AWG 17 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 17 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
- 1.149 53
- Area in circular mils
- 2.048 21
- Resistance of that length
- 1.661 14 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 16.6114 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 5.063 15 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 0.929 907
- Current at the chosen density
- 4.15 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 8.699
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 - (17)) / 39) = 1.149 53
- diameter_in = 1.149 53 / 25.4 = 0.045 257 1
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 1.149 53^2 / 4 = 1.037 84
- Area in circular mils = 0.045 257 1^2 * 1000 = 2.048 21
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (1.037 84 * 1e-6) = 0.016 611 4
- r_per_m = 0.016 611 4 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.016 611 4
- Resistance of that length = 0.016 611 4 * 100 = 1.661 14
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.016 611 4 * 1000 = 16.6114
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.016 611 4 * 304.8 = 5.063 15
- Weight of that length = 1.037 84 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 0.929 907
- Current at the chosen density = 1.037 84 * 4 = 4.151 37
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 1.149 53 > 0 ? 10 / 1.149 53 : 0 = 8.6992
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 17 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.