AWG 10 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 10 is defined by the gauge formula, not by a table: the diameter is 0.127 mm times 92 raised to the power (36 - n) / 39. Everything else follows from that and the conductor resistivity.
A rough guide: 3 to 5 A/mm2 for chassis wiring, under 2 for long runs in conduit.
- Diameter
- 2.588 19
- Area in circular mils
- 10.383
- Resistance of that length
- 0.327 685 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 3.276 85 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 0.998 783 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 4.713 99
- Current at the chosen density
- 21.04 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 3.864
Show the working
- Length of wire = 100
- Conductor = 1.724e-8
- Conductor temperature = 20
- Conductor density = 8960
- Design current density = 4
- Diameter = 0.127 * 92^((36 - (10)) / 39) = 2.588 19
- diameter_in = 2.588 19 / 25.4 = 0.101 897
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 2.588 19^2 / 4 = 5.261 15
- Area in circular mils = 0.101 897^2 * 1000 = 10.383
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (5.261 15 * 1e-6) = 0.003 276 85
- r_per_m = 0.003 276 85 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.003 276 85
- Resistance of that length = 0.003 276 85 * 100 = 0.327 685
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.003 276 85 * 1000 = 3.276 85
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.003 276 85 * 304.8 = 0.998 783
- Weight of that length = 5.261 15 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 4.713 99
- Current at the chosen density = 5.261 15 * 4 = 21.0446
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 2.588 19 > 0 ? 10 / 2.588 19 : 0 = 3.863 71
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- diameter in mm = 0.127 x 92^((36 - n)/39)
- area = pi d^2 / 4
- resistance = rho x length / area
- temperature correction: R(T) = R(20) x (1 + 0.00393 (T - 20)) for copper
The gauge formula is exact: 36 AWG is 0.127 mm and 0000 AWG is 11.684 mm, with 39 steps between them in a geometric progression of ratio 92^(1/39).
The current figure is a design rule of thumb from current density, not an ampacity rating. Real ampacity depends on insulation temperature rating, bundling, ambient temperature and the wiring code in force.
Aluminium conductors of the same gauge carry about 61% of the current of copper for the same heating.
Frequently asked
What is the diameter of AWG 10 wire?
It follows from the gauge definition: 0.127 mm x 92^((36 - n)/39). The calculator shows the result in millimetres and inches.
Why does the wire gauge number go down as the wire gets thicker?
The number counts drawing operations. Each pass through a die makes the wire thinner and adds one to the gauge, so a high number means a thin wire.