A Guide to Wire Nut Sizes
Knowing how to choose the right one will have you swapping out fixtures like a pro
Highlights
Wire nut sizes are color coded.
Different wire nuts accommodate different wire gauges.
Wire nuts have a minimum and maximum capacity.
Wire nuts are colorful caps that screw onto the ends of electrical wires. They allow you to connect two or more electrical wires when installing a light fixture or other electrical feature. Wire nuts come in different color-coded sizes to accommodate different gauges of wire. Using a wire nut that’s too big or too small can cause failure, shorts, or disconnection, so it’s important to choose the size carefully. Here’s what you should know about wire nut sizes and how to recognize them.
Wire Nut Sizes by Color
Wire nuts come in colors like gray, blue, orange, yellow, and red. The different colors correspond to the size or gauge of wire, or AWG, that each can accommodate. Wire gauges increase as the number assigned to it decreases, making 22-gauge wire some of the thinnest and 10-gauge some of the thickest you will find in a typical house. Small gray wire nuts are used to connect two 22-gauge wires, while a larger red wire nut can connect up to four 12-gauge wires.
While most manufacturers use the same color coding, not all do, so you should always check the label to make sure you have the right size wire nut for your project. Reading the package is the simplest way to identify the size of a wire nut.
Types of Wire Nuts
There are many types of wire nuts, each with a different use case to help make wiring your home more effective.
Standard Wire Nuts
This common type of wire nut in your home is color-coded to help you determine the sizing you’ll need. It comes in a variety of shapes, such as twist-on, square, or winged. While they provide different grip options, all these types of wire nuts serve the same purpose. Push-in wire nuts are also similar, convenient wire nuts, as there’s no twisting involved, but they aren’t as versatile as other standard wire nuts and aren’t reusable.
Wire Nuts With Protection
A few wire nut types offer certain protections that can help you secure your connection more effectively.
Deep skirt wire nuts have an extended skirt for better coverage and added insulation—especially for exposed wires. Water-proof wire nuts made with a gel or silicone sealant are ideal for outdoors or underground.
If you need a little more grip on your wire nut, then a flexible spring connector may be your best bet. And, for those with an old home with aluminum wires, Aluminum-to-Copper (Al/Cu) wire nuts are specifically made with anti-oxidant compound to protect against corrosion or overheating.
Wire Nuts for Extreme Temperatures
High-temperature wire nuts are made from ceramic or thermoplastic materials, which prevent melting or degrading at high temperatures. They are best used for light fixtures or heaters. For even more protection, ceramic wire nuts can handle even the hottest of heats, but they are much more delicate, so handle with care.
Wire Nut Sizes by Fixture Type
Typical household electrical fixtures often use the same size wiring and, therefore, the same color wire nut. For instance, a light fixture in your home almost always has 12- or 14-gauge wiring. So, to connect two of those wires, you will need an orange wire nut. You should always double-check that your wire gauge estimation is correct to ensure a secure connection.
How to Use a Wire Nut
Wire nuts are fairly simple, as they use friction to grip the wires in place to establish their connection. Here are the steps:
Strip the wires you’re connecting, exposing their bare metal conductors.
Hold the bare conductors together so their ends meet.
Place the wire nut over the bare conductors and twist clockwise.
Once twisted together, give each wire a little tug to ensure it’s secured.
Twisting allows the internal threads to grip onto the cables, pulling them together. Once they’re together, give each wire a little tug to make sure it’s secured in place. During this process, ensure no bare wire is exposed beneath the nut and that the connection is tight.
Pro Tip: Before adding the wire nut, twist the wires together for added security.
When to Use a Wire Nut
Wire nuts hold your electrical connections together and cover any exposed metal. This can encompass a wide variety of use cases, including:
Connecting wires inside outlets, switches, and light fixtures
As a temporary connection during an electrical test or temporary connection
Splicing wires together in a junction box
Wiring low-voltage circuits like doorbells and thermostats
Connecting wires from a new electrical appliance to an existing electrical system
If you’re connecting high-voltage appliances, have a specialized circuit, or need a more permanent solution to a wiring problem, consult an electrician rather than rely on wire nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but it’s not necessary. Electricians often twist wires before using a wire nut, which can help secure the connection and enhance electrical contact between wires. But whether to do so is up to you.
Yes, you must use the proper wire nut that fits your wire gauge. Using a wire nut that’s too big or too small can cause your connection to fail, short circuit, or disconnect entirely. Getting the proper wire nut size will help ensure that your connection lasts.
No. While there are differing opinions on taping over wire nuts, it is often considered an unnecessary step that provides no benefit. Another reason to ditch the tape is that if you need to adjust anything or switch out the connector, it’s quite difficult to get the tape off completely, resulting in a gooey residue left behind and making any changes more difficult.