AWG to mm² Converter
Convert an American Wire Gauge number into conductor diameter and cross-sectional area.
Results
Conductor cross-section
3.3088
mm²
Diameter
2.0525
mm
Diameter
0.08081
in
What this tool does
American datasheets specify wire by gauge number, European ones by cross-section in square millimetres, and the two do not line up neatly. This uses the official geometric definition of the AWG scale rather than a lookup table, so any gauge from 0000 to 40 converts exactly.
Formula
d = 0,127 × 92^((36 − n) ÷ 39) mm , A = π × d² ÷ 4
Variables
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
n | AWG number | — |
A | Conductor cross-section | mm² |
d | Diameter | mm |
din | Diameter | in |
Worked example
- AWG number12
- Conductor cross-section3.3088 mm²
- Diameter2.0525 mm
- Diameter0.08081 in
Limitations
- For work that must comply with a standard or be signed off, check the result against the applicable code and have it reviewed by a qualified engineer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a bigger AWG number mean a thinner wire?
The gauge number originally counted how many times the wire was pulled through a drawing die: more passes meant a thinner wire. The scale is geometric, and the modern definition sets AWG 36 at 0.005 inch and AWG 0000 at 0.46 inch, with every step between them a fixed ratio.