Wire Weight Calculator
Calculate the weight of solid round wires by AWG gauge or custom dimensions across multiple metals.
Inputs
Calculated Diameter: 2.588 mm (0.1019 in)
Material density: —
Results
Wire Specifications
Solid Round Wire: Weight calculation assumes solid, cylindrical round wire. Stranded electrical wires typically weigh 1% to 3% more due to the spiral helix configuration of the metallic strands. Plastic insulation coating is not included and must be factored separately.
Write Feedback
Embed on Your Site
Copy this code to place this calculator on your blog or website:
Related Calculators
How the Wire Weight Calculator Works
The wire weight calculator is an engineering tool designed to estimate the mass and total physical weight of round solid wire spools or bundles. Whether you are budgeting shipping costs for large reels of copper electrical wire, determining loading limits for cable trays, or planning suspension loads in construction projects, knowing the mass of your cables is critical.
This calculator supports two input systems: the American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard or direct custom diameter inputs in millimeters or inches. The calculator converts this cross-sectional area and combines it with physical wire length, material density, and quantity to output weight in both metric (kilograms and grams) and imperial (pounds and ounces) values.
The Formula: Weight = Volume × Density
To compute the weight of any cylindrical object, including wire, the calculator resolves the physical cylinder's volume and multiplies it by the density of the chosen metal.
First, we find the cross-sectional area of the wire in square centimeters (\(\text{cm}^2\)) from the wire's diameter:
Area (\text{cm}^2) = \pi \times r^2 = \pi \times \left(\frac{\text{Diameter in cm}}{2}\right)^2
Second, the total volume of the wire is determined by multiplying the cross-sectional area by the wire's length:
Volume (\text{cm}^3) = Area (\text{cm}^2) \times \text{Length in cm}
Finally, the weight is calculated by multiplying the volume by the material's specific density:
Weight (\text{grams}) = Volume (\text{cm}^3) \times \text{Density} (\text{g/cm}^3)
What Is AWG (American Wire Gauge)?
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standardized wire gauge system used since 1857 predominantly in North America for round, solid, non-ferrous electrical wire. The AWG scale operates on an inverse logarithmic relationship. As the gauge number increases, the physical wire diameter decreases.
The gauge system is defined by 39 steps between the standard sizes of 36 AWG (exactly 0.0050 inches in diameter) and 4/0 (0000 AWG, exactly 0.4600 inches). The mathematical formula to find the diameter in millimeters (\(d\)) for a given gauge number (\(n\)) is:
d = 0.127 \times 92^{\frac{36 - n}{39}} \text{ mm}
For large gauges like 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0, the gauge index values (\(n\)) used in the formula are 0, -1, -2, and -3 respectively.
Wire Material Densities Explained
The physical weight of wire is heavily influenced by the type of metal used. Aluminum is frequently chosen for overhead utility transmission lines because of its exceptionally low weight, even though it has lower electrical conductivity than copper. Copper remains the gold standard for indoor wiring due to its high conductivity, though it is much heavier.
Our calculator bakes in densities for 12 primary industrial and structural metals:
- Copper: 8.96 g/cm³
- Aluminum: 2.70 g/cm³
- Steel (Mild): 7.85 g/cm³
- Stainless Steel: 8.00 g/cm³
- Gold: 19.32 g/cm³
- Silver: 10.49 g/cm³
- Brass: 8.50 g/cm³
- Bronze: 8.80 g/cm³
AWG Gauge & Copper Weight Reference Table
Here is a reference table showing diameter dimensions and estimated copper weights per 100 meters for common solid wire gauges:
| AWG Gauge | Diameter (mm) | Diameter (inch) | Copper Weight (kg / 100m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/0 (0000) | 11.684 mm | 0.4600 in | 96.07 kg |
| 2/0 (00) | 9.266 mm | 0.3648 in | 60.42 kg |
| 2 AWG | 6.544 mm | 0.2576 in | 30.16 kg |
| 6 AWG | 4.115 mm | 0.1620 in | 11.92 kg |
| 10 AWG | 2.588 mm | 0.1019 in | 4.71 kg |
| 14 AWG | 1.628 mm | 0.0641 in | 1.86 kg |
| 18 AWG | 1.024 mm | 0.0403 in | 0.74 kg |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate the weight of a wire?
Find the cross-sectional area of the wire using the formula Area = π × r² (where r is the radius, half the diameter). Multiply this area by the wire length to find the total volume. Finally, multiply the volume by the material density (e.g., 8.96 g/cm³ for copper) to get the weight.
How much does copper wire weigh per metre?
The weight of copper wire per meter depends entirely on its size. For example, a 10 AWG solid copper wire (diameter 2.588 mm) weighs approximately 4.71 kg per 100 meters (or 0.0471 kg/m), while a thicker 2 AWG copper wire weighs about 30 kg per 100 meters.
What is the formula for wire weight?
The standard metric formula is: Weight = Area (mm²) × Length (m) × Density (g/cm³) / 1000. This outputs weight in kilograms.
Does a higher AWG number mean a heavier wire?
No. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) scale is inverse. A higher AWG number indicates a thinner wire with a smaller diameter, meaning it will weigh less. Conversely, lower AWG numbers (and gauge sizes like 1/0, 2/0, etc.) are thicker and heavier.
How much heavier is copper than aluminium wire?
Copper is significantly heavier than aluminum. The density of copper is 8.96 g/cm³, whereas aluminum has a density of just 2.70 g/cm³. For a wire of the exact same diameter and length, copper will weigh approximately 3.3 times more than aluminum.
How do I find wire weight from the gauge?
First, convert the gauge number to diameter using the standard AWG formula: d = 0.127 × 92^((36 - n)/39) mm. Once you have the diameter, calculate the volume of the wire cylinder and multiply by the material density.
Does stranded wire weigh more than solid wire?
Yes. For a cable of the same nominal gauge, a stranded wire actually weighs about 1% to 3% more than a solid wire. This is due to the twisting (lay) of the individual strands, which requires slightly more physical length of metal per linear foot of cable.
How do I work out the weight of a full spool of wire?
Determine the length of the wire on the spool and look up its weight per unit length. Multiply the length by the unit weight, and then add the empty weight (tare) of the plastic, wood, or metal spool itself.