Between its neighbours
1 AWG has 26 % more copper than 2 AWG and 21 % less than 1/0 AWG. Its DC resistance is 0.154 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 0.253), and 1000 ft of it carries 253.3 lb of copper.
1 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
1 AWG copper is 0.2893" solid (0.332" as 19-strand) and 42.4 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 110 / 130 / 145 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 125 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 100 A. Typical use: 125 A feeders and 100 A aluminum subpanels.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
1 AWG · concentric stranded copper
THIS IS:
1 AWG COPPER · 125 A BREAKER · 7.35 MM COPPER
Gauge
1 AWG
concentric stranded copper
Breaker
125 A
copper, max
Measured
8.43 mm
0.3320"
The gap is 8.43 mm (0.3320"), which reads as 1 AWG concentric stranded copper. Measure bare copper for the gauge: insulation is far thicker than the metal.
- Meets NEC 2023 Table 310.16 at 75°C — verify with your local AHJ/inspector310.16
- Drawn at true sizecalibrated screen
1 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.289"7.35 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (19 strands)
- 0.332"8.43 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.446"11.33 mm · 0.1562 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 83,690 cmil42.41 mm² · nearest IEC 50 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 0.154 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 0.253 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 253.3 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 110 / 130 / 145 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 85 / 100 / 115 A
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 125 Aampacity ≥ breaker
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 00.324" · 8.23 mm
- IEC 60228
- 50 mm²between 35 and 50 mm²
1 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.2893" · 7.35 mm
- Stranded (19)
- 0.332"
- THHN outside
- 0.446"
- Area
- 83,690 cmil · 42.41 mm²
- Metric
- 35 – 50 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 1 (7.62 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 110 / 130 / 145 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- 100 A
- Max breaker, THHN
- 125 A
- As NM-B cable
- not made
- Ground for it
- 6 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 100 A
- 116 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 100 A
- 233 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 1
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 1
- Copper weight
- 253.3 lb/1000 ft
1 AWG reference 25 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1168 | 11688 | 23376 | ||
| 584 | 5844 | 11688 | ||
| 233 | 2337 | 4675 | ||
| 116 | 1168 | 2337 | ||
| 77 | 779 | 1558 | ||
| 58 | 584 | 1168 | ||
| 38 | 389 | 779 | ||
| 29 | 292 | 584 | ||
| 19 | 194 | 389 | ||
| 14 | 146 | 292 | ||
| 11 | 116 | 233 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
05 / Field guide
1 AWG
feeder copper.
1 AWG copper is 0.2893" solid (0.332" as 19-strand) and 42.4 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 110 / 130 / 145 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 125 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 100 A. Typical use: 125 A feeders and 100 A aluminum subpanels.
Feeders and services
1 AWG is the usual choice for 125 A feeders and 100 A aluminum subpanels. It is not made as NM-B cable; use THHN or XHHW in conduit, or SER/USE cable. The equipment ground for its largest breaker is 6 AWG.
On the 1:1 gauge
The caliper above opens at 7.35 mm. Lay a stripped length along the lines and step the gauge with ← and → until the wire just fills the gap.
Questions
Answered plainly.
01How many amps can 1 AWG wire carry?
+−
1 AWG copper is rated 110 A at 60 °C, 130 A at 75 °C and 145 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). Aluminum of the same size: 100 A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 1 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 125 A with THHN on 75 °C terminals; the next size up is allowed by 240.4(B) only where the ampacity is not itself a standard rating.
03What is the diameter of 1 AWG wire?
+−
0.2893 inch (7.35 mm) solid, 0.332 inch stranded (19 strands), about 0.446 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 1 AWG in mm²?
+−
42.41 mm² (83,690 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 35 and 50 mm²; replace it with 50 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 1 AWG wire run?
+−
At 100 A and 3 % drop, 116 ft one way at 120 V and 233 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 0.154 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 1 AWG wires fit in ½" EMT?
+−
1 THHN conductors in ½" EMT, 1 in ¾" and 1 in 1" (NEC Chapter 9, 40 % fill for three or more).
07Can 1 AWG be used for a house service?
+−
Yes: by the 83 % rule (310.12) 1 AWG copper serves a dwelling’s 150 A service, or the feeder carrying its whole load. A subpanel feeder does not get the 83 % rule.