AWG 39 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 39 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
- 0.089 689 8
- Area in circular mils
- 0.012 468 6
- Resistance of that length
- 272.873 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 2728.73 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 831.718 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 0.005 660 88
- Current at the chosen density
- 0.03 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 111.495
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 - (39)) / 39) = 0.089 689 8
- diameter_in = 0.089 689 8 / 25.4 = 0.003 531 1
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 0.089 689 8^2 / 4 = 0.006 317 95
- Area in circular mils = 0.003 531 1^2 * 1000 = 0.012 468 6
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (0.006 317 95 * 1e-6) = 2.728 73
- r_per_m = 2.728 73 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 2.728 73
- Resistance of that length = 2.728 73 * 100 = 272.873
- Resistance per kilometre = 2.728 73 * 1000 = 2728.73
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 2.728 73 * 304.8 = 831.718
- Weight of that length = 0.006 317 95 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 0.005 660 88
- Current at the chosen density = 0.006 317 95 * 4 = 0.025 271 8
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 0.089 689 8 > 0 ? 10 / 0.089 689 8 : 0 = 111.495
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 39 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.