Calculadora de Calibre de Cable AWG

Selecciona un calibre AWG o ingresa diámetro para ver resistencia por longitud, capacidad de corriente y peso. Incluye tabla de referencia AWG completa y comparación visual de sección transversal.

Wire Size

Current (A)

Supply Voltage

One-way Wire Length

Max Voltage Drop

Wire Material

Recommended Gauge

AWG 10

Diameter

2.588 mm

Cross-Section

5.261 mm²

Nearest IEC Metric

6 mm²

Voltage Drop

2.949 V

Voltage Drop %

2.46%

Power Loss

44.24 W

NEC 3% Rule (Branch):Passes

NEC 5% Rule (Total):Passes

Alternatives

AWG 91.95%(thicker)

AWG 113.1%(thinner)

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What is Wire Gauge?

Wire gauge is a measurement system for the diameter and cross-sectional area of electrical wire. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) system is the most widely used standard, where higher gauge numbers indicate thinner wires. AWG 40 is one of the thinnest common sizes (0.08 mm), while AWG 4/0 (0000) is among the thickest (11.7 mm). Choosing the correct wire gauge is critical for electrical safety — undersized wire can overheat, cause voltage drop, and create fire hazards.

How to Use This Calculator

Use the Wire Size tab to find the correct gauge: enter your current (A), supply voltage (V), one-way wire length, and maximum allowed voltage drop percentage.
Use the Voltage Drop tab to analyze an existing wire: select the AWG gauge, enter the wire length, current, and supply voltage to see the voltage drop, power loss, and NEC compliance.
Browse the AWG Table tab for a comprehensive reference of all gauges from 4/0 to 40, with diameter, area, resistance, ampacity, and nearest metric equivalent.
Use the Converter tab to convert between 6 wire gauge standards — AWG, metric mm² (IEC 60228), SWG (Imperial), JIS C 3102 (Japanese), BWG (Birmingham), and MWG (Music Wire) — with a visual wire diameter comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What wire gauge do I need for 20 amps?

For 20 amps, AWG 12 is the standard choice for most residential branch circuits (rated for 20A in NEC). However, the correct gauge also depends on wire length and acceptable voltage drop. For longer runs (over 15 meters one-way), you may need AWG 10 to keep voltage drop under 3%. Use the Wire Size tab to calculate the exact gauge for your specific installation.

How do I convert AWG to mm²?

AWG can be converted to metric mm² using the formula: Area = (π/4) × [0.127 × 92^((36-AWG)/39)]². Common equivalents: AWG 14 ≈ 2.08 mm² (use 2.5 mm²), AWG 12 ≈ 3.31 mm² (use 4 mm²), AWG 10 ≈ 5.26 mm² (use 6 mm²). Use the Converter tab for exact conversions with nearest IEC 60228 standard size.

What is the difference between AWG and SWG?

AWG (American Wire Gauge) and SWG (Standard Wire Gauge, also called Imperial Wire Gauge) are different sizing systems. AWG uses a mathematical formula based on geometric progression, while SWG uses a fixed lookup table. The same gauge number refers to different wire sizes: SWG 18 (1.219 mm) is not the same as AWG 18 (1.024 mm). AWG is dominant in North America, while SWG is still used in some parts of the UK and Commonwealth countries.

How do I calculate voltage drop in a wire?

Voltage drop is calculated as: Vdrop = 2 × I × R × L, where I is current (amps), R is resistance per meter (Ω/m), L is one-way length (meters), and the factor of 2 accounts for the round trip (supply + return). The NEC recommends keeping voltage drop under 3% for branch circuits and 5% for the total circuit from source to load.

What wire size do I need for a 12V 10A system?

For a 12V 10A system, wire size depends heavily on cable length because low voltage systems are very sensitive to voltage drop. For a 3-meter run: AWG 14 gives about 2.4% drop (acceptable). For a 10-meter run: AWG 10 gives about 3.1% drop (borderline). For 20+ meters: you may need AWG 6 or thicker. Always use the Wire Size calculator with your specific length.

Does aluminum wire need a larger gauge than copper?

Yes. Aluminum has about 61% of copper's conductivity (resistivity: 2.65×10⁻⁸ vs 1.72×10⁻⁸ Ω·m), so for the same current capacity, you need about 2 gauge sizes larger in aluminum. For example, where copper AWG 12 would suffice, aluminum typically requires AWG 10. This calculator supports material selection so you can compare directly.