AWG 16 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 16 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
- 1.290 85
- Area in circular mils
- 2.582 74
- Resistance of that length
- 1.317 34 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 13.1734 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 4.015 26 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 1.172 59
- Current at the chosen density
- 5.23 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 7.747
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 - (16)) / 39) = 1.290 85
- diameter_in = 1.290 85 / 25.4 = 0.050 820 7
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 1.290 85^2 / 4 = 1.3087
- Area in circular mils = 0.050 820 7^2 * 1000 = 2.582 74
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (1.3087 * 1e-6) = 0.013 173 4
- r_per_m = 0.013 173 4 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.013 173 4
- Resistance of that length = 0.013 173 4 * 100 = 1.317 34
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.013 173 4 * 1000 = 13.1734
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.013 173 4 * 304.8 = 4.015 26
- Weight of that length = 1.3087 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 1.172 59
- Current at the chosen density = 1.3087 * 4 = 5.234 78
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 1.290 85 > 0 ? 10 / 1.290 85 : 0 = 7.746 86
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 16 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.