AWG 26 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 26 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
- 0.404 892
- Area in circular mils
- 0.254 104
- Resistance of that length
- 13.3897 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 133.897 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 40.8117 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 0.115 366
- Current at the chosen density
- 0.52 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 24.698
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 - (26)) / 39) = 0.404 892
- diameter_in = 0.404 892 / 25.4 = 0.015 940 6
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 0.404 892^2 / 4 = 0.128 756
- Area in circular mils = 0.015 940 6^2 * 1000 = 0.254 104
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (0.128 756 * 1e-6) = 0.133 897
- r_per_m = 0.133 897 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.133 897
- Resistance of that length = 0.133 897 * 100 = 13.3897
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.133 897 * 1000 = 133.897
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.133 897 * 304.8 = 40.8117
- Weight of that length = 0.128 756 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 0.115 366
- Current at the chosen density = 0.128 756 * 4 = 0.515 025
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 0.404 892 > 0 ? 10 / 0.404 892 : 0 = 24.698
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 26 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.