AWG 23 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 23 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
- 0.573 323
- Area in circular mils
- 0.509 486
- Resistance of that length
- 6.678 03 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 66.7803 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 20.3546 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 0.231 311
- Current at the chosen density
- 1.03 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 17.442
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 - (23)) / 39) = 0.573 323
- diameter_in = 0.573 323 / 25.4 = 0.022 571 8
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 0.573 323^2 / 4 = 0.258 16
- Area in circular mils = 0.022 571 8^2 * 1000 = 0.509 486
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (0.258 16 * 1e-6) = 0.066 780 3
- r_per_m = 0.066 780 3 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.066 780 3
- Resistance of that length = 0.066 780 3 * 100 = 6.678 03
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.066 780 3 * 1000 = 66.7803
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.066 780 3 * 304.8 = 20.3546
- Weight of that length = 0.258 16 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 0.231 311
- Current at the chosen density = 0.258 16 * 4 = 1.032 64
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 0.573 323 > 0 ? 10 / 0.573 323 : 0 = 17.4422
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 23 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.