Side-by-Side Comparison
Electrical & Wiring
AWG Wire Sizes vs. Electrical Wire Color Codes
Comparing 2 standards across 22 specifications. 22 key differences identified.
Comparing:
AWG Wire Sizes
Electrical Wire Color Codes
The American Wire Gauge (AWG / ASTM B258) system standardizes solid round electrical conductor diameters based on a logarithmic ratio where 36 AWG equals 0.0050 inches (0.127 mm) and 4/0 (0000) AWG equals 0.4600 inches (11.684 mm) across 39 stepping steps.
AC electrical wiring color codes distinguish Line (hot), Neutral, and Ground conductors, standardized in the US under NEC (120/240V Black/Red/White and 277/480V Brown/Orange/Yellow) and internationally under IEC 60446 (Brown/Black/Grey Line, Blue Neutral, Green-Yellow Ground).
Specification Comparison Table
22 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Standards
|
ASTM B258 / National Electrical Code (NEC) Chapter 9 Table 8 | NEC Article 200/250 (US) / IEC 60446 / BS 7671 (Europe/UK) |
|
Geometric Stepping Ratio
|
Ratio between consecutive gauges is 39√(0.4600 / 0.0050) ≈ 1.1229322 | — |
|
Area Doubling Rule of Thumb
|
Decreasing by 3 gauge numbers doubles conductor cross-sectional area and halves resistance | — |
|
Diameter Doubling Rule
|
Decreasing by 6 gauge numbers doubles conductor diameter | — |
|
14 AWG (15A Residential Lighting)
|
Dia: 1.628 mm (0.0641 in) | Area: 2.08 mm² (4,110 cmil) | 8.286 Ω/km | — |
|
12 AWG (20A Small Appliance)
|
Dia: 2.053 mm (0.0808 in) | Area: 3.31 mm² (6,530 cmil) | 5.211 Ω/km | — |
|
10 AWG (30A Water Heater / Dryer)
|
Dia: 2.588 mm (0.1019 in) | Area: 5.26 mm² (10,380 cmil) | 3.277 Ω/km | — |
|
8 AWG (40-50A Electric Range)
|
Dia: 3.264 mm (0.1285 in) | Area: 8.37 mm² (16,510 cmil) | 2.061 Ω/km | — |
|
6 AWG (55-65A Subpanel / Cooktop)
|
Dia: 4.115 mm (0.1620 in) | Area: 13.30 mm² (26,240 cmil) | 1.296 Ω/km | — |
|
4/0 AWG (200A Residential Service)
|
Dia: 11.684 mm (0.4600 in) | Area: 107.2 mm² (211,600 cmil) | 0.1608 Ω/km | — |
|
US 120V / 240V Phase A (Hot)
|
— | Black |
|
US 120V / 240V Phase B (Hot)
|
— | Red |
|
US 120V / 208V Phase C (Hot 3-Phase)
|
— | Blue |
|
US 120V / 240V Neutral
|
— | White (Continuous white or gray outer finish per NEC 200.6) |
|
US 277V / 480V Commercial 3-Phase (Wye)
|
— | Phase A: Brown | Phase B: Orange | Phase C: Yellow | Neutral: Gray (conventional scheme; this is a symmetrical wye system with no high-leg condition) |
|
US 120V / 240V High-Leg Delta (4-Wire, 3-Phase)
|
— | Phase A: Black | Phase B: Orange (NEC 110.15-mandated high-leg marking, ~208V to neutral) | Phase C: Blue | Neutral: White |
|
US Protective Earth / Ground
|
— | Bare Copper, Green, or Green with Yellow Stripe |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 1 (L1)
|
— | Brown |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 2 (L2)
|
— | Black |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 3 (L3)
|
— | Grey |
|
IEC / Europe Neutral (N)
|
— | Blue (Light Blue) |
|
IEC / Europe Protective Earth (PE)
|
— | Green with Yellow Stripe (Bi-color mandate) |