26 AWG wire size
0.405 mm · 0.129 mm²
0.0159 in diameter · 133.897 Ω/km in copper
What 26 AWG is used for
Fine hookup wire, internal instrument wiring.
The numbers
| Diameter | 0.405 mm · 0.0159 in |
| Cross-sectional area | 0.1288 mm² |
| Resistance, copper | 133.897 Ω/km · 40.812 Ω per 1,000 ft |
| Resistance, aluminium | 219.019 Ω/km |
| NEC 60 °C copper ampacity | — outside the common building-wire range |
How 26 compares
The gauge scale is geometric, so the useful comparisons are ratios rather than differences. 20 AWG is twice the diameter, which is four times the area.
| Gauge | Diameter | Area | Ω/km copper | vs 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0.812 mm | 0.518 mm² | 33.31 | 4.02× the area |
| 22 | 0.644 mm | 0.326 mm² | 52.96 | 2.53× the area |
| 24 | 0.511 mm | 0.205 mm² | 84.21 | 1.59× the area |
| 28 | 0.321 mm | 0.081 mm² | 212.9 | 0.63× the area |
| 30 | 0.255 mm | 0.051 mm² | 338.53 | 0.4× the area |
| 32 | 0.202 mm | 0.032 mm² | 538.28 | 0.25× the area |
Frequently asked questions
What is 26 AWG in mm?
0.405 mm in diameter (0.0159 inches), with a cross-sectional area of 0.129 mm².
Is 26 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 26 AWG copper?
133.897 Ω per kilometre, or 40.812 Ω per 1,000 feet, for annealed copper at 20 °C. The same gauge in aluminium is about 219.02 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.