AWG to mm² Converter
Convert wire sizes between American Wire Gauge (AWG) and metric cross-sectional area in mm², with diameter and the nearest standard metric size.
How to use the AWG to mm² Converter
- Choose AWG → mm² or mm² → AWG.
- Select the gauge or enter the area.
- Read the equivalent size.
How it works
AWG is a logarithmic scale: every 6 gauge steps halve the diameter, and every 3 steps roughly halve the area. The diameter of solid wire is d = 0.127 mm × 92^((36 − n)/39), and the area is π/4 × d². Smaller AWG numbers are thicker wires. Metric wire is sold in standard areas (1.5, 2.5, 4, 6 mm² …) that do not match AWG exactly, so choose the next larger size.
Popular awg to mm² conversions
AWG to mm²
| AWG | Diameter (mm) | Area (mm²) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1.024 | 0.823 |
| 16 | 1.291 | 1.309 |
| 14 | 1.628 | 2.081 |
| 12 | 2.053 | 3.309 |
| 10 | 2.588 | 5.261 |
| 8 | 3.264 | 8.366 |
| 6 | 4.115 | 13.302 |
| 4 | 5.189 | 21.151 |
| 2 | 6.544 | 33.631 |
| 0 | 8.251 | 53.475 |
Frequently asked questions
What is 12 AWG in mm²?
About 3.31 mm² — between 2.5 and 4 mm² metric sizes.
What AWG is 2.5 mm²?
Close to 13 AWG; use 12 AWG as the safer US equivalent.
What is 10 AWG in mm²?
About 5.26 mm².
Why do smaller gauge numbers mean thicker wire?
The gauge originally counted how many times wire was drawn through dies — more draws made thinner wire.