AWG 6 wire size, resistance and weight calculator
AWG 6 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
- 4.115 38
- Area in circular mils
- 26.2514
- Resistance of that length
- 0.129 607 ohm
- Resistance per kilometre
- 1.296 07 ohm/km
- Resistance per 1000 feet
- 0.395 042 ohm
- Weight of that length
- 11.9184
- Current at the chosen density
- 53.21 A
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound
- 2.430
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 - (6)) / 39) = 4.115 38
- diameter_in = 4.115 38 / 25.4 = 0.162 023
- Cross-sectional area = pi * 4.115 38^2 / 4 = 13.3018
- Area in circular mils = 0.162 023^2 * 1000 = 26.2514
- r_per_m_20 = 1.724e-8 / (13.3018 * 1e-6) = 0.001 296 07
- r_per_m = 0.001 296 07 * (1 + 0.00393 * (20 - 20)) = 0.001 296 07
- Resistance of that length = 0.001 296 07 * 100 = 0.129 607
- Resistance per kilometre = 0.001 296 07 * 1000 = 1.296 07
- Resistance per 1000 feet = 0.001 296 07 * 304.8 = 0.395 042
- Weight of that length = 13.3018 * 1e-6 * 100 * 8960 = 11.9184
- Current at the chosen density = 13.3018 * 4 = 53.2071
- Turns per centimetre, close-wound = 4.115 38 > 0 ? 10 / 4.115 38 : 0 = 2.429 91
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 6 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.