The American Wire Gauge (AWG) Diameter function returns the diameter of wire based on the gauge.
INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:
- (WG) Wire Gauge (choose from list)
Wire Diameters (D): The calculator returns the diameter in mils (1/1000th of an inch) and in millimeters. It also returns the cross-section area (CSA) in square millimeters (mm2)
The Math / Science
This utility computes the wire gauge from the input gauge number, which has one of the following gauge designations: 00 (2/0), 000 (3/0), 0000 (4/0). See Diameter of AWG < 00 for smaller gauges.
The wire diameter formula for gauges from 0 to 40 is:
`x = (32-WG)/39`
`D = 0.005 * 92^x`
where:
- D = Diameter of the wire in inches
- WG = Wire Gauge (0 to 40)
The wire diameter formula for gauges 0000000 (7/0), 000000 (6/0), 00000 (5/0), 0000 (4/0), 000 (3/0), and 00 (2/0) is:
`x = -1.12436 - (0.11594*n)`
`D = e^x`
where:
- D = Diameter of wire in inches
- n = -1 for gauge 00 (2/0), -2 for gauge 000 (3/0), -3 for gauge 0000 (4/0), -4 for gauge 00000 (5/0), -5 for gauge 000000 (6/0), -6 for gauge 0000000 (7/0)
Notes
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standard for diameters of round solid, nonferrous electrically conducting wires and the standard is used predominantly in North America. Larger gauge numbers correspond to decreasing wire diameters. The gauges define the total cross sectional area which then correlates to the wire's electrical resistance and current carrying capacity. The AWG standard has two fixed gauge points in the scale: No. 36 AWG is defined to be exactly 0.005 inches in diameter and No. 0000 is defined to be 0.46 inches in diameter.
Two formula define the diameters at all ranges of AWG numbers. The first range is for wire diameters larger than gauge 0. The second range is for gauges from 0 through 36.
AWG Wire Diameters
The diameter of AWG (American Wire Gauge) wires decreases as the gauge number increases. Here are the diameters for some common AWG wire sizes:
Key Points:
- Larger Diameter, Lower Gauge: As the gauge number decreases, the wire diameter increases.
- Smaller Diameter, Higher Gauge: As the gauge number increases, the wire diameter decreases.
These diameters are for solid wires. For stranded wires, the overall diameter can be slightly larger due to the small gaps between the strands.
Electrician Calculators
- Voltage Drop: This computes the voltage drop in volts and as a percentage over a length of cable (wire) based on length of wire, gauge, wire material, temperature range and phase.
- Wire Gauge Choice for Safe Voltage Drop: This determines the lightest gauge of wire that can be used over a run (circuit) that maintains adequate voltage.
- Circular Mils and Voltage Drop: This computes voltage drop based on wire diameter in circular mils instead of wire gauge.
- Electricity Usage Cost: This computes the cost of electricity for the use of a piece of equipment based on the power consumption rate, duration and cost of electricity.
- Electricity Consumption: This computes the amount of electricity consumed by an electrical appliance or motor over time.
- Rolling Offset: This computes the travel (T) and run (R) of a rolling offset used in conduit piping based on the offsets and angles.
- Diameter of AWG Wire: This provides the diameter of wire based on the American Wire Guide (AWG) gauge in mils and millimeters, and it also provide the cross-section area in square millimeters.
- P = V2 / R: This computes power (Watts) based on the voltage (V) and resistance (R).
- DC to AC Converter: Computes the approximate voltage of Alternating Current (AC) from the voltage of Direct Current (DC).
- Diameter to Circular Mils: Computed the circular mils of a wire and the cross-section area based on the wire's diameter.