come from? On an electric copper still the answer runs through the wall. That means your choice between 110V and 220V isn't really about the still. It's about your room, your wiring, and how much you plan to run in each batch. Get that match right and you can run your whole process indoors, without propane, with heat you set by hand.

This guide covers what each voltage means in practice, which of our handmade copper stills use which element, and how to decide before you buy.

Why Go Electric in the First Place

A still works like a small lab. You heat a liquid, it turns to vapor, the vapor travels through copper, and it condenses back into liquid on the far side. The skill is in controlling each step. You're managing heat, watching temperature, and choosing when to make your cuts. An open flame makes that harder. Electric heat makes it easier.

With an element and controller you turn heat up or down with a dial, not a gas valve. There's no propane tank to refill and no open flame in the room, which is why so many people use electric setups indoors. When you want to repeat a run exactly, or change one thing to see what happens, electric control lets you work like a scientist.

The 110V Setup: Plug In Where You Already Are

110V is the standard household outlet found in kitchens, garages, and basements across the country. That's the whole appeal. If you have a regular outlet, you're most of the way there.

What 110V suits

• Smaller batches. Our 110V stills come in the 6 gallon size, which fits a countertop or a sturdy bench.
• Tight or shared spaces. An apartment kitchen, a workshop corner, or a spare room where you can't add new wiring.
• Learning the craft. A smaller pot is a good place to learn how heat, vapor, and timing affect what you collect.

110V stills in our lineup

• 6 Gallon Advanced Model 110V Electric Moonshine Liquor Still - Complete, from $999
• 6 Gallon Copper Moonshine / Liquor Still with 110v heating element w/ controller, Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port, from $1099

The second model adds the EZ Seal Cap and a 4 inch thumper port. That's useful if you want to try a thumper and see how one more stage changes your output.

The 220V Setup: More Room to Work

220V is the higher-voltage circuit many homes already use for an electric dryer or range. Some garages and shops have one too. If yours doesn't, adding one is a job for a licensed electrician, not a weekend guess. Check what you have before you order.

What 220V suits

• Bigger batches. Every still we make above 6 gallons runs on a 220V element: 10, 15, 20, and 25 gallon sizes.
• Dedicated spaces. A garage, outbuilding, or workshop where the still can have its own place and its own circuit.
• Fewer, larger runs. If you'd rather do one big batch than several small ones, a larger pot gets you there.

220V stills in our lineup

• 10 Gallon Advanced Model - Complete 220V Electric Copper Moonshine Still, from $1249
• 10 Gallon Advanced Model with 220v Element and Controller Complete Copper Distiller, from $1100
• 15 Gallon Advanced Model 220V Electric Copper Moonshine Still - Complete, from $1299
• 20 Gallon 220V Electric Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port, from $1199
• 25 Gallon Advanced Model Complete Copper Distiller with 220V Electric Element and Controller, from $1299. A 50% deposit option is also available, from $715.

How to Decide: Four Questions

1. What outlets do you already have where the still will sit? If you only have standard outlets and can't add a circuit, 110V and a 6 gallon still is your answer.
2. How much do you want per run? If 6 gallons feels small for what you plan to do, you're in 220V territory.
3. Is the space shared or dedicated? A shared kitchen favors the compact 110V option. A garage or shop can handle a 220V setup with a larger pot.
4. Do you want to grow? Starting small on 110V is a fine way to learn. You can move up to a larger 220V still later if you need more capacity.

Already Own a Copper Still? Add the Element

You don't need a whole new still to switch to electric. We sell elements with controllers on their own:

• 110v & 220v Electric Heating Element W/Controller, from $349. Choose the voltage that fits your space.
• 220v Electric Heating Element W/Controller For Moonshine Stills, from $449

If you aren't sure which element fits your pot, call us at 603-997-6786 before you order. We're a family shop in New Hampshire and we build these stills by hand, so we'll talk it through with you.

Tools That Turn Runs Into Data

Electric heat gives you control. Good measurement tells you what that control is doing. Two small additions help a lot:

• Hydrometer Set For Measuring the Alcohol Proof %, from $29, so you can read what's in the jar instead of guessing.
• Copper Proofing Parrot, from $119. It sits at the output so you can check readings as the liquid flows.

To learn the reasons behind each step, the Distilling Data Dump - Compiled Distillation Research (from $29) collects distillation research in one place. Some of our 25 gallon listings bundle the parrot and hydrometer with the still, which is worth a look if you're buying big.

A Note on the Law

Owning a still is legal in the United States. Stills are used to distill water, extract essential oils, and, with the right permit, make fuel alcohol. Distilling alcohol for drinking requires federal permits from the TTB, and your state and town may have their own rules. Before you run anything, make sure you follow federal, state, and local law.

The Short Answer

Choose 110V if you want to plug into a standard outlet, work in a smaller or shared space, and run 6 gallon batches. Choose 220V if you have or can add a dedicated circuit and want a 10, 15, 20, or 25 gallon still. Either way you get copper, steady electric heat, and a controller you adjust yourself, with no propane involved.