Calculate the weight of copper wire by AWG gauge and length. Includes AWG reference table, resistance estimation, and material cost approximation.
Knowing the weight of copper wire is essential for electrical installations, cable tray design, shipping logistics, and material cost estimation. Wire weight depends on the conductor diameter (often specified by AWG gauge) and length, with copper's high density (8,960 kg/m³) making long runs surprisingly heavy.
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) system assigns a gauge number to each standard wire diameter, with smaller numbers indicating larger wires. Each step of 6 gauge numbers doubles the cross-sectional area and weight per meter. For example, #6 AWG weighs about 119 g/m, while #12 AWG weighs only 30 g/m—a factor of 4 for a 6-gauge difference.
This calculator supports both AWG selection and custom diameter entry. It computes total weight, linear weight, cross-sectional area, approximate DC resistance, and estimated material cost based on current copper prices. The built-in AWG reference table provides a complete quick-reference for wire specification. Check the example with realistic values before reporting.
Electricians need wire weight to size cable trays and conduit supports. Project managers estimate material costs by weight. Shipping departments calculate freight charges based on total cable weight. This calculator handles all these needs with a single input.
The integrated AWG table eliminates the need for separate reference charts, and the resistance output helps verify voltage drop calculations for long wire runs.
Weight = (π/4) × d² × ρ_Cu × L, where d = wire diameter (m), ρ_Cu = 8,960 kg/m³, L = length (m). DC resistance: R = ρ_e × L / A, where ρ_e = 1.72 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m for copper at 20 °C.
Result: 2.971 kg
#12 AWG has diameter 2.053 mm (area 3.309 mm²). Linear weight = 3.309e-6 × 8960 = 0.02971 kg/m. For 100 m: weight = 2.971 kg.
The American Wire Gauge system was standardized in 1857 and remains the primary wire sizing system in North America. The system defines wire diameters from #0000 (4/0, 11.684 mm) down to #40 (0.0799 mm). The progression follows a geometric series where diameter decreases by a factor of 0.8905 per gauge number.
Key relationships: every 3 gauges doubles the cross-sectional area (and thus the weight per meter and current capacity). Every 6 gauges doubles the diameter. Every 10 gauges increases resistance by a factor of 10.
| Property | Value | |---|---| | Density | 8,960 kg/m³ | | Resistivity (20 °C) | 1.72 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m | | Temp coefficient | +0.00393 /°C | | Melting point | 1,085 °C | | Thermal conductivity | 401 W/(m·K) | | Tensile strength (annealed) | 210 MPa |
Copper is the standard conductor material because it offers the best combination of low resistivity, high ductility, good corrosion resistance, and solderability. Only silver has lower resistivity (1.59 vs 1.72 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m), but at dramatically higher cost. Aluminum, while lighter and cheaper, requires larger cross-sections and special connectors to match copper performance.
AWG is based on the number of drawing steps from a standard rod. Each step reduces diameter by a constant ratio (≈0.8905). Every 3 gauges halves the area; every 6 gauges halves the diameter.
For standard THHN/THWN residential wire, insulation adds 10–30% depending on gauge. Larger wires have proportionally thinner insulation, so the addition is smaller percentage-wise.
Copper commodity prices fluctuate; as of recent years, raw copper is typically $7–10 per kg. Finished wire costs 2–4× more than raw copper due to drawing, insulation, and distribution.
The calculator uses copper resistivity at 20 °C. At higher temperatures, resistance increases by about 0.39% per °C. Stranded wire has slightly higher resistance than solid due to air gaps.
No—aluminum has a density of 2,700 kg/m³ (about 30% of copper) and higher resistivity. For aluminum wire, multiply the copper weight by 0.301 and multiply resistance by 1.61.
#14 AWG for 15-amp circuits, #12 for 20-amp, #10 for 30-amp, #8 for 40-amp, and #6 for 60-amp circuits. Service entrance cables are typically #4 to #2/0.