Between its neighbours
4/0 AWG has 26 % more copper than 3/0 AWG and 15 % less than 250 kcmil. Its DC resistance is 0.0608 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 0.1), and 1000 ft of it carries 640.5 lb of copper.
4/0 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
4/0 AWG copper is 0.4600" solid (0.528" as 19-strand) and 107.2 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 195 / 230 / 260 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 225 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 180 A. Typical use: 200 A aluminum services, 200 A copper feeders and large battery cables.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
4/0 AWG · concentric stranded copper
THIS IS:
4/0 AWG COPPER · 225 A BREAKER · 11.68 MM COPPER
Gauge
4/0 AWG
concentric stranded copper
Breaker
225 A
copper, max
Measured
13.41 mm
0.5280"
The gap is 13.41 mm (0.5280"), which reads as 4/0 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
4/0 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.460"11.68 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (19 strands)
- 0.528"13.41 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.642"16.31 mm · 0.3237 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 211,600 cmil107.22 mm² · nearest IEC 120 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 0.0608 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 0.1 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 640.5 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 195 / 230 / 260 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 150 / 180 / 205 A
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 225 Aampacity ≥ breaker
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 7/00.5" · 12.7 mm
- IEC 60228
- 120 mm²between 95 and 120 mm²
4/0 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.4600" · 11.68 mm
- Stranded (19)
- 0.528"
- THHN outside
- 0.642"
- Area
- 211,600 cmil · 107.22 mm²
- Metric
- 95 – 120 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 6/0 (11.786 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 195 / 230 / 260 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- 180 A
- Max breaker, THHN
- 225 A
- As NM-B cable
- not made
- Ground for it
- 4 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 180 A
- 164 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 180 A
- 328 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 0
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 1
- Copper weight
- 640.5 lb/1000 ft
4/0 AWG reference 27 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2960 | 29605 | 59210 | ||
| 1480 | 14802 | 29605 | ||
| 592 | 5921 | 11842 | ||
| 296 | 2960 | 5921 | ||
| 197 | 1973 | 3947 | ||
| 148 | 1480 | 2960 | ||
| 98 | 986 | 1973 | ||
| 74 | 740 | 1480 | ||
| 49 | 493 | 986 | ||
| 37 | 370 | 740 | ||
| 29 | 296 | 592 | ||
| 19 | 197 | 394 | ||
| 14 | 148 | 296 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
05 / Field guide
4/0 AWG
feeder copper.
4/0 AWG copper is 0.4600" solid (0.528" as 19-strand) and 107.2 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 195 / 230 / 260 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 225 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 180 A. Typical use: 200 A aluminum services, 200 A copper feeders and large battery cables.
Feeders and services
4/0 AWG is the usual choice for 200 A aluminum services, 200 A copper feeders and large battery cables. 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 4 AWG.
On the 1:1 gauge
The caliper above opens at 11.68 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 4/0 AWG wire carry?
+−
4/0 AWG copper is rated 195 A at 60 °C, 230 A at 75 °C and 260 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). Aluminum of the same size: 180 A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 4/0 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 225 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 4/0 AWG wire?
+−
0.4600 inch (11.68 mm) solid, 0.528 inch stranded (19 strands), about 0.642 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 4/0 AWG in mm²?
+−
107.22 mm² (211,600 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 95 and 120 mm²; replace it with 120 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 4/0 AWG wire run?
+−
At 180 A and 3 % drop, 164 ft one way at 120 V and 328 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 0.0608 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 4/0 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).