Between its neighbours
6 AWG has 59 % more copper than 8 AWG and 37 % less than 4 AWG. Its DC resistance is 0.491 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C (aluminum 0.808), and 1000 ft of it carries 79.4 lb of copper.
6 AWG wire: amps, diameter & uses
6 AWG copper is 0.1620" solid (0.184" as 7-strand) and 13.3 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 55 / 65 / 75 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 60 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 50 A. Typical use: 60 A EV chargers in conduit, 50 A ranges and 60 A subpanels.
01 · 1:1 wire gauge · caliper
6 AWG · concentric stranded copper
THIS IS:
6 AWG COPPER · 60 A BREAKER · 4.12 MM COPPER
Gauge
6 AWG
concentric stranded copper
Breaker
60 A
copper, max
Measured
4.67 mm
0.1840"
The gap is 4.67 mm (0.1840"), which reads as 6 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
6 AWG
- Solid diameter
- 0.162"4.12 mm · ASTM B258 formula
- Stranded (7 strands)
- 0.184"4.67 mm · Table 8
- THHN outside
- 0.254"6.45 mm · 0.0507 in² · Table 5
- Area
- 26,240 cmil13.30 mm² · nearest IEC 16 mm²
- DC resistance, 75 °C
- 0.491 Ω/1000 ftaluminum 0.808 Ω/1000 ft · Table 8
- Copper weight
- 79.4 lb/1000 ft
Ampacity
- Copper 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 55 / 65 / 75 ANM-B uses the 60 °C column (334.80)
- Aluminum 60 / 75 / 90 °C
- 40 / 50 / 55 A
- Largest breaker (Cu, 75 °C)
- 60 Aampacity ≥ breaker
Other gauges
- Nearest SWG
- SWG 60.192" · 4.877 mm
- IEC 60228
- 16 mm²between 10 and 16 mm²
6 AWG at a glance
Size
- Solid diameter
- 0.1620" · 4.12 mm
- Stranded (7)
- 0.184"
- THHN outside
- 0.254"
- Area
- 26,240 cmil · 13.30 mm²
- Metric
- 10 – 16 mm²
- SWG nearest
- 8 (4.064 mm)
Amps
- Copper 60/75/90 °C
- 55 / 65 / 75 A
- Aluminum 75 °C
- 50 A
- Max breaker, THHN
- 60 A
- As NM-B cable
- 55 A · black
- Ground for it
- 10 AWG
Run & fit
- 120 V at 48 A
- 76 ft at 3 %
- 240 V at 48 A
- 152 ft at 3 %
- THHN in ½" EMT
- 2
- THHN in ¾" EMT
- 4
- Copper weight
- 79.4 lb/1000 ft
6 AWG reference 23 rows
Sort any column, print a shop sheet, download CSV. Click a row to load it in the calculator.
| Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 366 | 3665 | 7331 | ||
| 183 | 1832 | 3665 | ||
| 73 | 733 | 1466 | ||
| 36 | 366 | 733 | ||
| 24 | 244 | 488 | ||
| 18 | 183 | 366 | ||
| 12 | 122 | 244 | ||
| 9 | 91 | 183 | ||
| 6 | 61 | 122 |
| Actions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 26 | ||
| 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 26 | ||
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 22 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 28 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 27 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 25 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 25 |
05 / Field guide
6 AWG
feeder copper.
6 AWG copper is 0.1620" solid (0.184" as 7-strand) and 13.3 mm². Table 310.16 rates it 55 / 65 / 75 A at 60 / 75 / 90 °C, so it protects up to a 60 A breaker on 75 °C terminals; aluminum of this size carries 50 A. Typical use: 60 A EV chargers in conduit, 50 A ranges and 60 A subpanels.
Feeders and services
6 AWG is the usual choice for 60 A EV chargers in conduit, 50 A ranges and 60 A subpanels. As NM-B it comes as 6/2 and 6/3 with a black jacket, held to the 60 °C column (55 A). The equipment ground for its largest breaker is 10 AWG.
On the 1:1 gauge
The caliper above opens at 4.12 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 6 AWG wire carry?
+−
6 AWG copper is rated 55 A at 60 °C, 65 A at 75 °C and 75 A at 90 °C (NEC Table 310.16, 30 °C, three conductors or fewer). Aluminum of the same size: 50 A at 75 °C.
02What size breaker for 6 AWG wire?
+−
Up to 60 A with THHN on 75 °C terminals, 50 A as NM-B cable (60 °C); 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 6 AWG wire?
+−
0.1620 inch (4.12 mm) solid, 0.184 inch stranded (7 strands), about 0.254 inch with THHN insulation.
04What is 6 AWG in mm²?
+−
13.30 mm² (26,240 circular mils). The IEC sizes either side are 10 and 16 mm²; replace it with 16 mm², not the smaller one.
05How far can 6 AWG wire run?
+−
At 48 A and 3 % drop, 76 ft one way at 120 V and 152 ft at 240 V (Table 8 resistance, 0.491 Ω per 1000 ft at 75 °C). Lighter loads go proportionally further.
06How many 6 AWG wires fit in ½" EMT?
+−
2 THHN conductors in ½" EMT, 4 in ¾" and 7 in 1" (NEC Chapter 9, 40 % fill for three or more).