Reference sheet
AWG wire gauge
Gauge to mm² and the current a wire can really carry
AWG table (wire gauge)
A wire has no single current rating. What sets it is the temperature the insulation will stand, so the same copper carries very different currents depending on where the heat can go — which is why there are two columns here and not one.
Chassis is a single insulated conductor in free air over a short run. Power transmission is the conservative figure for a long run or a bundle. Derate both for ambient above 30 °C, for conductors bundled together, and for insulation rated below 80 °C. For anything on the mains, follow your local electrical code — not this table.
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Area (mm²) | Resistance (mΩ/m) | Chassis (A) | Transmission (A) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5.189 | 21.15 | 0.815 | 135 | 60 | |
| 6 | 4.115 | 13.3 | 1.296 | 101 | 37 | |
| 8 | 3.264 | 8.367 | 2.061 | 73 | 24 | |
| 10 | 2.588 | 5.26 | 3.28 | 55 | 15 | |
| 12 | 2.053 | 3.31 | 5.21 | 41 | 9.3 | |
| 14 | 1.628 | 2.082 | 8.28 | 32 | 5.9 | |
| 16 | 1.291 | 1.309 | 13.2 | 22 | 3.7 | |
| 18 | 1.024 | 0.8235 | 21 | 16 | 2.3 | |
| 20 | 0.812 | 0.5178 | 33.3 | 11 | 1.5 | |
| 22 | 0.644 | 0.3257 | 53 | 7 | 0.92 | |
| 24 | 0.511 | 0.2051 | 84.2 | 3.5 | 0.577 | |
| 26 | 0.405 | 0.1288 | 133.9 | 2.2 | 0.361 | |
| 28 | 0.321 | 0.08093 | 212.9 | 1.4 | 0.226 | |
| 30 | 0.255 | 0.05107 | 338.6 | 0.86 | 0.142 | |
| 32 | 0.202 | 0.03205 | 538.3 | 0.53 | 0.091 | |
| 34 | 0.16 | 0.02011 | 856 | 0.3 | 0.056 |
