diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index f6e915e..c216db3 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ Customize label
 set -g @dracula-cpu-usage-label "CPU"
 ```
 
+Show load average instead of percentage
+
+```bash
+set -g @dracula-cpu-display-load true
+```
+
 #### gpu-usage options
 
 Customize label
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index eef0aaa..f4b3c51 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Configuration and options can be found at [draculatheme.com/tmux](https://dracul
 * Git branch and status
 * Battery percentage and AC power connection status
 * Refresh rate control
-* CPU usage
+* CPU usage (percentage or load average)
 * RAM usage
 * GPU usage
 * Color code based on if prefix is active or not
diff --git a/scripts/cpu_info.sh b/scripts/cpu_info.sh
index 0cd396b..41b49c1 100755
--- a/scripts/cpu_info.sh
+++ b/scripts/cpu_info.sh
@@ -27,13 +27,30 @@ get_percent()
   esac
 }
 
-main()
-{
+get_load() {
+  case $(uname -s) in
+  Linux | Darwin)
+    loadavg=$(uptime | awk -F'[a-z]:' '{ print $2}' | sed 's/,//g')
+    echo $loadavg
+    ;;
+
+  CYGWIN* | MINGW32* | MSYS* | MINGW*)
+    # TODO - windows compatability
+    ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+main() {
   # storing the refresh rate in the variable RATE, default is 5
   RATE=$(get_tmux_option "@dracula-refresh-rate" 5)
-  cpu_label=$(get_tmux_option "@dracula-cpu-usage-label" "CPU")
-  cpu_percent=$(get_percent)
-  echo "$cpu_label $cpu_percent"
+  cpu_load=$(get_tmux_option "@dracula-cpu-display-load" false)
+  if [ "$cpu_load" = true ]; then
+    echo "$(get_load)"
+  else
+    cpu_label=$(get_tmux_option "@dracula-cpu-usage-label" "CPU")
+    cpu_percent=$(get_percent)
+    echo "$cpu_label $cpu_percent"
+  fi
   sleep $RATE
 }