AWG to mm² converter: wire cross-section
Useful when matching an American gauge to metric sizes such as 2.5 or 4 mm² used across the Gulf and Europe.
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How to use it
- Enter awg gauge.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Diameter (mm) = 0.127 × 92^((36 − n) / 39), area (mm²) = π / 4 × diameter². kcmil = (diameter in mils)² / 1000. The next metric size is the smallest IEC 60228 size not below the area.
Example
Inputs: AWG gauge = 10. Result: Cross-section area: 5.2612 mm²; Diameter: 2.5882 mm; Kcmil: 10.383 kcmil.
Limits and caveats
- Cable choice depends on current, installation method and local code, not on area alone.
- Area is for solid wire; stranded conductor area is set by the relevant cable standard.
Questions about this tool
What metric size matches 12 AWG?
It has 3.31 mm², between 2.5 and 4 mm², so the next size not below it is 4 mm².
Is 14 AWG the same as 2.5 mm²?
Not exactly. 14 AWG is 2.08 mm², smaller than 2.5 mm².
What does kcmil mean?
It is a US area unit equal to 1000 circular mils, where one circular mil is the area of a circle one thousandth of an inch across.