Copper Wire Weight Calculator — Per Foot & Per Meter

Find out exactly how much copper wire weighs for any AWG gauge and any length. Enter the wire gauge and length below to get the bare copper weight in pounds (lbs) and kilograms (kg) — plus per-foot, per-meter, and per-1,000-ft figures and a complete copper wire weight chart from 40 AWG to 0 AWG.

Wire gauge (AWG)

Lower AWG number = thicker, heavier wire.

Length

Length unit

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pounds (lb)

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kilograms (kg)

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ounces (oz)

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grams (g)

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lbs per foot

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grams per meter

Bare copper only. Results are the weight of the copper conductor itself — insulation, jacketing, and stranding air-gaps are not included.

How to Calculate Copper Wire Weight (Formula)

The copper wire weight formula used here and in engineering tables:

weight = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × length × 8.96 g/cm³

Diameter from AWG: d (inches) = 0.005 × 92^{((36 − AWG) ÷ 39)}
Cross-section: area = π × (d ÷ 2)²
Volume: area × length (same units)
Weight: volume × copper density 8.96 g/cm³

Popular Gauges: Copper Wire Weight Per Foot

The most-searched gauges at a glance (solid bare copper):

14 AWG — 0.0125 lbs/ft (18.64 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 12.53 lbs (5.68 kg)
12 AWG — 0.0199 lbs/ft (29.65 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 19.92 lbs (9.04 kg)
10 AWG — 0.0317 lbs/ft (47.14 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 31.68 lbs (14.37 kg)
8 AWG — 0.0504 lbs/ft (74.96 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 50.37 lbs (22.85 kg)
6 AWG — 0.0801 lbs/ft (119.18 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 80.09 lbs (36.33 kg)
4 AWG — 0.1273 lbs/ft (189.51 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 127.34 lbs (57.76 kg)
2 AWG — 0.2025 lbs/ft (301.33 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 202.49 lbs (91.85 kg)
1 AWG — 0.2553 lbs/ft (379.97 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 255.33 lbs (115.82 kg)
0 AWG — 0.3220 lbs/ft (479.14 g/m); 1,000 ft weighs 321.97 lbs (146.04 kg)

Copper Wire Weight Chart — Full AWG Table (Per 1,000 ft)

Complete copper wire weight table for every AWG size, showing diameter, cross-sectional area, circular mils, weight per 1,000 feet (lbs and kg), and weight per meter (g/m).

AWG	Dia (in)	Dia (mm)	Area (mm²)	Circular mils	lbs / 1,000 ft	kg / 1,000 ft	g / meter
0	0.3249	8.251	53.475	105534.5	321.965	146.041	479.137
1	0.2893	7.348	42.408	83692.7	255.330	115.816	379.973
2	0.2576	6.544	33.631	66371.3	202.486	91.846	301.332
3	0.2294	5.827	26.670	52634.8	160.579	72.837	238.967
4	0.2043	5.189	21.151	41741.3	127.345	57.763	189.510
5	0.1819	4.621	16.773	33102.4	100.989	45.808	150.288
6	0.1620	4.115	13.302	26251.4	80.088	36.327	119.184
7	0.1443	3.665	10.549	20818.3	63.513	28.809	94.517
8	0.1285	3.264	8.366	16509.7	50.368	22.846	74.955
9	0.1144	2.906	6.634	13092.7	39.943	18.118	59.442
10	0.1019	2.588	5.261	10383.0	31.677	14.368	47.140
11	0.0907	2.305	4.172	8234.1	25.121	11.395	37.384
12	0.0808	2.053	3.309	6529.9	19.922	9.036	29.647
13	0.0720	1.828	2.624	5178.5	15.799	7.166	23.511
14	0.0641	1.628	2.081	4106.7	12.529	5.683	18.645
15	0.0571	1.450	1.650	3256.8	9.936	4.507	14.786
16	0.0508	1.291	1.309	2582.7	7.879	3.574	11.726
17	0.0453	1.150	1.038	2048.2	6.249	2.834	9.299
18	0.0403	1.024	0.8230	1624.3	4.955	2.248	7.374
19	0.0359	0.912	0.6527	1288.1	3.930	1.783	5.848
20	0.0320	0.812	0.5176	1021.5	3.117	1.414	4.638
21	0.0285	0.723	0.4105	810.1	2.471	1.121	3.678
22	0.0253	0.644	0.3255	642.4	1.960	0.889	2.917
23	0.0226	0.573	0.2582	509.5	1.554	0.705	2.313
24	0.0201	0.511	0.2047	404.0	1.233	0.559	1.834
25	0.0179	0.455	0.1624	320.4	0.978	0.443	1.455
26	0.0159	0.405	0.1288	254.1	0.775	0.352	1.154
27	0.0142	0.361	0.1021	201.5	0.615	0.279	0.915
28	0.0126	0.321	0.0810	159.8	0.488	0.221	0.726
29	0.0113	0.286	0.0642	126.7	0.387	0.175	0.575
30	0.0100	0.255	0.0509	100.5	0.307	0.139	0.456
31	0.0089	0.227	0.0404	79.7	0.243	0.110	0.362
32	0.0080	0.202	0.0320	63.2	0.193	0.087	0.287
33	0.0071	0.180	0.0254	50.1	0.153	0.069	0.228
34	0.0063	0.160	0.0201	39.8	0.121	0.055	0.180
35	0.0056	0.143	0.0160	31.5	0.096	0.044	0.143
36	0.0050	0.127	0.0127	25.0	0.076	0.035	0.114
37	0.0045	0.113	0.0100	19.8	0.060	0.027	0.090
38	0.0040	0.101	0.0080	15.7	0.048	0.022	0.071
39	0.0035	0.090	0.0063	12.5	0.038	0.017	0.057
40	0.0031	0.080	0.0050	9.9	0.030	0.014	0.045

Copper Wire Weight Per Meter

The g / meter column in the chart above is the fastest way to price or plan metric-length runs: multiply it by your total meters. Common metric conversions: 12 AWG ≈ 29.65 g/m, 10 AWG ≈ 47.14 g/m, 8 AWG ≈ 74.96 g/m, 6 AWG ≈ 119.18 g/m.

Bare Copper vs. Insulated Cable Weight

This tool calculates bare copper wire weight — the conductor alone. Real-world cables (THHN, NM-B/Romex, SOOW, etc.) add PVC, nylon, or rubber insulation, which can add 20–60% to the total cable weight depending on jacket thickness. For shipping quotes or conduit fill planning, check the manufacturer's datasheet for the finished cable weight.

AWG to mm vs. Wire Weight — Know the Difference

A gauge-to-mm converter (like our AWG to mm converter) only translates the gauge number into a diameter — it tells you how thick the wire is, not how heavy it is. This calculator goes one step further: gauge → cross-sectional area → volume × copper density → actual weight for any length, in lbs and kg. Use the converter when you need dimensions; use this tool when you need weight for cost estimates, scrap valuation, or shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate copper wire weight?

Measure or look up the wire diameter from its AWG gauge, compute the cross-sectional area (pi x radius squared), multiply by the length to get the volume, then multiply by copper's density of 8.96 g/cm3. Our calculator automates all of these steps: pick the AWG size, enter the length, and it returns the weight in pounds and kilograms.

How much does 12 AWG copper wire weigh per foot?

12 AWG solid bare copper wire weighs approximately 0.0199 pounds per foot (about 29.65 grams per meter). A 1,000-foot spool therefore weighs roughly 19.92 pounds (9.04 kg). Values assume solid bare copper; stranded or insulated wire differs slightly.

How much does 10 AWG copper wire weigh per foot?

10 AWG solid bare copper wire weighs approximately 0.0317 pounds per foot (about 47.14 grams per meter). A 1,000-foot length weighs roughly 31.68 pounds (14.37 kg) of bare copper, before insulation.

What is the weight of copper wire per meter?

It depends on the gauge. For example, 12 AWG copper is about 29.65 g/m, 10 AWG about 47.14 g/m, and 8 AWG about 74.96 g/m. Select any AWG size in the calculator above to see the exact grams-per-meter figure, or check the full AWG weight chart below.

What density of copper does this calculator use?

8.96 grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3), the standard density of pure copper at room temperature. This is the value used by engineering references and scrap-metal weight tables worldwide.

Does the result include the weight of insulation?

No. This calculator gives the weight of the bare copper conductor only. PVC, XLPE, or rubber insulation adds extra weight that varies by jacket type and thickness, so always check the cable manufacturer's datasheet for insulated cable weights.

What is the difference between this tool and an AWG to mm converter?

An AWG to mm converter only translates the gauge number into a diameter measurement — it tells you how thick the wire is, not how heavy it is. This calculator goes further: it converts gauge to cross-sectional area and then to actual weight for any length, in pounds and kilograms. If you only need the diameter conversion, use our AWG to mm converter instead.

How much does 1,000 ft of 12 AWG copper wire weigh?

About 19.92 pounds (9.04 kg) for solid bare copper. Electricians often buy 12 AWG in 1,000-foot spools, so this is one of the most looked-up figures — the full chart below lists per-1,000-ft weights for every gauge from 40 to 0 AWG.

How much does 6 AWG copper wire weigh per foot?

6 AWG solid bare copper wire weighs approximately 0.0801 pounds per foot (about 119.18 grams per meter). A 1,000-foot run weighs roughly 80.09 pounds (36.33 kg).

How accurate is this copper wire weight calculator?

Very accurate for solid bare copper: the math uses the exact AWG diameter formula and the standard copper density of 8.96 g/cm3. Some published tables use a slightly lower density convention (8.89 g/cm3), so their figures run about 0.8% lower — e.g. 19.77 vs 19.92 lb per 1,000 ft for 12 AWG. Real-world wire can also vary slightly due to manufacturing tolerances and stranding.

Can I use this calculator for aluminum wire?

No — aluminum has a much lower density (2.70 g/cm3 versus copper's 8.96 g/cm3), so the same gauge of aluminum wire weighs roughly 70% less. Use a dedicated aluminum wire weight calculator for accurate results.

What is a circular mil?

A circular mil is a unit of cross-sectional area used for wire in North America: the area of a circle 0.001 inch (one mil) in diameter. Wire tables list circular mils because the area — and therefore the weight — scales directly with this number. The chart below includes circular mils for every AWG size.

How much does 14 AWG copper wire weigh per foot?

14 AWG solid bare copper wire weighs approximately 0.0125 pounds per foot (about 18.64 grams per meter). A 1,000-foot length weighs roughly 12.53 pounds (5.68 kg).

Does stranded vs. solid wire change the weight?

Slightly. Stranded wire packs individual strands with tiny air gaps and a small lay-length factor, so it typically weighs about 2-3% more copper-equivalent than the solid-wire calculation for the same nominal gauge. For precise shipping or scrap weights of stranded cable, add a small margin or weigh a sample.

How do I calculate the weight if I know the diameter but not the AWG?

Use the same formula directly: weight = pi x (diameter/2)^2 x length x 8.96 g/cm3, keeping all units consistent (convert diameter and length to centimetres first). If the diameter matches a standard AWG size, you can also just select that gauge in the calculator above.

Is this copper wire weight calculator free to use?

Yes — completely free, with no sign-up and no limits. All calculations run in your browser, so your inputs never leave your device.