Choose the weight that matches your question
A wire weight chart can show three different things. Conductor weight means copper or aluminum only. Finished wire weight adds insulation and any sheath. Gross reel weight includes the finished wire, reel and packaging. Use finished wire weight to estimate the load, not the metal-only column.
MCM and kcmil mean the same conductor area. A tag marked 500 MCM is a 500 kcmil size, not 500 feet of cable. These charts help inventory surplus wire, not select an electrical circuit's ampacity. For identification help beyond weight, use our wire selling guides.
Copper and aluminum conductor weight chart
This table compares metal only, in pounds. It excludes insulation, shields, armor and reels. Values come from Southwire's published copper and aluminum weight columns, not a density-based theoretical calculation. The per-foot columns divide those published values by 1,000.
| Conductor size | Copper lbs/1,000 ft | Copper lbs/ft | Aluminum lbs/1,000 ft | Aluminum lbs/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 AWG | 12 | 0.012 | Not listed | Not listed |
| 12 AWG | 20 | 0.020 | Not listed | Not listed |
| 10 AWG | 32 | 0.032 | Not listed | Not listed |
| 8 AWG | 50 | 0.050 | 15 | 0.015 |
| 6 AWG | 81 | 0.081 | 24 | 0.024 |
| 4 AWG | 128 | 0.128 | 39 | 0.039 |
| 3 AWG | 162 | 0.162 | Not listed | Not listed |
| 2 AWG | 204 | 0.204 | 62 | 0.062 |
| 1 AWG | 258 | 0.258 | 78 | 0.078 |
| 1/0 AWG | 326 | 0.326 | 99 | 0.099 |
| 2/0 AWG | 410 | 0.410 | 125 | 0.125 |
| 3/0 AWG | 518 | 0.518 | 158 | 0.158 |
| 4/0 AWG | 653 | 0.653 | 199 | 0.199 |
| 250 kcmil | 771 | 0.771 | 235 | 0.235 |
| 300 kcmil | 926 | 0.926 | 282 | 0.282 |
| 350 kcmil | 1,080 | 1.080 | 329 | 0.329 |
| 400 kcmil | 1,235 | 1.235 | 376 | 0.376 |
| 500 kcmil | 1,543 | 1.543 | 471 | 0.471 |
| 600 kcmil | 1,852 | 1.852 | 565 | 0.565 |
| 750 kcmil | 2,315 | 2.315 | 706 | 0.706 |
| 1000 kcmil | 3,087 | 3.087 | 942 | 0.942 |
The copper entries describe stranded conductors: SPEC 10025 for 14, 12 and 10 AWG, and SPEC 10000 for larger sizes. Aluminum entries describe SPEC 10015 compact-stranded conductors. These are rounded, product-specific estimates subject to manufacturing tolerances. “Not listed” means absent from the cited aluminum table, not that the size cannot exist.
For inventory categories, see wire sizes from 14 AWG to 1000 kcmil. Do not treat equal-size copper and aluminum as interchangeable for installation.
Finished insulated wire weights
These weights include insulation but exclude the reel. Copper values describe Southwire THHN/THWN-2 with PVC insulation and a nylon sheath. Aluminum values describe its XHHW-2 with XLPE insulation. Each entry is for one conductor.
| Size | Copper THHN lbs/1,000 ft | Aluminum XHHW-2 lbs/1,000 ft |
|---|---|---|
| 14 AWG stranded | 16 | Not listed |
| 12 AWG stranded | 24 | Not listed |
| 10 AWG stranded | 38 | Not listed |
| 2 AWG | 235 | 86 |
| 1/0 AWG | 374 | 134 |
| 4/0 AWG | 719 | 246 |
| 250 kcmil | 844 | 296 |
| 350 kcmil | 1,180 | 401 |
| 500 kcmil | 1,662 | 556 |
| 750 kcmil | 2,470 | 832 |
| 1000 kcmil | 3,264 | 1,088 |
A solid conductor can have a different published weight from a stranded one. Match the manufacturer's part number and construction, not just the gauge. Our THHN and THWN-2 wire page and XHHW-2 feeder page explain the product details to record.
Do not apply these single-conductor weights to SER, URD, MC, portable cord or medium-voltage cable. Additional conductors, jackets, shields and armor change the finished weight. Get the specification for the complete cable assembly instead.
Calculate weight from known footage
Use these formulas with the matching finished-wire specification:
- Pounds per foot = pounds per 1,000 ft ÷ 1,000.
- Wire weight = footage × pounds per foot.
- Gross load weight = wire weight + reel and packaging weight.
Example: a partial 350 kcmil copper reel
Suppose you have 650 ft of the listed copper THHN. Its finished weight is 1,180 lbs per 1,000 ft, or 1.180 lbs per foot.
650 × 1.180 = 767 lbs of insulated wire. Add the actual empty reel and packaging weight to estimate gross weight. Do not label 767 lbs as the weight of the loaded reel. Keep each length separate when listing 250 to 500 kcmil surplus wire.
Example: three matching aluminum reels
Suppose each reel holds 400 ft of the listed 4/0 aluminum XHHW-2. Each contains 400 × 0.246 = 98.4 lbs of wire. Three contain 295.2 lbs of wire, plus three reels and their packaging.
That is 1,200 total feet across three separate lengths, not one continuous length. Record conductor size and length per reel when identifying 1/0 through 4/0 wire.
Example: 500 MCM copper
For 1,250 ft of the listed 500 MCM copper THHN, calculate 1,250 × 1.662 = 2,077.5 lbs of finished wire. Using the copper-only rate would leave out insulation. Weight estimates are not equipment ratings; use measured gross weight and approved load limits for handling.
Estimate footage from a loaded reel
If you have a measured gross weight and a reliable empty reel weight, reverse the formula. Empty reel weight is often called tare.
- Identify the exact finished-wire weight per foot.
- Subtract empty reel and packaging weight from gross weight.
- Divide the remaining wire weight by finished-wire pounds per foot.
- Label the footage as estimated and record how you calculated it.
For a hypothetical 350 kcmil copper THHN reel weighing 965 lbs gross, with 198 lbs of reel and packaging, the calculation is (965 − 198) ÷ 1.180 = 650 estimated feet.
Do not guess tare from the reel's appearance. An original shipping tag may show the weight and footage before cuts, not what remains now. Compare your result with cut records and the methods in estimating footage on a reel. Keep a range rather than a false exact count if tare or product identity is uncertain.
Keep Arizona project lots separated
Solar and battery work is one reason to keep Arizona cable lots separated. In its October 2024 completion announcement, SRP described the Eleven Mile Solar System near Coolidge in Pinal County as a combined solar and battery project. If your unused reels come from that kind of job, sort them by the actual cable markings, not the project's name. A PV-wire reel and a feeder reel need their own product specifications.
Group matching part numbers before totaling weight. Keep footage and condition notes attached to each reel. Readable print and insulation condition affect the offer, even on a heavy reel. Larger 600 to 1000 kcmil conductors especially need a clear distinction between wire-only weight and gross load weight.
Weight and identification checklist
Before sending an inventory, check that each line includes:
- Manufacturer and part number, with a readable tag photo.
- Copper or aluminum, conductor size and solid or stranded construction.
- Full type marking, such as THHN/THWN-2 or XHHW-2.
- Conductor count for an assembled cable.
- Footage per reel, marked known or estimated.
- Weight labeled metal-only, finished wire or gross reel weight.
- Whole-reel and insulation-condition photos, plus the name of the person releasing the material.
We confirm who is selling and keep simple paperwork, such as an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or company letter.
Use the reel tag and jacket print guide if the label is unclear. Do not remove insulation to check weight or cut usable lengths just to weigh them. We buy all types of electrical wire and cable, new, unused, leftover or used, in full reels, partial reels, boxed coils, cut lengths and mixed lots.
Send your identified lot and weight estimate to get a written offer. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.