AWG to mm² Wire Gauge Converter
Convert between American Wire Gauge (AWG) and metric cross‑sectional area (mm²) instantly.
AWG to mm² Converter
Area & Diameter are fixed by AWG spec. Only Resistance changes with material.
mm² to AWG Converter
Please enter a valid positive number.
mm² to AWG matching depends only on cross‑sectional area, not material.
AWG Reference Table (Copper Conductor)
| AWG | Area (mm²) | Diameter (mm) | Copper Resistance (Ω/km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/0 | 107.22 | 11.684 | 0.1608 |
| 3/0 | 84.97 | 10.404 | 0.2028 |
| 2/0 | 67.40 | 9.266 | 0.2557 |
| 1/0 | 53.49 | 8.251 | 0.3224 |
| 0 | 42.41 | 7.348 | 0.4066 |
| 1 | 33.62 | 6.544 | 0.5129 |
| 2 | 26.67 | 5.827 | 0.6465 |
| 3 | 21.15 | 5.189 | 0.8152 |
| 4 | 16.77 | 4.621 | 1.028 |
| 5 | 13.30 | 4.115 | 1.296 |
| 6 | 10.55 | 3.665 | 1.634 |
| 7 | 8.387 | 3.264 | 2.061 |
| 8 | 6.631 | 2.906 | 2.598 |
| 9 | 5.261 | 2.588 | 3.277 |
| 10 | 5.26 | 2.588 | 3.28 |
| 12 | 3.31 | 2.053 | 5.21 |
| 14 | 2.08 | 1.628 | 8.28 |
| 16 | 1.31 | 1.291 | 13.2 |
| 18 | 0.823 | 1.024 | 20.9 |
| 20 | 0.519 | 0.812 | 33.2 |
| 22 | 0.326 | 0.644 | 52.8 |
| 24 | 0.205 | 0.511 | 84.2 |
| 26 | 0.129 | 0.405 | 133.9 |
| 28 | 0.0810 | 0.321 | 212.9 |
| 30 | 0.0509 | 0.255 | 338.6 |
AWG vs. mm²: What's the Difference?
- AWG (American Wire Gauge) is a standardized wire size measurement system used primarily in the United States. The higher the AWG number, the smaller the wire diameter.
- mm² represents the cross‑sectional area of the conductor in square millimeters and is the standard metric measurement used worldwide.
- In AWG, a smaller number means a thicker wire; in mm², a larger number means a thicker wire.
- AWG and mm² are not a simple integer correspondence — they follow different measurement systems, so conversion requires referencing standardized tables.
- Cable selection also requires consideration of ampacity, voltage drop, temperature rating, and installation conditions — not just wire gauge alone.
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 the cross‑sectional area of the conductor in metric units. They use different measurement systems, so conversion between them is not a simple ratio — you need to reference standardized conversion tables. Both describe the same physical conductor but through different numerical systems.
AWG to mm² conversion is done by looking up the standard wire gauge table. Each AWG size corresponds to a specific cross‑sectional area in mm². For example, 16 AWG equals 1.31 mm², 12 AWG equals 3.31 mm², and 10 AWG equals 5.26 mm². You can use the converter above for instant results, or refer to the AWG reference table on this page.
16 AWG has a cross‑sectional area of 1.31 mm² and a conductor diameter of 1.291 mm. For copper conductors, the resistance is 13.2 Ω/km. This is one of the most commonly used wire sizes in electronic wiring harnesses and low‑voltage control circuits.
18 AWG has a cross‑sectional area of 0.823 mm² and a conductor diameter of 1.024 mm. For copper conductors, the resistance is 20.9 Ω/km. 18 AWG is widely used in automotive wiring harnesses, LED lighting, and general‑purpose low‑current applications.
A larger AWG number means a thinner wire. For example, 24 AWG is much thinner than 10 AWG. This is the opposite of mm², where a larger number means a thicker conductor. When converting from AWG to mm², remember: higher AWG number = smaller mm² area = thinner wire.
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