17 AWG (American Wire Gauge) wire specifications: 1.1495 mm diameter, 1.0378 mm² area. Resistance, weight, and common uses.
| Diameter | 1.1495 mm · 0.045257" · 45.26 mils |
| Cross-sectional area | 1.0378 mm² · 2,048 circular mils |
| Resistance (copper, 20°C) | 16.6114 Ω/km · 5.0631 Ω/1000ft |
| Resistance (aluminum, 20°C) | 27.2319 Ω/km · 8.3003 Ω/1000ft |
| Ampacity — copper 60°C | — A |
| Ampacity — copper 75°C | — A |
| Ampacity — copper 90°C | — A |
| Ampacity — aluminum 75°C | — A |
| Weight (copper) | 9.299 kg/km · 6.249 lbs/1000ft |
| Weight (aluminum) | 2.802 kg/km · 1.883 lbs/1000ft |
| Closest IEC 60228 size | 1 mm² |
| Skin depth at 60 Hz | 8.531 mm |
| Type | Temperature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| THHN/THWN-2 | 90°C dry / 75°C wet | Building wire |
| NM-B (Romex) | 90°C | Residential cable |
| MTW | 60/90°C | Machine tool wire |
| TFFN | 90°C | Fixture wire |
17 AWG wire (1.1495 mm diameter, 1.0378 mm²) is used in low-voltage control circuits, automotive wiring harnesses, and some speaker cables. It also appears in industrial instrumentation cables and certain European appliance cords. It is not a standard NEC building-wire size.
No. NEC Article 210 requires a minimum of 14 AWG copper for branch-circuit wiring, and 17 AWG is significantly smaller at only 1.1495 mm (1.0378 mm²). Using 17 AWG for a 15 A or 20 A household circuit would create a fire hazard because the wire cannot safely carry the current. 17 AWG is only appropriate for low-voltage, low-current circuits such as thermostats, doorbells, and control wiring governed by NEC Article 725 (Class 2 and Class 3 circuits).