What Is the Copper Wire Weight Calculator?
The Copper Wire Weight Calculator lets you instantly find the weight of copper wire and copper alloy wire in any shape: round (circle), hexagon, square, or rectangle. It supports both the American/Imperial system (inches and feet) and the Metric system (mm and meters), making it useful for engineers, electricians, buyers, and hobbyists worldwide.
You can also enter the price per pound or per kilogram in any of 14 major world currencies — including USD ($) and Russian Ruble (₽) — to get an instant cost estimate for your copper wire order.
What Are Different Types of Copper Wire?
A copper wire is a single conductor made of copper or a copper alloy. Copper is the preferred metal for electrical wiring because of its outstanding electrical conductivity (second only to silver) and its excellent ductility — copper can be drawn into very thin wires without breaking.
💡 Copper was first used by man over 10,000 years ago and has been used in electrical conductors and telephone lines since the 1820s — making it the oldest known metal still widely used in construction today.
This calculator supports four common copper materials:
- Pure Copper — density 8.96 g/cm³. Used in electrical wiring, plumbing, motors, and generators. The highest conductivity of all practical metals.
- Brass (Cu + Zn) — density 8.53 g/cm³. A reddish alloy of copper and zinc. Excellent heat conductivity, low melting point. Used in plumbing fittings, musical instruments, and decorative items.
- Bronze (Cu + Sn) — density 8.73 g/cm³. Mainly copper with ~12% tin. High hardness and corrosion resistance. Used in art, bearings, marine hardware, and electronics.
- Cupronickel (Cu + Ni) — density 8.90 g/cm³. Highly resistant to saltwater corrosion. Used in marine piping, coins, and heat exchangers.
How Much Does a Foot of Copper Wire Weigh?
The weight of copper wire depends on three factors: its cross-sectional shape and dimensions, its length, and the density of the copper alloy used. The fundamental formula is:
W = weight | ρ = density (g/cm³) | A = cross-sectional area (cm²) | L = length (cm)
The cross-sectional area depends on the wire shape:
- Round wire: A = π × (D/2)² where D is the diameter
- Hexagon wire: A = (√3/2) × W² where W is the width across flats
- Square wire: A = a² where a is the side length
- Rectangle wire: A = w × h where w is width and h is height
Example: How to Use the Copper Wire Weight Calculator
Suppose you need to find the weight of 500 feet of AWG 6 pure copper round wire:
- Select Unit System: American (Imperial)
- Select Wire Shape: Round (Circle)
- Select Material: Pure Copper
- Choose AWG 6 from the AWG selector — the diameter (0.1620 in) is filled automatically
- Enter Length: 500 ft
- Click Calculate Weight
The calculator will show you the total weight in pounds and ounces, plus the weight per foot — exactly what you need to plan a purchase or installation.
Copper Wire Weight Per Foot Chart (AWG — Pure Copper)
| AWG | Diameter (in) | Diameter (mm) | lb/ft | kg/m | Area (mm²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/0 (0000) | 0.4600 | 11.68 | 0.6404 | 0.9531 | 107.2 |
| 3/0 (000) | 0.4096 | 10.40 | 0.5073 | 0.7554 | 85.0 |
| 2/0 (00) | 0.3648 | 9.27 | 0.4020 | 0.5988 | 67.4 |
| 1/0 (0) | 0.3249 | 8.25 | 0.3186 | 0.4745 | 53.5 |
| AWG 1 | 0.2893 | 7.35 | 0.2526 | 0.3762 | 42.4 |
| AWG 2 | 0.2576 | 6.54 | 0.2003 | 0.2982 | 33.6 |
| AWG 4 | 0.2043 | 5.19 | 0.1259 | 0.1875 | 21.2 |
| AWG 6 | 0.1620 | 4.11 | 0.0792 | 0.1180 | 13.3 |
| AWG 8 | 0.1285 | 3.26 | 0.0499 | 0.0743 | 8.37 |
| AWG 10 | 0.1019 | 2.59 | 0.0313 | 0.0467 | 5.26 |
| AWG 12 | 0.0808 | 2.05 | 0.0197 | 0.0294 | 3.31 |
| AWG 14 | 0.0641 | 1.63 | 0.0124 | 0.0185 | 2.08 |
| AWG 16 | 0.0508 | 1.29 | 0.00778 | 0.01159 | 1.31 |
| AWG 18 | 0.0403 | 1.02 | 0.00490 | 0.00730 | 0.823 |
| AWG 20 | 0.0320 | 0.81 | 0.00308 | 0.00459 | 0.518 |
| AWG 22 | 0.0253 | 0.64 | 0.00193 | 0.00288 | 0.324 |
| AWG 24 | 0.0201 | 0.51 | 0.00122 | 0.00181 | 0.205 |
| AWG 26 | 0.0159 | 0.40 | 0.000762 | 0.001135 | 0.128 |
| AWG 28 | 0.0126 | 0.32 | 0.000479 | 0.000714 | 0.0804 |
| AWG 30 | 0.0100 | 0.25 | 0.000302 | 0.000449 | 0.0507 |
FAQs
What is the weight of 4/0 copper wire per foot?
AWG 4/0 (0000) pure copper round wire has a diameter of 0.4600 inches (11.68 mm) and weighs approximately 0.6404 lb per foot (0.9531 kg/m). To find the total weight of any length, multiply this value by the number of feet.
How do I convert AWG to diameter?
The AWG (American Wire Gauge) system defines wire sizes by number. As the AWG number increases, the wire diameter decreases. You can use the AWG dropdown in the calculator to auto-fill the diameter for any standard gauge from AWG 4/0 to AWG 30. For gauges not listed, the formula is: d(n) = 0.005 × 92^((36−n)/39) inches.
Does wire shape affect weight?
Yes, significantly. For the same "width" measurement, a square wire is heavier than a round wire, and a hexagon wire falls in between. This is because each shape has a different cross-sectional area for the same outer dimension. Always select the correct shape in the calculator for accurate results.
How do I calculate the cost of copper wire?
Enter the price per pound (American system) or price per kilogram (Metric system) in the Price per unit field, then select your currency. The calculator will multiply the total weight by the price to give you the estimated material cost. Supported currencies include USD, RUB, EUR, GBP, CNY, JPY, CAD, AUD, BRL, MXN, INR, CHF, KRW, and TRY.
What is the density of copper?
Pure copper has a density of 8.96 g/cm³ (or equivalently, 8,960 kg/m³). Common alloys are slightly lighter: brass (8.53 g/cm³), bronze (8.73 g/cm³), and cupronickel (8.90 g/cm³). If you are working with a non-standard alloy, use the Custom density option and enter the value from your material datasheet.
Are there similar calculators for other metals?
Yes! CalcuGo also offers a Metal Weight Calculator for steel, aluminum, brass, and more, as well as a Wire Resistance Calculator for finding the electrical resistance of any wire. You can also check the Volume to Mass Calculator for a general density converter.