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20, 30, 40, 50 & 60 Amp Wires: What Size Do I Need?

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December 31, 2024

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You may already know what a gauge is and how it works. If you don’t, we have a lot of valuable sections below on the topic to explore why you must choose the right product for your electrical needs. Scroll down if you want to look through NEC’s wire gauge amp chart table that we have included.

Summary: Buying recommendations through our wire size chart

What wire do I need for various capacity requirements? The rule of thumb that techs will usually go by is that for a 30 amp circuit breaker, 10-gauge wire is the right one to go with. For a 40 amp, you need an 8-gauge wire. For a 20 amp, you will need a 12-gauge wire. For 60 amp, the correct wire size is 4. The right wire size for 50 amp is a 6 for both your breaker & circuit. However, there are certain essential assumptions that that rule of thumb relies on. We will expand on those in the rest of this article.

The chart below will ensure you get the right extension cords and circuit breakers. Products were chosen based on the National Electric Code. A copy of the electrical wire sizing chart is included further down.

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Table of Contents

• Simplified 20, 30, 40, 50, & 60 amp wire size chart
• 60 amp
• 50 amp
• 40 amp
• 30 amp
• 20 amp
• NEC 310.16
• Choosing the right size

Simplified 20, 30, 40, 50, & 60 amp wire size chart

Scroll down to our full NEC wire size chart to find the corresponding options for different temperatures. The one below summarizes the main recommendations based on conductor temperatures of no more than 140°F.

60 amp

It can be confusing to understand what to install for this wire size as there are several different opinions on the internet. However, we suggest using AWG size 4 for a 60 amp wire size or breaker. You can also use AWG 3. Of course, when the wire length is longer, you can add a thickness of 10% for every 50 feet added.

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50 amp

AWG 6 wire is the perfect size for 50 amp circuits. You can opt for AWG 4 if the 50 amp breaker is connected to a wire longer than 100 feet or so. This generally features the most in air conditioner units, dryers, electrical furnaces, and water heaters.

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40 amp

AWG wire 8 is largely the recommended size for a 40 amp breaker. It’s generally installed for large devices like a stove, air conditioners, and water heating systems. Finding the right breaker size is crucial to protecting your wiring. Add 10% thickness to the wire for every 50 feet of wire added.

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30 amp

A 30-amp circuit can take up many small appliances. As a rule of thumb, you can put up to 16 outlets on a single 30-amp circuit. Only use wire size AWG 8 for 30 amp draws to keep it intact. You can use appliances like a coffee maker, kettle, hair dryer, and more on these 30-amp circuits.

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20 amp

AWG 12 is the perfect gauge of wire for a 20 amp breaker. You can expect it to safely carry up to 100 feet. You can size up to an AWG 10 copper wire if you plan on going longer than 100 feet. You’ll find these in kitchens and garages as they are used to power up big machines. It can power up your blender, microwave, stove, and coffee maker all on the same circuit as long as you use the right AWG.

NEC 310.16

Looking for the NEC (National Electric Code) wire ampacity chart and size rating tables across the internet. These are the values that we have been able to find. They outline the values in slightly great detail than the previous charts did, as per the NEC 310.16 table. Scroll down further if you want a more detailed chart for the standard type.

As you can see from the graph, a 6 AWG is the safe choice if you have a 220v 50 amp that you need to power. A 12-gauge is the right wire size for your 220v 20 amp needs. Whether you’re finding out the option for your 1000 or 2000-watt needs, this is the chart the pros use. It can also be used for speakers and home theater. It’s commonly used for light fixtures or a subpanel. 

Whether for a 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 amp circuit or breaker, the AWG wire size chart can help you find what you need. It is the most accurate table to go with on this page and is the one that the pros use. 

The detailed chart further down in this article is for copper with an ambient temperature rating of 60 ℃ or 140 ℉. It is what is considered the standard. The suitable selection for a specific capacity will change depending on the wire used and the ambient temperature rating. If you want to find the 50 amp wire size at an ambient temperature of 194°F, you look in the chart to see gauge 6. Respectively for 40 amp, it’s gauge 8. The right 60 amp wire size is gauge 4 at an ambient temperature of 140°F. These numbers are assuming you’re going for aluminum. 

In those situations, it’s important to think about what the conductor is made of. Copper or aluminum are the materials used for wires. The termination points and the ambient rating are other things you should be keeping in mind.

High ambient conditions like multiple conductors and the allowable voltage drop should be considered to ensure you don’t run into problems.

Copper is known to be able to carry more electricity than aluminum. It can handle more at the same gauge than its aluminum counterpart. It means if you have a copper 6 AWG and the same made of aluminum, the copper will allow more current to flow through it.

Electrical components with a higher ambient temperature rating can be used at higher current requirements. This is why a copper 14 AWG wire size with a 60 ℃ or 140 ℉ ambient temperature rating is suitable for a 15 amp breaker. The same thickness but with an ambient temperature rating of 90 ℃ or 194 ℉ can be safely used with a 25 amp breaker.

These factors make choosing the size for a 30 amp breaker not as straightforward as it seems. A 10 AWG copper with an ambient temperature rating of 60 ℃ or 140 ℉ is what you need from the chart above. You can also use an aluminum 10 AWG with a 90 ℃ or 194 ℉ ambient temperature rating and diameters larger than these two sizes.

It is fine to get a higher rating electrical component than the recommended one for a circuit breaker. Still, you should never use one with a lower breaker rating.

Choosing the right size

When you inspect your circuit breaker, a burned wire is a surprise that you do not want to get. Fortunately, this is an avoidable scenario if you know that having the right capacity for a circuit breaker is important. The bad news is that this is something that many people do. People mistakenly believe that one wire is as good as any other. They attempt to make the connections themselves instead of calling for an electrician.

Anything involving breakers should be taken seriously because it has to do with electricity. It includes any sort of connectivity. You will avoid any electric hazards and issues common to circuit breakers and faulty connections if you have the right components. Many of these issues occur because of the wrong one being chosen and used for the breakers. It is important to know the right combination of the breaker and its compatible wires.