Several AWG Wires Image

Amperage Table for AWG

The American Wire Gauge (AWG) system standardizes wire size by conductor diameter, but current rating (ampacity) depends on how that wire is actually used. An AWG current rating chart provides typical ampacity ranges for each gauge under common conditions, serving as a practical starting point rather than an absolute limit.

For example, smaller gauges such as 22–18 AWG are commonly used for low-current signal wiring, control circuits, and electronics, while mid-range sizes like 14–12 AWG are typical for residential branch circuits and general power distribution. Larger conductors—such as 6 AWG and below—are used for high-current applications including feeders, motors, and industrial equipment. It’s important to note that AWG measures only the bare metal conductor, not the insulation or protective sheath. Insulation type, ambient temperature, bundling, and installation method all affect allowable current, which is why published ampacity values should always be interpreted in context.

AWG Physical Properties Resistance (Ω) Max Current – Copper (A)
Diameter Area
(mm²)		 Copper Aluminum Single 2-3
Cores		 4-6
Cores		 7-24
Cores		 25-42
Cores		 43+
Cores
mm inches /1000m /1000ft /1000m /1000ft
4/0 11.68 0.460 107.2 0.161 0.049 0.264 0.080 380 330 280 240 210 190
3/0 10.41 0.410 85.0 0.203 0.062 0.333 0.101 328 285 242 208 182 164
2/0 9.27 0.365 67.4 0.256 0.078 0.420 0.128 283 245 209 179 157 142
1/0 8.25 0.325 53.5 0.323 0.098 0.530 0.162 245 212 181 155 136 123
1 7.35 0.289 42.4 0.407 0.124 0.668 0.204 211 183 156 134 117 106
2 6.54 0.258 33.6 0.513 0.156 0.842 0.257 181 158 134 115 101 91
3 5.83 0.229 26.7 0.647 0.197 1.061 0.323 158 137 117 100 88 79
4 5.19 0.204 21.2 0.815 0.249 1.337 0.408 135 117 100 86 75 68
5 4.62 0.182 16.8 1.028 0.313 1.686 0.514 118 102 87 75 66 59
6 4.12 0.162 13.3 1.296 0.395 2.125 0.648 101 88 75 64 56 51
7 3.67 0.144 10.5 1.634 0.498 2.680 0.817 89 77 66 56 49 44
8 3.26 0.129 8.37 2.061 0.628 3.379 1.030 73 63 54 46 40 36
9 2.91 0.114 6.63 2.599 0.792 4.262 1.299 64 55 47 40 35 32
10 2.59 0.102 5.26 3.277 0.999 5.373 1.638 55 47 40 34 30 27
11 2.31 0.091 4.17 4.132 1.260 6.776 2.066 47 41 35 30 26 24
12 2.05 0.081 3.31 5.211 1.588 8.544 2.604 41 35 30 26 23 20
13 1.83 0.072 2.62 6.571 2.003 10.77 3.284 35 30 26 22 19 17
14 1.63 0.064 2.08 8.286 2.525 13.58 4.140 32 28 24 20 18 16
15 1.45 0.057 1.65 10.45 3.184 17.13 5.221 28 24 20 17 15 14
16 1.29 0.051 1.31 13.17 4.016 21.60 6.585 22 19 16 14 12 11
17 1.15 0.045 1.04 16.61 5.064 27.24 8.303 19 16 14 12 10 9
18 1.02 0.040 0.823 20.95 6.385 34.35 10.47 16 14 12 10 9 8
19 0.91 0.036 0.653 26.42 8.051 43.31 13.20 14 12 10 9 8 7
20 0.81 0.032 0.518 33.31 10.15 54.61 16.64 11 10 8 7 6 6
21 0.72 0.029 0.410 42.00 12.80 68.85 20.99 9 8 7 6 5 5
22 0.64 0.025 0.326 52.96 16.14 86.85 26.47 7 6 5 5 4 4
23 0.57 0.023 0.258 66.79 20.36 109.5 33.38 6 5 4 4 3 3
24 0.51 0.020 0.205 84.21 25.67 138.1 42.08 5 4 4 3 3 2
25 0.46 0.018 0.162 106.2 32.37 174.1 53.06 4 3 3 3 2 2
26 0.41 0.016 0.129 133.9 40.81 219.5 66.90 3 3 2 2 2 2
27 0.36 0.014 0.102 168.9 51.47 276.9 84.41 2.5 2 2 2 1.5 1.5
28 0.32 0.013 0.081 212.9 64.90 349.0 106.4 2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1 1
29 0.29 0.011 0.064 268.5 81.84 440.1 134.2 1.5 1.5 1 1 1 0.8
30 0.26 0.010 0.051 338.6 103.2 554.9 169.1 1 1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6
31 0.23 0.0089 0.040 426.9 130.1 699.7 213.3 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.5
32 0.20 0.0080 0.032 538.3 164.1 882.5 269.0 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4
33 0.18 0.0071 0.025 678.8 206.9 1113 339.2 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3
34 0.16 0.0063 0.020 856.0 260.9 1404 427.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2
35 0.14 0.0056 0.016 1079 329.0 1770 539.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2
36 0.13 0.0050 0.013 1361 414.8 2231 680.0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1
37 0.11 0.0045 0.010 1716 523.1 2813 857.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1
38 0.10 0.0040 0.008 2164 659.6 3547 1081 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
39 0.09 0.0035 0.006 2729 831.8 4473 1363 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
40 0.08 0.0031 0.005 3441 1049 5640 1719 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

MISUMI USA carries a wide range of industrial manufacturing components – including Control and Instrumentation Cables– for your next project or machine fix. If you have any questions about measurement or sizing for your AWG needs, feel free to connect with our product experts, and engineers. Also, if you are looking for more insights be sure to check out our other blog articles, including: How to Select a Hook-Up Wire or Cable, AWG Wire Gauge Current Rating, Copper Resistance Wire, and more.

Author: Scott Bredemann | Updated: 1/16/2026

Disclaimer:
The content on this webpage is for informational purposes only. MISUMI makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Performance parameters, tolerances, designs, materials, or processes should not be assumed to reflect third-party suppliers’ or manufacturers’ deliverables within MISUMI’s network. Buyers are responsible for specifying their part requirements.