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Voltage Drop Distance Charts

Maximum one-way run in feet for copper conductors at a 3% drop. Cells are blank where the size fails the 75 °C ampacity for that load.

⬇ Download as PDF One page, both tables — print it for the truck.

120 V circuits — max one-way feet at 3% (3.6 V)

Copper size \ Amps15 A20 A30 A40 A50 A60 A80 A100 A
14 AWG3929
12 AWG6247
10 AWG997450
8 AWG157118795947
6 AWG244183122927361
4 AWG3902921951461179773
3 AWG4903672451841471229273
2 AWG61946430923218615511693
1 AWG779584390292234195146117
1/0 AWG984738492369295246184148
2/0 AWG1241931620465372310233186
3/0 AWG15671175783587470392294235
4/0 AWG19741480987740592493370296

240 V circuits — max one-way feet at 3% (7.2 V)

Doubling the voltage doubles every distance — one reason 240 V is the right choice for long runs to outbuildings, EV chargers and pumps.

Copper size \ Amps15 A20 A30 A40 A50 A60 A80 A100 A
14 AWG7859
12 AWG12493
10 AWG19814999
8 AWG31423615711894
6 AWG489367244183147122
4 AWG779584390292234195146
3 AWG980735490367294245184147
2 AWG1237928619464371309232186
1 AWG15581169779584468390292234
1/0 AWG19671475984738590492369295
2/0 AWG248218611241931745620465372
3/0 AWG3133235015671175940783587470
4/0 AWG39472961197414801184987740592

Computed from Vd = 2 × I × L × R/1000 with NEC Chapter 9 Table 8 resistance. For aluminum, metric lengths, power factor or parallel sets, use the full calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read this chart?

Find your load current in the column headers and your wire size in the rows — the cell is the farthest one-way distance that stays within a 3% drop. For the 5% total budget, multiply by 1.67.

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