Between its neighbours
10 AWG has 59 % more copper than 12 AWG and 37 % less than 8 AWG. Its DC resistance is 1.24 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 2.04), and 1000 ft of it carries 31.4 lb of copper.
10 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
10 AWG copper is 0.1019" (2.59 mm) across and 5.26 mm², between 4 and 6 mm² metric. It is rated 30 / 35 / 40 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C and takes a 30 A breaker (the 240.4(D) cap). Used for 30 A dryers and water heaters, 30 A RV outlets.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
10 AWG · bare solid copper
THIS IS:
10 AWG COPPER · 30 A BREAKER · 2.59 MM COPPER
Gauge
10 AWG
bare solid copper
Breaker
30 A
copper, max
Measured
2.59 mm
0.1019"
The gap is 2.59 mm (0.1019"), which reads as 10 AWG bare solid 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
10 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.102"2.59 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (7 strands)
- 0.116"2.95 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.164"4.17 mm · 0.0211 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 10,380 cmil5.26 mm² · nearest IEC 6 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 1.24 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 2.04 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 31.4 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 30 / 35 / 40 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 25 / 30 / 35 A
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 30 A240.4(D) small-conductor cap
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 120.104" · 2.642 mm
- IEC 60228
- 6 mm²between 4 and 6 mm²
10 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.1019" · 2.59 mm
- Stranded (7)
- 0.116"
- THHN outside
- 0.164"
- Area
- 10,380 cmil · 5.26 mm²
- Metric
- 4 – 6 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 12 (2.642 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 30 / 35 / 40 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- 30 A
- Max breaker, THHN
- 30 A
- As NM-B cable
- 30 A · orange
- Ground for it
- 10 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 24 A
- 60 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 24 A
- 120 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 5
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 10
- Copper weight
- 31.4 lb/1000 ft
10 AWG reference 22 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | 1451 | 2903 | ||
| 72 | 725 | 1451 | ||
| 29 | 290 | 580 | ||
| 14 | 145 | 290 | ||
| 9 | 96 | 193 | ||
| 7 | 72 | 145 | ||
| 4 | 48 | 96 | ||
| 3 | 36 | 72 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | 16 | 28 | 38 | 63 | ||
| 5 | 9 | 15 | 27 | 37 | 62 | ||
| 4 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 32 | 54 | ||
| 6 | 11 | 18 | 31 | 42 | 69 | ||
| 6 | 10 | 17 | 29 | 39 | 64 | ||
| 6 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 35 | 62 | ||
| 6 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 37 | 61 |
05 / Field guide
10 AWG
the branch-circuit size.
10 AWG copper is 0.1019" (2.59 mm) across and 5.26 mm², between 4 and 6 mm² metric. It is rated 30 / 35 / 40 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C and takes a 30 A breaker (the 240.4(D) cap). Used for 30 A dryers and water heaters, 30 A RV outlets.
Circuits it is used for
10 AWG is the usual choice for 30 A dryers and water heaters, 30 A RV outlets. As NM-B it comes as 10/2 and 10/3 with a orange jacket, held to the 60 °C column (30 A). The equipment ground for its largest breaker is 10 AWG.
On the 1:1 gauge
The caliper above opens at 2.59 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 10 AWG wire carry?
+−
10 AWG copper is rated 30 A at 60 °C, 35 A at 75 °C and 40 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). 240.4(D) still limits it to a 30 A breaker. Aluminum of the same size: 30 A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 10 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 30 A with THHN on 75 °C terminals, 30 A as NM-B cable (60 °C).
03What is the diameter of 10 AWG wire?
+−
0.1019 inch (2.59 mm) solid, 0.116 inch stranded (7 strands), about 0.164 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 10 AWG in mm²?
+−
5.26 mm² (10,380 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 4 and 6 mm²; replace it with 6 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 10 AWG wire run?
+−
At 24 A and 3 % drop, 60 ft one way at 120 V and 120 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 1.24 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 10 AWG wires fit in ½" EMT?
+−
5 THHN conductors in ½" EMT, 10 in ¾" and 16 in 1" (NEC Chapter 9, 40 % fill for three or more).
07How far can 10 AWG speaker wire run?
+−
About 200 ft to an 8 Ω speaker and 100 ft to a 4 Ω one before the cable passes 5 % of the impedance (about 0.42 dB).