Between its neighbours
14 AWG has 59 % more copper than 16 AWG and 37 % less than 12 AWG. Its DC resistance is 3.14 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 5.17), and 1000 ft of it carries 12.4 lb of copper.
14 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
14 AWG copper is 0.0641" (1.63 mm) across and 2.08 mm², between 1.5 and 2.5 mm² metric. It is rated 15 / 20 / 25 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C and takes a 15 A breaker (the 240.4(D) cap). Used for 15 A lighting and bedroom circuits.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
14 AWG · bare solid copper
THIS IS:
14 AWG COPPER · 15 A BREAKER · 1.63 MM COPPER
Gauge
14 AWG
bare solid copper
Breaker
15 A
copper, max
Measured
1.63 mm
0.0641"
The gap is 1.63 mm (0.0641"), which reads as 14 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
14 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.0641"1.628 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (7 strands)
- 0.0730"1.854 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.111"2.82 mm · 0.0097 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 4,110 cmil2.08 mm² · nearest IEC 2.5 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 3.14 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 5.17 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 12.4 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 15 / 20 / 25 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- —
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 15 A240.4(D) small-conductor cap
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 160.064" · 1.626 mm
- IEC 60228
- 2.5 mm²between 1.5 and 2.5 mm²
14 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.0641" · 1.63 mm
- Stranded (7)
- 0.073"
- THHN outside
- 0.111"
- Area
- 4,110 cmil · 2.08 mm²
- Metric
- 1.5 – 2.5 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 16 (1.626 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 15 / 20 / 25 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- —
- Max breaker, THHN
- 15 A
- As NM-B cable
- 15 A · white
- Ground for it
- 14 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 12 A
- 47 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 12 A
- 95 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 12
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 22
- Copper weight
- 12.4 lb/1000 ft
14 AWG reference 20 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 573 | 1146 | ||
| 28 | 286 | 573 | ||
| 11 | 114 | 229 | ||
| 5 | 57 | 114 | ||
| 3 | 38 | 76 | ||
| 2 | 28 | 57 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 22 | 35 | 61 | 84 | 138 | ||
| 11 | 21 | 34 | 60 | 82 | 135 | ||
| 9 | 17 | 28 | 51 | 70 | 118 | ||
| 14 | 24 | 39 | 68 | 91 | 149 | ||
| 13 | 22 | 36 | 63 | 85 | 140 | ||
| 13 | 22 | 33 | 52 | 76 | 135 | ||
| 13 | 22 | 36 | 63 | 81 | 134 |
05 / Field guide
14 AWG
the branch-circuit size.
14 AWG copper is 0.0641" (1.63 mm) across and 2.08 mm², between 1.5 and 2.5 mm² metric. It is rated 15 / 20 / 25 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C and takes a 15 A breaker (the 240.4(D) cap). Used for 15 A lighting and bedroom circuits.
Circuits it is used for
14 AWG is the usual choice for 15 A lighting and bedroom circuits. As NM-B it comes as 14/2 and 14/3 with a white jacket, held to the 60 °C column (15 A). The equipment ground for its largest breaker is 14 AWG.
On the 1:1 gauge
The caliper above opens at 1.63 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 14 AWG wire carry?
+−
14 AWG copper is rated 15 A at 60 °C, 20 A at 75 °C and 25 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). 240.4(D) still limits it to a 15 A breaker. Aluminum of the same size: — A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 14 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 15 A with THHN on 75 °C terminals, 15 A as NM-B cable (60 °C).
03What is the diameter of 14 AWG wire?
+−
0.0641 inch (1.63 mm) solid, 0.073 inch stranded (7 strands), about 0.111 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 14 AWG in mm²?
+−
2.08 mm² (4,110 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 1.5 and 2.5 mm²; replace it with 2.5 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 14 AWG wire run?
+−
At 12 A and 3 % drop, 47 ft one way at 120 V and 95 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 3.14 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 14 AWG wires fit in ½" EMT?
+−
12 THHN conductors in ½" EMT, 22 in ¾" and 35 in 1" (NEC Chapter 9, 40 % fill for three or more).
07How far can 14 AWG speaker wire run?
+−
About 79 ft to an 8 Ω speaker and 39 ft to a 4 Ω one before the cable passes 5 % of the impedance (about 0.42 dB).