AWG 22 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 22 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
- 0.643 803
- Area in circular mils
- 0.642 449
- Resistance of that length
- 5.295 91 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 52.9591 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 16.1419 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 0.291 678
- Current at the chosen density
- 1.30 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 15.533
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 - (22)) / 39) = 0.643 803
- diameter_in = 0.643 803 / 25.4 = 0.025 346 6
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 0.643 803^2 / 4 = 0.325 534
- Area in circular mils = 0.025 346 6^2 * 1000 = 0.642 449
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (0.325 534 * 1e-6) = 0.052 959 1
- r_per_m = 0.052 959 1 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.052 959 1
- Resistance of that length = 0.052 959 1 * 100 = 5.295 91
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.052 959 1 * 1000 = 52.9591
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.052 959 1 * 304.8 = 16.1419
- Weight of that length = 0.325 534 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 0.291 678
- Current at the chosen density = 0.325 534 * 4 = 1.302 14
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 0.643 803 > 0 ? 10 / 0.643 803 : 0 = 15.5327
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
Scenarios & local history
Compare a saved scenario
Recent calculations
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 22 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.