AWG Wire Gauge Reference
Current capacity, resistance, and voltage drop calculator
14 AWG Copper Wire
Common for household electrical circuits (15A). Diameter: 1.63mm
📐 Voltage Drop Calculator
⚠️ For DC or single-phase AC. Uses round-trip wire length (×2). Recommended max voltage drop: 3% for branch circuits, 5% total.
📋 AWG Reference Table
Click a row to select that gauge for the calculator
| AWG | Dia (mm) | Area (mm²) | Ω/1000ft | Ω/km | Amps* | Common Uses |
|---|
* Max amps for chassis wiring / open air. Bundled wires or conduit require derating. Always follow local electrical codes.
Understanding AWG
American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standardized system for wire sizes. Counter-intuitively, smaller numbers = thicker wire. Each step down in gauge increases diameter by about 26% and doubles the cross-sectional area every 3 gauges.
Quick Rules of Thumb
- Every 3 AWG = double/half the cross-sectional area
- Every 6 AWG = double/half the resistance
- Every 10 AWG = 10× the cross-sectional area
- 10 AWG ≈ 1mm² (close approximation)
Voltage Drop Guidelines
NEC recommends maximum 3% voltage drop for branch circuits and 5% total (feeder + branch). Excessive voltage drop wastes energy as heat and can cause equipment malfunction.