Home › Calculators › AWG to mm² converter

AWG to mm² converter

Wire gauge to square millimetres and back, with the next metric size.

Try the circuit in the labBuild it on the simulator's bench and measure it.

How it is worked out

Every 6 gauges halve the wire's diameter and every 3 halve its area. The exact rule is d = 0.127 mm × 92(36 − n)/39, and area is π/4 × d². Gauges thicker than 0 are written 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0 (n = 0, −1, −2, −3).

Common pairs: 14 AWG ≈ 2.08 mm² (use 2.5 mm²), 12 AWG ≈ 3.31 mm² (4 mm²), 10 AWG ≈ 5.26 mm² (6 mm²), 8 AWG ≈ 8.37 mm² (10 mm²), 6 AWG ≈ 13.3 mm² (16 mm²), 4 AWG ≈ 21.2 mm² (25 mm²), 2 AWG ≈ 33.6 mm² (35 mm²), 1/0 ≈ 53.5 mm² (50 mm² is slightly smaller), 4/0 ≈ 107 mm² (120 mm²).

When swapping a US size for a metric one, round up, never down: the thinner wire runs hotter at the same current.

Other calculators