AWG 11 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 11 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
- 2.304 85
- Area in circular mils
- 8.234 11
- Resistance of that length
- 0.413 203 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 4.132 03 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 1.259 44 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 3.738 37
- Current at the chosen density
- 16.69 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 4.339
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 - (11)) / 39) = 2.304 85
- diameter_in = 2.304 85 / 25.4 = 0.090 742
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 2.304 85^2 / 4 = 4.172 29
- Area in circular mils = 0.090 742^2 * 1000 = 8.234 11
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (4.172 29 * 1e-6) = 0.004 132 03
- r_per_m = 0.004 132 03 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.004 132 03
- Resistance of that length = 0.004 132 03 * 100 = 0.413 203
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.004 132 03 * 1000 = 4.132 03
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.004 132 03 * 304.8 = 1.259 44
- Weight of that length = 4.172 29 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 3.738 37
- Current at the chosen density = 4.172 29 * 4 = 16.6891
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 2.304 85 > 0 ? 10 / 2.304 85 : 0 = 4.338 68
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 11 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.