---
title: "What Is Wire gauge? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "Wire gauge is a number for wire thickness. In the American system, a smaller number means a thicker wire."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/wire-gauge
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

Wiring and circuits

# Wire gauge

Wire gauge is a number for wire thickness. In the American system, a smaller number means a thicker wire.

In American Wire Gauge (AWG) sizing, a smaller number is a thicker wire, so 10 AWG is thicker than 14 AWG. Southwire lists NM-B cable in 14 AWG through 10 AWG as solid wire and larger sizes as stranded.

Thicker wire carries more current, so gauge sets [ampacity](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/ampacity). Larger conductors also have less resistance, which lowers [voltage drop](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage-drop), Southwire notes. Wire must match its breaker, and a wrong size is a fire risk. A licensed electrician chooses it. See the [home electrical safety checklist](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/guides/home-electrical-safety-checklist).

[Daniel Electric can helpResidential electrician](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/electrician)

## Related terms

-   [Ampacity](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/ampacity)
-   [Voltage drop](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/voltage-drop)
-   [Copper wiring](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/copper-wiring)
-   [NM-B cable](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/nm-b-cable)

## Sources

1.  [Southwire: Romex Brand SIMpull Copper Type NM-B Cable](https://www.southwire.com/wire-cable/building-wire/romex-sup-sup-brand-simpull-sup-sup-copper-type-nm-b-cable/p/63968202)
2.  [Southwire: Voltage Drop Fundamentals and Best Practices](https://www.southwire.com/medias/2602-Canada-Cable-Pull-Tensions-Whitepaper-HIGHRES-2-1-1-1-.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8NDU1NzIzfGFwcGxpY2F0aW9uL3BkZnxoYWMvaGRlLzk2NzIyNjAyODg1NDIvMjYwMl9DYW5hZGFfQ2FibGVfUHVsbF9UZW5zaW9uc19XaGl0ZXBhcGVyX0hJR0hSRVMgKDIpICgxKSAoMSkgKDEpLnBkZnw3OWQ5OTA5YWRhNjM1YzlkZmU0OGQ3NDc0ZGEyNzRlOTY3MjgwNThkNjhlMzNlZDI0MDlhM2RlNjc2MWY5ODE5)

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