Wire Gauge Calculator

Created By : Vaibhavi Kumari

Reviewed By : Phani Ponnapalli

Last Updated : May 15, 2023

The Wire Gauge Calculator is a handy tool for estimating the resistance of a wire material per unit length, diameter, and cross-section area. Fill in the gauge type and wire material information in the input areas, then click the calculate button to view the results right away.

Wire Gauge Calculator: Do you need to calculate a wire's electrical resistance per unit length? If that's the case, You've come to the appropriate position. We'll go through the many types of wire gauges, as well as how to determine wire gauge size and resistance. Continue reading for more information on the AWG formulas, the SWG chart, and sample questions. Learn more about the subject by exploring it.

Wire Gauge Calculator

Electrical Resistance per Unit Length

The wire resistance in one unit length of the wire is the electrical resistance per unit length. Determine the basic feature of the electrical conductor material that creates wire resistance. The formula for calculating wire resistivity is ρ = R x (A/I)

The wire's resistivity per unit length is; R/I = ρ/A

  • Where, R = electrical resistance
  • A = cross-sectional area of the wire
  • I = wire length

American Wire Gauge (AWG) Standard | Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)

The American wire gauge system is a logarithmic wire gauge system used for sizing jewellery. The diameter and cross-sectional area of a wire are inversely proportional to the AWG numbers. The diameter is used to define the AWG wire gauge system scale.

A constant ratio of 931/39 exists between the diameters of each successive gauge. The wire diameter and cross-sectional area formulas are in the same direction.

  • Diameter = 0.005 inch x 92(36-n)/39
  • diameter = 0.127 mm x 92(36-n)/39
  • Area = (π/4) x diameter²
  • Area = 0.000019635 inch2 x 92(36-n)/19.5
  • area = 0.012668 mm2 x 92(36-n)/19.5

The thickness of guitar strings and some types of electrical wiring is measured in SWG.

SWG Wire Guage Chart

SWG Gauge Diameter (in) Diameter (mm) Step (in)
7/0 0.5 12.7 0.036
6/0 0.464 11.786 0.032
5/0 0.432 10.973 0.032
4/0 0.4 10.16 0.028
3/0 0.372 9.449 0.024
2/0 0.348 8.839 0.024
0 0.324 8.23 0.024
1 0.3 7.62 0.024
2 0.276 7.01 0.024
3 0.252 6.401 0.02
4 0.232 5.893 0.02
5 0.212 5.385 0.02
6 0.192 4.877 0.016
7 0.176 4.47 0.016
8 0.16 4.064 0.016
9 0.144 3.658 0.016
10 0.128 3.251 0.012
11 0.116 2.946 0.012
12 0.104 2.642 0.012
13 0.092 2.337 0.012
14 0.08 2.032 0.008
15 0.072 1.829 0.008
16 0.064 1.626 0.008
17 0.056 1.422 0.008
18 0.048 1.219 0.008
19 0.04 1.016 0.004
20 0.036 0.914 0.004
21 0.032 0.813 0.004
22 0.0028 0.711 0.004
23 0.0024 0.61 0.002
24 0.022 0.559 0.002
25 0.02 0.508 0.002
26 0.018 0.4572 0.016
27 0.0164 0.4166 0.016
28 0.0148 0.3759 0.0012
29 0.0136 0.3454 0.0012
30 0.0124 0.315 0.0008
31 0.0116 0.2946 0.0008
32 0.0108 0.2743 0.0008
33 0.01 0.254 0.0008
34 0.0092 0.2337 0.0008
35 0.0084 0.2134 0.0008
36 0.0076 0.193 0.0008
37 0.0068 0.1727 0.0008
38 0.006 0.1524 0.0008
39 0.0052 0.1321 0.0004
40 0.0048 0.1219 0.0004
41 0.0044 0.1118 0.0004
42 0.004 0.1016 0.0004
43 0.0036 0.0914 0.0004
44 0.0032 0.0813 0.0004
45 0.0028 0.0711 0.0004
46 0.0024 0.061 0.0004
47 0.002 0.508 0.0004
48 0.0016 0.0406 0.0002
49 0.0012 0.0305 0.0002
50 0.001 0.0254 0.0002

How to Determine Wire Resistance per Unit Length?

The steps to easily calculate the wire diameter, resistance, and cross-sectional area are illustrated below.

  • Step 1: Determine the wire's diameter.
  • Step 2: To calculate the area, square the diameter and multiply it by a π/4.
  • Step 3: To determine the electrical resistance per unit length, divide the wire's resistivity by its area.

For more concepts check out physicscalculatorpro.com to get quick answers by using this free tool.

How to use the Wire Gauge Calculator?

  • Step 1: You can choose between AWG and SWG wire gauge standards.
  • Step 2: Choose the wire gauge number that you need.
  • Step 3: Make a decision on the wire core material. Copper will be used in the majority of wires. The wire is assumed to be at room temperature for the resistance calculation.
  • Advanced mode: If your wire core material isn't listed, go to advanced mode and you'll be able to set a custom resistivity value for it.
  • Step 4: It's time to see the results! Following that, the diameter, cross-sectional area, and electrical resistance per length will be displayed.
  • Step 5: Simply click on the current unit and select a new unit from the drop-down menu to change any of these quantities' units.

FAQs on Wire Gauge Calculator

1. What is the size of a wire's gauge?

A wire's gauge refers to its thickness. A number is assigned to each gauge, with lower numbers indicating thicker wire gauges and higher numbers indicating thinner wire gauges.

2. What does AWG mean in terms of wire size?

The American Wire Gauge, or AWG, is the standard measurement for the diameter of electrical wires in the United States. The number of dies necessary to draw copper down to the required dimensional size is based on the American Wire Gauge table. It signifies that the smaller the wire diameter is, the higher the AWG number.

3. What does wire gauge mean?

A wire's gauge refers to its thickness. A number is assigned to each gauge, with lower numbers indicating thicker wire gauges and higher numbers indicating thinner wire gauges.

4. What is a wire gauge size calculator and how does it work?

As for wire gauge and wire substance, choose either AWG or SWG. Then, to get the outcome, press the calculate button. The diameter, cross-sectional area, and electrical resistance per length of wire are the results.