22 AWG wire size
0.644 mm · 0.326 mm²
0.0253 in diameter · 52.959 Ω/km in copper
What 22 AWG is used for
Breadboard jumpers, serial cables and low-current signal runs.
The numbers
| Diameter | 0.644 mm · 0.0253 in |
| Cross-sectional area | 0.3255 mm² |
| Resistance, copper | 52.959 Ω/km · 16.142 Ω per 1,000 ft |
| Resistance, aluminium | 86.627 Ω/km |
| NEC 60 °C copper ampacity | — outside the common building-wire range |
How 22 compares
The gauge scale is geometric, so the useful comparisons are ratios rather than differences. 16 AWG is twice the diameter, which is four times the area.
| Gauge | Diameter | Area | Ω/km copper | vs 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1.291 mm | 1.309 mm² | 13.17 | 4.02× the area |
| 18 | 1.024 mm | 0.823 mm² | 20.95 | 2.53× the area |
| 20 | 0.812 mm | 0.518 mm² | 33.31 | 1.59× the area |
| 24 | 0.511 mm | 0.205 mm² | 84.21 | 0.63× the area |
| 26 | 0.405 mm | 0.129 mm² | 133.9 | 0.4× the area |
| 28 | 0.321 mm | 0.081 mm² | 212.9 | 0.25× the area |
Frequently asked questions
What is 22 AWG in mm?
0.644 mm in diameter (0.0253 inches), with a cross-sectional area of 0.326 mm².
Is 22 AWG used for power wiring?
Not for building circuits. It is a signal and low-current gauge — thinner than anything a domestic branch circuit uses.
What is the resistance of 22 AWG copper?
52.959 Ω per kilometre, or 16.142 Ω per 1,000 feet, for annealed copper at 20 °C. The same gauge in aluminium is about 86.63 Ω/km — 1.64 times higher, which is why aluminium wiring is sized larger for the same load.
Why do smaller AWG numbers mean thicker wire?
The number counts drawing operations. Wire is pulled through progressively smaller dies, and the gauge records how many passes it took — so more passes means a higher number and a thinner wire.