- Published 5 Aug 2024
- Last Modified 22 Aug 2024
- 3 min
AWG Conversion Calculator
Use our helpful AWG Conversion Calculator to determine the diameter or Cross-Sectional Area of your cable.
Understanding wire and cable sizing can be tricky when you are confronted with unfamiliar sizes in the form of millimetres (mm) or American Wire Gauge (AWG). However, our handy tool is here to help when dealing with various international sizing requirements.
Our calculator enables you to determine the nominal equivalent value of AWG wire sizes by the diameter (in mm) and the cross-sectional area, or CSA (in mm²).
Just input the AWG measurement, click “calculate”, and the equivalent CSA and diameter values will be automatically calculated for you.
Please note that when calculating AWG from the CSA or diameter, the latter two measurements will be rounded to the nearest AWG equivalent value.
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard was implemented as industry-standard sizing in North America in the mid-1800s. It originated from a straightforward measurement derived from counting the number of times a wire needed to be drawn through a die to reach the required size. However, this means that the sizes are inversely and logarithmically proportional. For example, a 10 AWG wire has approximately 10 times more area than a 20 AWG wire.
AWG sizing doesn’t fit within rounded metric (mm) or imperial (inches) units of measurement, meaning that manually converting one size to another can be both complicated and confusing.
One key point to know is that wire gauges run from low to high. Therefore, the smaller the AWG number, the larger the number in millimetres. On the flip side, the larger the AWG number, the smaller the measurement in millimetres.
Additionally, in applications where accuracy is key, it’s worth knowing that you may need to round the conversion either up or down (depending on your requirements) to a minimal degree as AWG sizes don’t fit wholly into either inches or millimetres.
Disclaimer: The information provided by this digital calculator is intended for general guidance purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we advise users to consult the manufacturer's technical specification sheets for detailed and precise information. We cannot guarantee the completeness or reliability of the data presented here. For specific applications and critical decisions, always refer to the official technical documentation provided by the manufacturer.