Voltage Drop & Wire Gauge Calculator

Required wire cross-section from length, current and drop.

L (one-way) + + load (I) A = 2·ρ·L·I / ΔV ≈ I₂·R strategy: A = 2·ρ·L·I / (V·drop%)

Values

Result

A ≈ 0.58 mm²

Sizing wire for voltage drop

The round-trip wire resistance must stay low enough that the load still sees its voltage: Rmax = ΔV / I, and with resistivity and one-way length L, A = 2·ρ·L·I / ΔV.

Example: 12 V, 5 A, 10 m one-way, 3% drop (0.36 V) → copper needs ≈ 0.58 mm² (≈ AWG 20). Go one size up for margin.