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Max Wire Length Calculator

Pick a wire size and a drop budget, and this tool tells you exactly how far that conductor can run before the loss exceeds your limit.

Voltage Drop
Find Wire Size
Max Length
Advanced — units, power factor, parallel sets, energy cost
PASS
Voltage Drop
Percent Drop
Voltage at Load
Power Lost
Wire Resistance
Ampacity 75°C
0%3% branch5% total8%+

Why max length matters

The question on every long run — to a detached garage, a well pump, a gate, a far solar panel — is rarely "what is the drop" but "how far can the wire I have actually go." The relationship is linear: half the current doubles the distance, and each step up in AWG size cuts resistance by roughly 21%, extending the run by about 26%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the result one-way or total wire?

One-way. The round trip through both conductors is already built into the formula's factor of 2 (or √3 for three-phase).

How can I extend the run without bigger wire?

Raise the system voltage if you can (240 V doubles the distance of 120 V for the same load power), reduce the current, or accept a higher % budget where the load tolerates it.

Built & maintained by Murugan Vellaichamy · Every calculation verified against NEC Chapter 9 Table 8 & Table 310.16 published values · Informational reference — not engineering advice