AWG to mm² Wire Gauge Converter

Convert between American Wire Gauge (AWG) and metric cross‑sectional area (mm²) instantly for wire‑harness engineering.

AWG to mm² Converter

Area & Diameter are fixed by AWG spec. Aluminum resistance is estimated via nominal resistivity ratio. Resistance values are nominal DC @20°C.

mm² to AWG Converter

Please enter a valid positive number between 0.01 and 200.
mm² to AWG matching depends only on cross‑sectional area, not conductor material.

Important Engineering Note

AWG / mm² only describes conductor physical size. It does not alone determine ampacity, voltage drop, temperature rating, insulation rating, bundling derating, installation conditions or connector terminal rating.

Wire‑gauge selection must consider operating current, allowable voltage drop, ambient temperature, insulation class, wire bundling, harness construction and terminal specifications.

AWG Reference Table (Copper Conductor, DC @20°C)

AWG Area (mm²) Diameter (mm) Copper DC Resistance (Ω/km @20°C)
4/0 AWG 107.22 11.684 0.1608
3/0 AWG 84.97 10.404 0.2028
2/0 AWG 67.4 9.266 0.2557
1/0 AWG 53.49 8.251 0.3224
0 AWG 42.41 7.348 0.4066
1 AWG 33.62 6.544 0.5129
2 AWG 26.67 5.827 0.6465
3 AWG 21.15 5.189 0.8152
4 AWG 16.77 4.621 1.028
5 AWG 13.3 4.115 1.296
6 AWG 10.55 3.665 1.634
7 AWG 8.387 3.264 2.061
8 AWG 6.634 2.906 2.585
9 AWG 5.261 2.588 3.261
10 AWG 5.261 2.588 3.28
12 AWG 3.308 2.053 5.211
14 AWG 2.081 1.628 8.277
16 AWG 1.309 1.291 13.17
18 AWG 0.823 1.024 20.86
20 AWG 0.518 0.812 33.31
22 AWG 0.326 0.644 52.96
24 AWG 0.205 0.511 84.22
26 AWG 0.129 0.405 133.9
28 AWG 0.081 0.321 212.9
30 AWG 0.0507 0.255 338.6

AWG vs. mm²: What's the Difference?

  • AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a standardized wire‑size measurement system primarily used in the United States. The higher the AWG number, the smaller the wire diameter.
  • mm² represents cross‑sectional conductor area in square millimeters; it is the worldwide standard metric measurement for wire size.
  • In AWG: a smaller number means a thicker wire; in mm²: a larger number means a thicker wire.
  • AWG and mm² are not simple integer correspondence; conversion requires standardized lookup tables.
  • Cable selection must consider ampacity, voltage drop, temperature rating, bundling derating and installation conditions — not only wire gauge alone.
Wire Gauge Calculator Cable Voltage Drop Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a U.S. standard for measuring wire diameter, where a smaller number indicates a thicker conductor. mm² measures cross‑sectional conductor area in metric units. They follow different measurement systems, so conversion cannot be done via simple math ratio and must use standard lookup tables.

AWG‑to‑mm² conversion uses standard reference tables. Each AWG maps to a fixed cross‑sectional area. For example: 16 AWG = 1.309 mm², 12 AWG = 3.308 mm², 10 AWG =5.261 mm². Use the converter tool above or consult the AWG reference table on this page.

16 AWG has cross‑sectional area 1.309 mm² and conductor diameter 1.291 mm. Copper DC resistance @20°C is 13.17 Ω/km. Commonly used for electronic harnesses and low‑voltage control circuits.

18 AWG cross‑sectional area 0.823 mm², conductor diameter 1.024 mm. Copper DC resistance @20°C: 20.86 Ω/km. Widely used for automotive harnesses, LED lighting and general‑purpose low‑current wiring.

A larger AWG number means a thinner wire. Example: 24 AWG is much thinner than 10 AWG. This is opposite of mm²: higher mm² value means thicker conductor.

No. AWG describes only conductor physical size. Safe ampacity depends also on insulation temperature rating, ambient temperature, number of bundled wires, installation method and terminal derating. Always refer to applicable wiring standards for current‑carrying capacity.

Related Calculators & Tools

Need Help Selecting the Right Wire Size?

Our engineers can help you select wire gauge, conductor material, voltage rating and cable construction for your custom wire harness.

Contact Our Engineers