What is AWG (American Wire Gauge)?
Short answer: AWG is the American standard for measuring wire diameter. The key thing to remember: the higher the AWG number, the thinner the wire. A 24 AWG wire is thinner than an 18 AWG wire. Australian installers use it constantly because most imported networking and electronics cable is rated in AWG rather than mm.
American Wire Gauge, commonly referred to by its acronym AWG, is the standardised system used in North America for measuring the diameter of solid, round, non-ferrous electrical wires. It is also known as the Brown & Sharpe (B & S) Wire Gauge.
The most important concept to understand about the AWG system is its inverse relationship: as the gauge number increases, the diameter of the wire decreases. This is because the gauge number originates from the number of drawing dies a wire must pass through during the manufacturing process. More passes result in a thinner wire and a higher number.
The AWG scale is logarithmic, not linear. This means that the change in diameter between consecutive gauge sizes is a constant ratio. This standardised, mathematical progression allows for consistent and predictable electrical properties across the entire range of wire sizes.
Quick AWG to mm Conversion
Australian installers most commonly need to convert AWG to millimetres or mm² (square millimetres). Here are the most common AWG sizes you'll encounter:
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Cross-Sectional Area (mm²) | Common Use in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 AWG | 2.59 | 5.27 | High-current power leads |
| 12 AWG | 2.05 | 3.31 | Heavy-duty extension leads |
| 14 AWG | 1.63 | 2.08 | Speaker cable, mains power |
| 16 AWG | 1.29 | 1.31 | Speaker cable, low-voltage runs |
| 18 AWG | 1.02 | 0.82 | Low-voltage lighting, doorbells |
| 22 AWG | 0.64 | 0.33 | Security, alarm, control cable |
| 23 AWG | 0.57 | 0.26 | Cat6, Cat6A network cable |
| 24 AWG | 0.51 | 0.21 | Cat5e, Cat6 network cable, telephone |
| 26 AWG | 0.41 | 0.13 | Patch leads, telephone |
| 28 AWG | 0.33 | 0.08 | Slim patch leads |
For the complete AWG range, see our full AWG reference table or use our AWG calculator by diameter.
Why AWG Matters for Australian Installers
Australia officially uses the metric system, but AWG appears constantly in real installs because:
- Most imported networking cable (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A) is specified in AWG. A Cat6 datasheet will list "23-24 AWG conductors", not millimetres.
- US-made electronics and AV gear typically specify cable requirements in AWG.
- Speaker and audio cable from international brands is almost always AWG-rated.
- Low-voltage and security cable often references AWG, particularly for imported equipment compatibility.
If you specify or purchase cable in Australia, you need to be able to translate AWG to mm or mm² to compare equivalent products. The conversion table above covers the most common sizes.
Understanding the AWG Scale: Key Rules of Thumb
Because the scale is logarithmic, a few simple rules of thumb can help you quickly estimate a wire's properties without needing complex formulas. These are particularly useful for comparing two different wire gauges.
Electrical Resistance
- Halving/Doubling: A change of 3 AWG numbers approximately doubles or halves the electrical resistance. For instance, a 20 AWG wire has roughly double the resistance of a 17 AWG wire.
- Factor of 10: A change of 10 AWG numbers changes the resistance by a factor of approximately 10. A 30 AWG wire has about 10 times the resistance of a 20 AWG wire.
Physical Diameter
- Halving/Doubling: A change of 6 AWG numbers approximately doubles or halves the wire's diameter. For instance, a 12 AWG wire has roughly twice the diameter of an 18 AWG wire.
- Factor of 10: A change of 20 AWG numbers changes the diameter by a factor of approximately 10. A 22 AWG wire has about one-tenth the diameter of a 2 AWG wire.
AWG Calculators & Reference Tools
Need to convert or calculate a specific AWG value? Use our reference tools:
- AWG Calculator by Diameter - find AWG from a known wire diameter in mm
- AWG Calculator by Area - find AWG from a known cross-sectional area in mm²
- AWG Calculator for Stranded Wire - find equivalent AWG for stranded conductors
- AWG Reference Table - complete specifications including weight and DC resistance
- How to Calculate Cable Area - formula and step-by-step examples
- How to Calculate Cable Diameter - formula for multi-strand cable
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AWG stand for?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. It's the standardised system used in North America for measuring the diameter of solid round non-ferrous electrical wires. It's also known as the Brown & Sharpe (B&S) Wire Gauge.
What does AWG mean on a cable?
On a cable, AWG refers to the diameter of the individual copper conductors inside. A "24 AWG Cat6 cable" has copper conductors that are 0.51mm in diameter. The lower the AWG number, the thicker the conductor and the more current it can carry.
Is a higher AWG number thicker or thinner?
Higher AWG = thinner wire. This is counterintuitive but consistent. A 30 AWG wire is much thinner than a 10 AWG wire. The number reflects how many times the wire has been drawn through dies to reduce its diameter during manufacturing.
What AWG is Cat6 cable?
Standard Cat6 cable uses 23 or 24 AWG solid copper conductors. Cat6A uses 23 AWG (thicker) to better handle 10Gbps speeds and PoE current. See our Cat6 vs Cat6A guide for more.
How do I convert AWG to mm?
Use the conversion table on this page for common sizes, or our AWG calculator by diameter for precise values. The formula is D(mm) = 0.127 × 92^((36-AWG)/39).
What AWG is 1mm² wire?
Approximately 17 AWG. Conversion isn't always exact since AWG measures diameter while mm² measures cross-sectional area. Use our AWG calculator by area for precise conversions.
Does AWG apply to stranded wire?
Yes, but slightly differently. Stranded wire is measured by the equivalent total cross-sectional area of all strands combined. A 16 AWG stranded wire has the same total copper as a 16 AWG solid wire but is more flexible. See our stranded wire calculator.
Why doesn't Australia use AWG?
Australia uses the metric system officially, so cable is sold by mm or mm². But because most networking and electronics cable comes from international markets that use AWG, Australian installers need to know both systems and convert between them.
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