Between its neighbours
2/0 AWG has 26 % more copper than 1/0 AWG and 21 % less than 3/0 AWG. Its DC resistance is 0.0967 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 0.159), and 1000 ft of it carries 402.9 lb of copper.
2/0 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
2/0 AWG copper is 0.3648" solid (0.418" as 19-strand) and 67.4 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 145 / 175 / 195 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 175 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 135 A. Typical use: 200 A copper services (83 % rule) and 175 A feeders.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
2/0 AWG · concentric stranded copper
THIS IS:
2/0 AWG COPPER · 175 A BREAKER · 9.27 MM COPPER
Gauge
2/0 AWG
concentric stranded copper
Breaker
175 A
copper, max
Measured
10.62 mm
0.4180"
The gap is 10.62 mm (0.4180"), which reads as 2/0 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
2/0 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.365"9.27 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (19 strands)
- 0.418"10.62 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.532"13.51 mm · 0.2223 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 133,100 cmil67.44 mm² · nearest IEC 70 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 0.0967 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 0.159 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 402.9 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 145 / 175 / 195 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 115 / 135 / 150 A
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 175 Aampacity ≥ breaker
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 5/00.432" · 10.973 mm
- IEC 60228
- 70 mm²between 50 and 70 mm²
2/0 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.3648" · 9.27 mm
- Stranded (19)
- 0.418"
- THHN outside
- 0.532"
- Area
- 133,100 cmil · 67.44 mm²
- Metric
- 50 – 70 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 3/0 (9.449 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 145 / 175 / 195 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- 135 A
- Max breaker, THHN
- 175 A
- As NM-B cable
- not made
- Ground for it
- 6 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 140 A
- 132 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 140 A
- 265 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 0
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 1
- Copper weight
- 402.9 lb/1000 ft
2/0 AWG reference 26 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 18614 | 37228 | ||
| 930 | 9307 | 18614 | ||
| 372 | 3722 | 7445 | ||
| 186 | 1861 | 3722 | ||
| 124 | 1240 | 2481 | ||
| 93 | 930 | 1861 | ||
| 62 | 620 | 1240 | ||
| 46 | 465 | 930 | ||
| 31 | 310 | 620 | ||
| 23 | 232 | 465 | ||
| 18 | 186 | 372 | ||
| 12 | 124 | 248 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
05 / Field guide
2/0 AWG
feeder copper.
2/0 AWG copper is 0.3648" solid (0.418" as 19-strand) and 67.4 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 145 / 175 / 195 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 175 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 135 A. Typical use: 200 A copper services (83 % rule) and 175 A feeders.
Feeders and services
2/0 AWG is the usual choice for 200 A copper services (83 % rule) and 175 A feeders. 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 9.27 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 2/0 AWG wire carry?
+−
2/0 AWG copper is rated 145 A at 60 °C, 175 A at 75 °C and 195 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). Aluminum of the same size: 135 A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 2/0 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 175 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 2/0 AWG wire?
+−
0.3648 inch (9.27 mm) solid, 0.418 inch stranded (19 strands), about 0.532 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 2/0 AWG in mm²?
+−
67.44 mm² (133,100 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 50 and 70 mm²; replace it with 70 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 2/0 AWG wire run?
+−
At 140 A and 3 % drop, 132 ft one way at 120 V and 265 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 0.0967 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 2/0 AWG wires fit in ½" EMT?
+−
0 THHN conductors in ½" EMT, 1 in ¾" and 1 in 1" (NEC Chapter 9, 40 % fill for three or more).
07Can 2/0 AWG be used for a house service?
+−
Yes: by the 83 % rule (310.12) 2/0 AWG copper serves a dwelling’s 200 A service, or the feeder carrying its whole load. A subpanel feeder does not get the 83 % rule.