AWG and kcmil to mm²: by area and by resistance

An AWG size and the nearest metric size are not the same conductor. 4/0 AWG (107.2 mm²) may have at most 0.1673 Ω/km at 20 °C; 95 mm² may have 0.193 Ω/km, so 95 mm² has the higher resistance and 120 mm² is the size that is at least as good.

The rule used here: the smallest size on the other side whose maximum resistance at 20 °C is not more than this one's. No standard sets a conversion rule; this one is the site's own, built on the standards' maximum resistances. By area, the nearest size is shown as well.

Converter

4/0 AWG: at most 0.1673 Ω/km at 20 °C (UL 1581 Table 30.3).

By resistance: 120 mm² (at most 0.153 Ω/km)

By area: nearest 120 mm², next size up 120 mm²

AWG and kcmil to mm²

Class B concentric stranded AWG conductors against IEC 60228 class 2 stranded conductors, plain copper and aluminium.

Copper

AWG / kcmilArea, mm²Max. resistance at 20 °C, Ω/kmSourcemm² by area (nearest)mm² by resistance
18 AWG0.82321.4633NEC Table 80.751
16 AWG1.3113.4865NEC Table 81.51.5
14 AWG2.088.4702NEC Table 82.52.5
12 AWG3.315.3453NEC Table 844
10 AWG5.2613.347NEC Table 866
8 AWG8.3672.0978NEC Table 81010
6 AWG13.31.3223NEC Table 81616
4 AWG21.150.8306NEC Table 82525
3 AWG26.670.6595NEC Table 82535
2 AWG33.620.5214NEC Table 83550
1 AWG42.410.4153NEC Table 85050
1/0 AWG53.490.3281NEC Table 85070
2/0 AWG67.430.2607NEC Table 87095
3/0 AWG85.010.2066NEC Table 89595
4/0 AWG107.20.1673UL 1581 Table 30.3120120
250 kcmil1270.1387NEC Table 8120150
300 kcmil1520.1159NEC Table 8150185
350 kcmil1770.0991NEC Table 8185185
400 kcmil2030.0866NEC Table 8185240
500 kcmil2530.0708UL 1581 Table 30.3240300
600 kcmil3040.0579NEC Table 8300400
700 kcmil3550.0496NEC Table 8400400
750 kcmil3800.0463NEC Table 8400500
800 kcmil4050.0434NEC Table 8400500
900 kcmil4560.0387NEC Table 8500500
1000 kcmil5070.0354UL 1581 Table 30.3500630
1250 kcmil6330.0278NEC Table 8630800
1500 kcmil7600.0231NEC Table 8800800
1750 kcmil8870.0198NEC Table 88001000
2000 kcmil10130.0173NEC Table 810001200

Aluminium

AWG / kcmilArea, mm²Max. resistance at 20 °C, Ω/kmSourcemm² by area (nearest)mm² by resistance
18 AWG0.82335.0318NEC Table 81010 *
16 AWG1.3122.0177NEC Table 81010 *
14 AWG2.0813.8327NEC Table 81010 *
12 AWG3.318.7498NEC Table 81010 *
10 AWG5.2615.4668NEC Table 81010 *
8 AWG8.3673.441NEC Table 81010 *
6 AWG13.32.1707NEC Table 81616
4 AWG21.151.3636NEC Table 82525
3 AWG26.671.0804NEC Table 82535
2 AWG33.620.8553NEC Table 83550
1 AWG42.410.6785NEC Table 85050
1/0 AWG53.490.5402NEC Table 85070
2/0 AWG67.430.4281NEC Table 87095
3/0 AWG85.010.338NEC Table 89595
4/0 AWG107.20.2743UL 1581 Table 30.3120120
250 kcmil1270.2274NEC Table 8120150
300 kcmil1520.1897NEC Table 8150185
350 kcmil1770.1624NEC Table 8185240
400 kcmil2030.1422NEC Table 8185240
500 kcmil2530.1139NEC Table 8240300
600 kcmil3040.0949NEC Table 8300400
700 kcmil3550.0814NEC Table 8400400
750 kcmil3800.0759NEC Table 8400500
800 kcmil4050.071NEC Table 8400500
900 kcmil4560.063NEC Table 8500500
1000 kcmil5070.058UL 1581 Table 30.3500630
1250 kcmil6330.0453NEC Table 8630800
1500 kcmil7600.038NEC Table 8800800
1750 kcmil8870.0325NEC Table 88001000
2000 kcmil10130.0285NEC Table 810001200

mm² to AWG and kcmil

Copper

mm²Max. resistance at 20 °C, Ω/kmAWG / kcmil by area (nearest)AWG / kcmil by resistance
0.53618 AWG18 AWG *
0.7524.518 AWG18 AWG *
118.118 AWG16 AWG
1.512.116 AWG14 AWG
2.57.4114 AWG12 AWG
44.6112 AWG10 AWG
63.0810 AWG8 AWG
101.838 AWG6 AWG
161.156 AWG4 AWG
250.7273 AWG3 AWG
350.5242 AWG2 AWG
500.3871/0 AWG1/0 AWG
700.2682/0 AWG2/0 AWG
950.1933/0 AWG4/0 AWG
1200.153250 kcmil250 kcmil
1500.124300 kcmil300 kcmil
1850.0991350 kcmil350 kcmil
2400.0754500 kcmil500 kcmil
3000.0601600 kcmil600 kcmil
4000.047800 kcmil750 kcmil
5000.03661000 kcmil1000 kcmil
6300.02831250 kcmil1250 kcmil
8000.02211500 kcmil1750 kcmil
10000.01762000 kcmil2000 kcmil
12000.01512000 kcmil-
14000.01292000 kcmil-
16000.01132000 kcmil-
18000.01012000 kcmil-
20000.0092000 kcmil-
25000.00722000 kcmil-

Aluminium

mm²Max. resistance at 20 °C, Ω/kmAWG / kcmil by area (nearest)AWG / kcmil by resistance
103.088 AWG6 AWG
161.916 AWG4 AWG
251.23 AWG3 AWG
350.8682 AWG2 AWG
500.6411/0 AWG1/0 AWG
700.4432/0 AWG2/0 AWG
950.323/0 AWG4/0 AWG
1200.253250 kcmil250 kcmil
1500.206300 kcmil300 kcmil
1850.164350 kcmil350 kcmil
2400.125500 kcmil500 kcmil
3000.1600 kcmil600 kcmil
4000.0778800 kcmil750 kcmil
5000.06051000 kcmil1000 kcmil
6300.04691250 kcmil1250 kcmil
8000.03671500 kcmil1750 kcmil
10000.02912000 kcmil2000 kcmil
12000.02472000 kcmil-
14000.02122000 kcmil-
16000.01862000 kcmil-
18000.01652000 kcmil-
20000.01492000 kcmil-
25000.01272000 kcmil-

* The smallest size of that series, so larger than needed. "-": no size on the other side has a resistance that low.

  • NEC Table 8: NEC 2026 Chapter 9 Table 8, d.c. resistance at 75 °C, taken to 20 °C with the table's own note: R20 = R75 [1 + α (20 - 75)], α 0.00323 for copper, 0.0033 for aluminium (read in the standard)
  • UL 1581 Table 30.3: UL 1581, 4th ed. revised to 2013-01-30, Table 30.3, 20 °C, maximum at 20 °C, used where the research holds it: copper 4/0, 500 and 1000 kcmil; aluminium 4/0 and 1000 kcmil (read in the standard)
  • IEC 60228 Table 2: IEC 60228:2004 Table 2, p. 19 (read in the standard)

ICEA K against IEC Ki: a different temperature

ICEA states the insulation resistance constant K in MΩ·1000 ft at 15.6 °C (60 °F); IEC 60502 states Ki in MΩ·km at the operating temperature of the insulation, or at 20 °C for PVC. The unit converts exactly (Ki = K × 0.3048); the temperatures differ, so a K and a Ki cannot be compared or checked against each other.

Ki = 6096 MΩ·km at 15.6 °C

Different temperature: not comparable with an IEC Ki (IEC 60502-1 Table 13 gives XLPE and EPR at 90 °C, PVC at 20 °C and 70 °C).

Example: Con Edison EO-17 asks K at least 20000 for EPR, which is 6096 MΩ·km at 15.6 °C. Con Edison EO-17, Rev. 11, Dec. 2014 (on ICEA S-94-649) (quoted by others)

InsulationKi, MΩ·km°CComparable with an ICEA K?Source
XLPE3.6790no: different temperatureIEC 60502-1:2004 Table 13 (read in the standard)
EPR / HEPR3.6790no: different temperatureIEC 60502-1:2004 Table 13 (read in the standard)
PVC/A36.720no: different temperatureIEC 60502-1:2004 Table 13 (read in the standard)
PVC/A0.03770no: different temperatureIEC 60502-1:2004 Table 13 (read in the standard)
PVC/B36720no: different temperatureIEC 60502-2 Table 15 (read in the standard)
PVC/B0.3770no: different temperatureIEC 60502-2 Table 15 (read in the standard)

Old IEC 60811 test numbers and the 2012 parts

In 2012 IEC 60811 was split into one part per test; IEC 60502-1:2004 and many datasheets still cite the old numbers. IEC 60811-100 Annex A maps every old part to the new ones, clause by clause.

Old numberNowSource
IEC 60811-1-1IEC 60811-201, IEC 60811-202, IEC 60811-203, IEC 60811-501
clause 8.1: IEC 60811-201; clause 8.2: IEC 60811-202; clause 8.3: IEC 60811-203; clause 9: IEC 60811-501		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-1-2IEC 60811-401, IEC 60811-412
clause 8.1: IEC 60811-401; clause 8.2: IEC 60811-412; clause 8.3: deleted; clause 8.4: IEC 60811-401		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-1-3IEC 60811-402, IEC 60811-502, IEC 60811-503, IEC 60811-606
clause 8: IEC 60811-606; clause 9: IEC 60811-402; clause 10: IEC 60811-502; clause 11: IEC 60811-503		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-1-4IEC 60811-504, IEC 60811-505, IEC 60811-506
clause 8.1: IEC 60811-504; clause 8.2: IEC 60811-504; clause 8.3: IEC 60811-505; clause 8.4: IEC 60811-505; clause 8.5: IEC 60811-506		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-2-1IEC 60811-403, IEC 60811-404, IEC 60811-507
clause 8: IEC 60811-403; clause 9: IEC 60811-507; clause 10: IEC 60811-404		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-3-1IEC 60811-508, IEC 60811-509
clause 8: IEC 60811-508; clause 9: IEC 60811-509		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-3-2IEC 60811-405, IEC 60811-409
clause 8: IEC 60811-409; clause 9: IEC 60811-405		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-4-1IEC 60811-406, IEC 60811-510, IEC 60811-511, IEC 60811-605, IEC 60811-607
clause 8: IEC 60811-406; clause 9: IEC 60811-510; clause 10: IEC 60811-511; clause 11: IEC 60811-605; clause 12: IEC 60811-605; clause 13: IEC 60811-607		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-4-2IEC 60811-407, IEC 60811-408, IEC 60811-410, IEC 60811-510, IEC 60811-512, IEC 60811-513
clause 8: IEC 60811-512; clause 9: IEC 60811-513; clause 10: IEC 60811-510; clause 11: IEC 60811-407; Annex A: IEC 60811-408; Annex B: IEC 60811-410		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)
IEC 60811-5-1IEC 60811-301, IEC 60811-302, IEC 60811-411, IEC 60811-601, IEC 60811-602, IEC 60811-603, IEC 60811-604
clause 4: IEC 60811-601; clause 5: IEC 60811-602; clause 6: IEC 60811-411; clause 7: IEC 60811-603; clause 8: IEC 60811-604; clause 9: IEC 60811-301; clause 10: IEC 60811-302		IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1 (pp. 8 to 9) and Table A.2 (clauses, pp. 10 to 11) (read in the standard)

The 2012 parts by test

  • IEC 60811-100: general part
  • IEC 60811-201, IEC 60811-202, IEC 60811-203: thickness and overall dimensions
  • IEC 60811-401: ageing in air
  • IEC 60811-402: water absorption
  • IEC 60811-403: ozone resistance
  • IEC 60811-404: mineral oil immersion
  • IEC 60811-409: loss of mass
  • IEC 60811-501: tensile strength and elongation
  • IEC 60811-502, IEC 60811-503: shrinkage
  • IEC 60811-504, IEC 60811-505, IEC 60811-506: tests at low temperature
  • IEC 60811-507: hot set
  • IEC 60811-508: pressure at high temperature
  • IEC 60811-509: heat shock
  • IEC 60811-605: carbon black content

Sources: IEC 60811-100:2012 (edition 1.0), Annex A, Table A.1, pp. 8 to 9 (read in the standard)