Wire size
Wire size for 50 amps
A 50 amp circuit needs 8 AWG copper at the 75 degree C column of NEC Table 310.16, or 6 AWG aluminium. If the terminations are only rated 60 degrees C, which is common on equipment at 100 amps or less, you need 6 AWG copper instead.
Conductor size for 50 amps
NEC 110.14(C) limits you to the lowest-rated termination in the circuit, which on most equipment at 100 amps or less is 60 °C. Check the breaker and the device before using the 75 °C column.
| Material | 60 °C | 75 °C | 90 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Aluminium | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| One-way run | Drop | Percent | Within 3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 3.9 V | 1.6% | Yes |
| 100 ft | 7.8 V | 3.3% | No, size up |
| 150 ft | 11.7 V | 4.9% | No, size up |
| 200 ft | 15.6 V | 6.5% | No, size up |
What runs on a 50 amp circuit
Electric ranges and cooktops, RV shore power, welders, hot tubs and Level 2 EV chargers rated at 40 A continuous.
The thing to watch on this circuit
A 50 A circuit feeding a continuous load, which includes an EV charger, must be sized at 125 percent of that load under NEC 210.19(A)(1), so a 40 A continuous charger is exactly what a 50 A circuit is for.
Common questions
What size wire do I need for 50 amps?
- A 50 amp circuit needs 8 AWG copper at the 75 degree C column of NEC Table 310.16, or 6 AWG aluminium. If the terminations are only rated 60 degrees C, which is common on equipment at 100 amps or less, you need 6 AWG copper instead.
What breaker goes with a 50 amp circuit?
- A 50 amp breaker. The conductor is sized to the breaker, not the other way round, and NEC 240.4 requires the overcurrent device to protect the conductor.
How far can I run 50 amps before voltage drop matters?
- On 8 AWG copper at 240 volts, voltage drop reaches 1.6 percent at 50 feet and 6.5 percent at 200 feet. The NEC recommends staying under 3 percent on a branch circuit in the informational note to 210.19(A)(1), which is advice rather than a requirement, so beyond about 100 feet you should go up a size.
Can I use aluminium wire for a 50 amp circuit?
- Yes, at 6 AWG for the 75 degree C column, which is larger than the copper equivalent. Aluminium is common and cost-effective on feeders and services, but the terminations must be listed for aluminium and an antioxidant compound is normally required.
What is a 50 amp circuit usually for?
- Electric ranges and cooktops, RV shore power, welders, hot tubs and Level 2 EV chargers rated at 40 A continuous.
Conductor sizes are computed from NEC Table 310.16 with the 240.4(D) small-conductor cap applied. Table 310.16 assumes not more than three current-carrying conductors at 30 °C ambient; correct for ambient (310.15(B)(1)) and conductor count (310.15(C)(1)) before use, and verify against the code edition your jurisdiction has adopted.