Gauge the size of wires no matter the amperes
The higher the wire gauge, the lower the carrying capacity.
Most homes use 15-amp and 20-amp breakers.
Factor in the distance, maximum capacity, and wire type.
Trying to decipher the right wire gauge for your home can feel as confusing as a tangled mess of wires. But using a wire gauge chart can help answer your lingering questions and ensure you find the right fit. Check out our chart on wire sizing by ampacity size to help you untangle the correct wire size for your electrical circuitry.
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standard tool for helping you determine the appropriate wire for your home’s electrical wiring. Used by the National Electrical Code (NEC), this wire sizing system measures the physical diameter of the bare wire, the wire gauge, and the electrical current that can run through the wire—measured in amperes (amps).
Larger wire gauges have a smaller diameter and a lower electrical current carrying capacity, while smaller ones have a larger wire diameter and a higher electrical current carrying capacity.
Knowing your breaker box amps and the amps in the individual breakers can help you determine the size of your breaker box and which wire gauge your electrical circuits require.
Below are the most common amperage sizes in electrical circuits in the home, the wire gauges needed by the number of amps, and the types of electronics that require that amount of amps.
| Wire Gauge Size | Use in Home |
|---|---|
| 16 gauge | Low-voltage lighting |
| 14 gauge | Fans, electrical outlets, receptacles, lighting |
| 12 gauge | Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room |
| 10 gauge | Some kitchen and A/C appliances |
| 8 gauge | Large appliance and feeder wire |
| 6 gauge | Heavy-duty appliances and feeder |
| 3 gauge | Feeder wire and service entrance |
| 1/0 gauge | Feeder wire and service entrance |
| 3/0 gauge | Service entrance |
For single-pole light switches and other low-voltage lighting or electronics, your circuit breaker may only contain 10 amps. In this case, you’ll need 16-gauge wires for your circuit.
Many residential circuit breakers are 15-amp and require 14-gauge wires. Your electronics, light fixtures, and standard electrical outlets will most likely use one of these gauges.
A 20-amp circuit breaker uses 12-gauge or 10-gauge wires. Most homes use 12-gauge wires for a 20-amp circuit, but if you need to wire more than 100 feet away from the subpanel, increasing the amperage by around 20% is a good idea.
If you’re using units or appliances that require a larger amperage, you’ll need at least a 10-gauge wire. A 30-amp service is common in RVs because it usually contains enough power to run an air conditioner system, refrigerator, and water heater. You’ll find 30-amp services in circuits for water heaters and electric dryers in homes, too.
You’ll need an 8-gauge wire minimum for 40-amp service. This circuit breaker capacity supports HVAC systems and kitchens with units like electric cooktops.
50-amp services may require 6-gauge electrical wires. Large appliances that require 50-amp breakers include kitchen ovens, electrical dryers, and circuits that support multiple heavy-duty appliances.
There are four important factors to consider when choosing the right wire gauge for your amperage: the wire type, the distance, the maximum capacity, and the load requirement. Here’s a closer look at each factor to help you choose the right-sized wire for your electrical circuit.
The type of wire that you choose plays a role in the wire size. Most houses contain copper or aluminum wires. Copper wires are the preferred wire type for home wiring because copper has a higher carrying capacity and better stability than aluminum wires.
Aluminum, therefore, needs a thicker wire gauge than copper to carry the same capacity. You might see aluminum in older homes and in power lines because of how lightweight it is, but most newer homes use copper wiring. Keep in mind that aluminum wiring is very dangerous because it’s a high risk fire hazard, so you should strongly consider replacing it if it’s in your home.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) recommends you increase the amperage to account for a voltage drop. If your wires are less than 10 feet away from the electrical subpanel, you’ll need to factor in a 3% increase in amperage to account for a potential drop.
This amount increases the farther away your wires travel from the subpanel, with a 10% increase at a 50-foot distance, a 20% increase at a 100-foot distance, a 30% increase at a 150-foot distance, and so forth.
The NEC has another rule stating that your circuit’s maximum capacity shouldn’t exceed 80% of the maximum ampacity of your circuit. That’s why you can’t use a 14-gauge wire for a 20-amp circuit. Overloading a circuit can cause the wires to overheat and risk electrical fire, so leave enough wiggle room to avoid overloading the system.
While looking at the total ampacity, you also need to consider the load requirement for a given circuit. Most standard 15-, 20-, and 30-amp circuits are 120 or 240 volts. The total wattage of a 120-volt circuit is much lower than a 240-volt circuit, so take this disparity into account when factoring in the correct wire size to avoid choosing wires that can’t handle the current.
For example, a 20-amp, 240-volt circuit may require a 10-gauge wire, while a 20-amp, 120-volt circuit may need a 12-gauge wire.
Installing wires in your home isn’t a straightforward or risk-free process, which is why it’s best to hire a professional electrician near you to make the connections. While you can use the chart to help you figure out the base wire gauge for your home, there are several factors that can impact the minimum capacity in a given circuit.
Failure to install the correct-sized wire can cause serious damage or injuries. If you have any hesitation in choosing the right wire gauge for your electrical circuit, contact an electrician to do the job. Keep in mind that hiring an electrician costs $50 to $100 per hour.
Rewiring projects cost anywhere between $1,500 and $10,000 on average, depending on the complexity and the size of the rewiring. You can anticipate spending between $2 and $4 per square foot of wire, including labor and materials. Wire material ranges from $0.25 to $1.60 per linear foot.
The wrong-sized wire can lead to several safety hazards, including structural fires, surges, power outages from tripped breakers, and electrocution. It’s important to follow the American Wire Gauge system and the National Electrical Code guidelines to safely wire a home. Electrical wiring is not safe for homeowners to handle and is best left to a licensed electrician.
The American Wire Gauge system calculates wire size diameters using the complicated formula D(AWG)=.005·92((36-AWG)/39) inch. A simpler rule of thumb is that every six-gauge decrease doubles the wire diameter, and every three-gauge decrease doubles the wire’s cross-sectional area. On the other hand, wavenumbers are typically measured in reciprocal meters (1/m or m−1) or reciprocal centimeters (1/cm or cm−1).
