Verified by Rachel Mayfield, Supply Chain Analyst - June 2026
American Wire Gauge (AWG) sizes from 4/0 to 24, with conductor diameter, cross-sectional area, and the nearest standard metric cable size. AWG Wire Gauge Chart AWG is a geometric scale: each three-gauge step roughly doubles the cross-sectional area, and a smaller AWG number means a thicker wire. The diameter follows a fixed formula, so a 10 AWG conductor is always 2.59 mm across with a 5.26 mm2 cross-section.
| AWG |
Diameter (mm) |
Cross-section (mm²) |
Nearest metric (mm²) |
| 4/0 (0000) |
11.68 |
107 |
120 |
| 2/0 (00) |
9.27 |
67.4 |
70 |
| 1/0 (0) |
8.25 |
53.5 |
50 |
| 2 |
6.54 |
33.6 |
35 |
| 4 |
5.19 |
21.2 |
25 |
| 6 |
4.12 |
13.3 |
16 |
| 8 |
3.26 |
8.37 |
10 |
| 10 |
2.59 |
5.26 |
6 |
| 12 |
2.05 |
3.31 |
4 |
| 14 |
1.63 |
2.08 |
2.5 |
| 16 |
1.29 |
1.31 |
1.5 |
| 18 |
1.02 |
0.823 |
1.0 |
| 20 |
0.812 |
0.518 |
0.5 |
| 22 |
0.644 |
0.326 |
0.34 |
| 24 |
0.511 |
0.205 |
0.25 |
How to use the AWG chart
To convert AWG to metric cable, match the cross-section in mm2 to the nearest standard metric size in the last column. A 12 AWG conductor is 3.31 mm2, closest to a 4 mm2 metric cable. Don't round down on a load-bearing circuit - if the AWG area falls between two metric sizes, choose the larger to keep the current rating and voltage drop within limits.
The diameter figures are for solid copper conductor only and exclude insulation. Stranded wire of the same AWG has a slightly larger overall diameter because of the gaps between strands, but the same nominal copper area and current rating. For current-carrying capacity, always work from the cross-section and the relevant wiring regulation, not the diameter alone, because ampacity depends on insulation type, grouping, and ambient temperature.
AWG is common on imported electronics, automotive looms, and US-sourced cable; UK and European installations specify cable by cross-section in mm2 under BS 7671. This chart bridges the two so a spec written in one system can be sourced in the other.
Related standards
- ASTM B258 - Standard specification for nominal diameters and cross-sectional areas of AWG sizes of solid round wires
- IEC 60228 - Conductors of insulated cables (metric cross-section classes)
- BS 7671 - Requirements for electrical installations (UK wiring regulations)
References
- ASTM B258 - Nominal diameters and areas of AWG wires
- IEC 60228 - Conductors of insulated cables