If you are struggling to work out the conductor cross-section of your old cable, we recommend looking for any markings on the outer insulation. These might be a number followed by mm² or AWG. If the conductor cross-section is specified in AWG then you can use the first table below to find the equivalent metric cable size in mm².
If there are no markings on your cable, please see the subsequent tables below that may help estimate your cable’s conductor cross-section based on the overall diameter (including insulation) in comparison with the cable that we stock.
| AWG | Actual CSA (mm²) | Closest equivalent metric cable size (mm²) |
| 0000 (4/0) | 107.16 | 120.00 |
| 000 (3/0) | 84.97 | 95.00 |
| 00 (2/0) | 67.40 | 70.00 |
| 0 (1/0) | 53.46 | 50.00 |
| 1 | 42.39 | 40.00 |
| 2 | 33.61 | 35.00 |
| 3 | 26.65 | 25.00 |
| 4 | 21.14 | 20.00 |
| 5 | 16.76 | 16.00 |
| 6 | 13.29 | 16.00 |
| 7 | 10.55 | 10.00 |
| 8 | 8.36 | 8.50 |
| 9 | 6.63 | 7.00 |
| 10 | 5.26 | 6.00 |
| 11 | 4.17 | 4.00 |
| 12 | 3.31 | 3.00 |
| 13 | 2.63 | 2.50 |
| 14 | 2.08 | 2.00 |
| 15 | 1.65 | 1.50 |
| 16 | 1.31 | 1.50 |
| 17 | 1.04 | 1.00 |
| 18 | 0.82 | 1.00 |
| 19 | 0.65 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| 21 | 0.41 | 0.35 |
| 22 | 0.33 | 0.35 |
Thin Wall Single Core Cable – Conductor cross-section versus overall cable diameter
Please note – These measurements are based on our cable manufacturer’s specifications and other manufacturers may differ. Maximum overall cable diameter is based on the measurement across the insulation and is a rough guide
| Conductor cross section | Maximum overall cable diameter |
| 0.35mm² | 1.4mm |
| 0.5mm² | 1.6mm |
| 0.75mm² | 1.75mm |
| 1.0mm² | 1.95mm |
| 1.5mm² | 2.30mm |
| 2mm² | 2.55mm |
| 2.5mm² | 2.75mm |
| 3mm² | 3.20mm |
| 4mm² | 3.50mm |
| 4.5mm² | 3.90mm |
| 6mm² | 4.10mm |
| 7mm² | 5.05mm |
| 8.5mm² | 5.50mm |
| 10mm² | 5.60mm |
| 16mm² | 7.30mm |
| 25mm² | 8.45mm |
Extra Flexible PVC Battery Cable – Conductor cross-section versus overall cable diameter
Please note – These measurements are based on our cable manufacturer’s specifications and other manufacturers may differ. Maximum overall cable diameter is based on the measurement across the insulation and is a rough guide
| Conductor cross section | Maximum overall cable diameter |
| 16mm² | 8.3mm |
| 20mm² | 9mm |
| 25mm² | 10.1mm |
| 35mm² | 11.8mm |
| 40mm² | 12.7mm |
| 50mm² | 13.3mm |
| 60mm² | 15.0mm |
| 70mm² | 15.5mm |
| 95mm² | 17.9mm |
| 120mm² | 19.7mm |
| 150mm² | 22.35mm |
Disclaimer – The information contained in this article is provided in good faith. We try our best to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date. However, due to differences in industry, equipment, and usage environment, product specifications may vary in order to avoid any damage or loss. Therefore, if you have any questions, please consult a TSTCABLES cable engineer and get a free sample.