AWG Reference Table: Complete Wire Specifications
Short answer: This is the complete reference chart for AWG sizes 14-36, including diameter, cross-sectional area, weight per kilometre, and DC resistance per kilometre. Both solid and stranded variants are shown for each gauge.
Unlike a simple diameter or area conversion, this table includes the two specifications that matter most for real installation work: weight (kg/km) for handling and conduit fill calculations, and DC resistance (Ω/km) for voltage drop calculations on long runs. Both solid core and common stranded constructions are shown for each AWG value.
How to Use This Table
- AWG column: The American Wire Gauge size. Lower numbers = thicker wire.
- Stranding: "Solid" means single-strand. "7/44" means 7 strands of 44 AWG (a stranded equivalent of the same overall gauge).
- Outside Diameter (mm): Physical width of the conductor. Stranded versions are typically slightly larger than solid due to air gaps between strands.
- Conductor Area (mm²): Cross-sectional area of copper, which determines current-carrying capacity.
- Weight (kg/km): Mass per kilometre, useful for transport, installation, and conduit fill calculations.
- DC Resistance (Ω/km): Electrical resistance per kilometre, used for voltage drop calculations.
AWG Reference Table for Solid & Stranded Cable
The table below shows detailed AWG values for a selection of solid and stranded conductors.
| AWG | Stranding | Outside Diam. (mm) | Conductor Area (mm²) | Weight (kg/km) | DC Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Solid | 0.127 | 0.013 | 0.113 | 1460.0 |
| 7/44 | 0.152 | 0.014 | 0.126 | 1271.0 | |
| 34 | Solid | 0.160 | 0.020 | 0.179 | 918.0 |
| 7/42 | 0.192 | 0.022 | 0.196 | 777.0 | |
| 32 | Solid | 0.203 | 0.032 | 0.289 | 571.0 |
| 7/40 | 0.203 | 0.034 | 0.302 | 538.0 | |
| 30 | Solid | 0.254 | 0.051 | 0.450 | 365.0 |
| 7/38 | 0.305 | 0.057 | 0.504 | 339.0 | |
| 28 | Solid | 0.330 | 0.080 | 0.720 | 232.0 |
| 7/36 | 0.381 | 0.072 | 0.787 | 213.0 | |
| 26 | Solid | 0.409 | 0.128 | 1.140 | 143.0 |
| 7/34 | 0.483 | 0.142 | 1.250 | 122.0 | |
| 24 | Solid | 0.511 | 0.205 | 1.820 | 89.4 |
| 7/32 | 0.610 | 0.229 | 2.020 | 76.4 | |
| 22 | Solid | 0.643 | 0.324 | 2.910 | 55.3 |
| 7/30 | 0.762 | 0.357 | 3.160 | 48.4 | |
| 20 | Solid | 0.813 | 0.519 | 4.610 | 34.6 |
| 7/28 | 0.965 | 0.562 | 5.190 | 33.8 | |
| 18 | Solid | 1.020 | 0.823 | 7.320 | 21.8 |
| 7/26 | 1.219 | 0.902 | 7.980 | 19.2 | |
| 16 | Solid | 1.290 | 1.310 | 11.600 | 13.7 |
| 7/24 | 1.524 | 1.442 | 12.740 | 12.0 | |
| 14 | Solid | 1.630 | 2.080 | 18.500 | 8.6 |
| 7/22 | 1.854 | 2.285 | 20.180 | 7.6 |
Practical Applications
Voltage drop calculations: Use the DC resistance value to calculate voltage loss over distance. For example, a 100m run of 24 AWG solid wire has a total resistance of 8.94 Ω (89.4 Ω/km × 0.1 km). This is critical for PoE installs where excessive voltage drop causes camera reboots and AP failures.
Cable weight planning: A 305m box of 23 AWG Cat6 cable weighs around 8-10 kg (1.82 kg/km × 4 conductor pairs × 305m). Useful for transport, ladder loading, and conduit fill calculations.
Stranded vs solid comparison: For the same AWG, stranded conductors typically have slightly higher area (more copper) and slightly higher resistance than solid, but are far more flexible. This makes them the standard choice for patch leads and any cable that needs to flex.
Related Calculators & References
- AWG Overview - understand the AWG system and key rules of thumb
- AWG Calculator by Diameter - AWG to mm conversion table
- AWG Calculator by Area - AWG to mm² conversion table
- AWG Calculator for Stranded Wire - find equivalent AWG for stranded conductors
- How to Calculate Cable Area - step-by-step formulas
- How to Calculate Cable Diameter - find overall diameter of stranded cable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AWG table used for?
An AWG table is used to look up the physical specifications of wire by its gauge number. This includes diameter, cross-sectional area, weight, and electrical resistance, all essential for cable selection, voltage drop calculations, and compliance with electrical standards.
What does the stranding notation (e.g. 7/30) mean?
The notation "7/30" means 7 strands of 30 AWG wire. The first number is the strand count, the second is the AWG of each individual strand. This construction gives an equivalent overall gauge while providing more flexibility than solid wire.
Why does stranded wire have higher resistance than solid of the same AWG?
The current actually travels through a slightly smaller total cross-section because of the air gaps between strands and the helical path the current takes along the twisted strands. The difference is usually small (5-10%) but can matter for precision applications.
How do I calculate voltage drop using the resistance values?
Voltage drop = Current × Resistance. Multiply the current (in amps) by the cable resistance (Ω/km × cable length in km × 2 for round trip). For example, 2A over 100m of 24 AWG = 2 × 89.4 × 0.1 × 2 = 35.76V drop. Critical for PoE installs.
What is the DC resistance unit Ω/km?
Ω/km means "ohms per kilometre". It's the electrical resistance of one kilometre of the wire. To find resistance for a specific length, multiply by the length in kilometres. For 50m, multiply by 0.05.
Why is wire weight measured in kg/km?
Cable is typically sold and shipped in long lengths (305m, 500m or 1km boxes), so weight per kilometre is the practical reference. It's used for shipping calculations, conduit weight loading, and overall installation logistics.
What's the lowest AWG (thickest wire) shown in this table?
14 AWG (1.63mm diameter, 2.08 mm²). For thicker conductors (e.g. mains power cable in mm²), Australian installations typically reference AS/NZS 3000 cable size tables directly rather than AWG.
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