Wire Gauge Converter
Convert AWG wire gauge to diameter in mm and inches with cross-sectional area.
Includes ampacity ratings for copper and aluminum wire in free air and conduit.
Type in any field — the others update instantly. Enter AWG as a number (use -1 for 1/0, -2 for 2/0, -3 for 3/0, -4 for 4/0).
AWG (American Wire Gauge) is the standard wire size system in the US. Larger gauge numbers mean thinner wire.
AWG formula:
- Diameter (inches) = 0.005 × 92^((36 − AWG) / 39)
- Diameter (mm) = diameter (inches) × 25.4
- Area (mm²) = π × (diameter_mm / 2)²
Common AWG sizes:
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Diameter (in) | Area (mm²) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000 (4/0) | 11.684 | 0.4600 | 107.22 | Service entrance |
| 0 (1/0) | 8.251 | 0.3249 | 53.49 | Service entrance |
| 4 | 5.189 | 0.2043 | 21.15 | Range/oven feeder |
| 10 | 2.588 | 0.1019 | 5.26 | Dryer, AC circuits |
| 12 | 2.053 | 0.0808 | 3.31 | General household 20A |
| 14 | 1.628 | 0.0641 | 2.08 | General household 15A |
| 18 | 1.024 | 0.0403 | 0.82 | Low-voltage, bells |
| 22 | 0.644 | 0.0253 | 0.33 | Electronics, signals |
Metric vs Imperial:
- In the US, wire is specified by AWG number
- In Europe and most other countries, wire is specified by cross-sectional area in mm²
- Common metric sizes: 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 4.0, 6.0, 10, 16, 25 mm²
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This converter runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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