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Wire Size Calculator

The right conductor by NEC ampacity and voltage drop — with continuous load, derating, and terminal limits handled. Get the wire, the breaker, and the ground.

Conditions
Voltage drop (optional — for the run)
Recommended wire
Enter the load in amps
NEC 2023: Table 310.16 ampacity, 110.14(C) terminal limit, 240.4(D) small-conductor caps, 310.15 derating, 240.6 breaker, 250.122 ground. Voltage drop uses the K-method.
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Two sizes, take the bigger one

Sizing a conductor is really two questions. Ampacity asks: what's the smallest wire that carries this current without cooking its insulation — after you knock it down for a hot attic or a packed raceway, and cap it at what the breaker lugs are rated for. Voltage drop asks: what's the smallest wire that still delivers healthy voltage at the far end of a long run. On short runs ampacity wins; on long homeruns, EV chargers, and outbuildings, voltage drop usually forces a bigger wire. The honest answer is the larger of the two — which is exactly what this returns, along with the breaker and the equipment ground that go with it.

Questions

What size wire for 50 amps?
A 50-amp load on 75°C terminals takes 8 AWG copper or 6 AWG aluminum. If it's continuous (3+ hours) size for 62.5 A, which bumps copper to 6 AWG. A long run can push it bigger for voltage drop — enter the length and this takes the larger size.
How does the NEC size a conductor?
Table 310.16 ampacity for the wire's insulation column, times the ambient and conductor-count derating factors, then capped at the terminal rating per 110.14(C). It must cover 125% of a continuous load, and small conductors hit the 240.4(D) caps: 14 AWG = 15 A, 12 AWG = 20 A, 10 AWG = 30 A copper.
Does voltage drop change the size?
Often on long runs. Ampacity picks the smallest safe wire; voltage drop picks the smallest wire that keeps the far end under 3%. Whichever is bigger governs — this computes both.
Is this accurate and free?
Free, in your browser, NEC 2023 Table 310.16 and the standard derating, terminal, and voltage-drop rules. It's a reference tool — verify against your locally adopted code and the inspector.

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For reference and estimating only. Based on NEC (NFPA 70) 2023 — Table 310.16, 110.14(C), 240.4, 240.6, 310.15, 250.122 — and the standard K-method for voltage drop. Not a substitute for the National Electrical Code, a licensed electrician's judgment, or your authority having jurisdiction. Confirm terminal ratings, load type, and conditions of use, and verify every result against your locally adopted code before installing.