10 AWG to mm²
10 AWG is the workhorse of medium-current DC wiring. It handles the loads that are too heavy for general lighting (14 AWG / 12 AWG) but lighter than direct battery interconnects (8 AWG and above). In a typical camper or boat, 10 AWG runs from the fuse panel to the compressor fridge, the heater fan, and from the MPPT solar charge controller to the battery on systems up to roughly 30 amps.
All values on this page assume copper conductors at 20°C ambient. Aluminum has ~60% higher resistance for the same cross-section and is generally not recommended for low-voltage DC.
Calculate for your specific cable run
The tables below assume 10 AWG (6 mm²) copper. Use the calculator to confirm this gauge is correct for your exact load and length, or get a different gauge recommendation if needed.
= 60W
= 16.4 ft (one way, round-trip calculated automatically)
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Download Cable for iOS10 AWG Voltage Drop at 12V DC
Round-trip voltage drop for 10 AWG (6 mm²) copper wire at 20°C ambient. Cells highlighted in yellow exceed the 3% target; red cells exceed 5% and are not recommended.
| Current | 1 m / 3 ft | 3 m / 10 ft | 5 m / 16 ft | 7 m / 23 ft | 10 m / 33 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 A | 0.030 V (0.25%) | 0.089 V (0.75%) | 0.15 V (1.24%) | 0.21 V (1.74%) | 0.30 V (2.48%) |
| 10 A | 0.060 V (0.50%) | 0.18 V (1.49%) | 0.30 V (2.48%) | 0.42 V (3.48%) | 0.60 V (4.97%) |
| 15 A | 0.089 V (0.75%) | 0.27 V (2.23%) | 0.45 V (3.72%) | 0.63 V (5.21%) | 0.89 V (7.45%) |
| 20 A | 0.12 V (0.99%) | 0.36 V (2.98%) | 0.60 V (4.97%) | 0.83 V (6.95%) | 1.19 V (9.93%) |
| 25 A | 0.15 V (1.24%) | 0.45 V (3.72%) | 0.74 V (6.21%) | 1.04 V (8.69%) | 1.49 V (12.42%) |
| 30 A | 0.18 V (1.49%) | 0.54 V (4.47%) | 0.89 V (7.45%) | 1.25 V (10.43%) | 1.79 V (14.90%) |
10 AWG Voltage Drop at 24V DC
Round-trip voltage drop for 10 AWG (6 mm²) copper wire at 20°C ambient. Cells highlighted in yellow exceed the 3% target; red cells exceed 5% and are not recommended.
| Current | 1 m / 3 ft | 3 m / 10 ft | 5 m / 16 ft | 7 m / 23 ft | 10 m / 33 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 A | 0.030 V (0.12%) | 0.089 V (0.37%) | 0.15 V (0.62%) | 0.21 V (0.87%) | 0.30 V (1.24%) |
| 10 A | 0.060 V (0.25%) | 0.18 V (0.75%) | 0.30 V (1.24%) | 0.42 V (1.74%) | 0.60 V (2.48%) |
| 15 A | 0.089 V (0.37%) | 0.27 V (1.12%) | 0.45 V (1.86%) | 0.63 V (2.61%) | 0.89 V (3.72%) |
| 20 A | 0.12 V (0.50%) | 0.36 V (1.49%) | 0.60 V (2.48%) | 0.83 V (3.48%) | 1.19 V (4.97%) |
| 25 A | 0.15 V (0.62%) | 0.45 V (1.86%) | 0.74 V (3.10%) | 1.04 V (4.35%) | 1.49 V (6.21%) |
| 30 A | 0.18 V (0.75%) | 0.54 V (2.23%) | 0.89 V (3.72%) | 1.25 V (5.21%) | 1.79 V (7.45%) |
What is 10 AWG (6 mm²) used for?
Camper / RV applications
- 12V compressor fridges (15–20 A inrush, 5–7 A continuous)
- Diesel or propane heater blower fans (10–15 A)
- Solar MPPT charge controllers up to 30 A on the battery side
- Small DC-DC chargers up to 25 A
- Sub-panel feed for small fuse boxes
Boat / marine applications
- High-output bilge pumps (15–25 A)
- Macerator pumps (10–15 A)
- Branch circuits feeding multiple lights and accessories
- Combined VHF radio + chart plotter feeds
- 12V refrigerator branch from main panel
Off-grid / solar applications
- Solar panel string to MPPT charge controller (PV side, up to ~25 A)
- MPPT to battery on 200–400 W systems
- 12V loads sub-panel from battery bank
- Generator output to small AC battery charger
When to step up
- Cable runs longer than 5 m at 12V with currents above 15 A
- Continuous current above 28 A — you are within 20% of ampacity
- Inverter feeds above 350 W at 12V
- Direct battery interconnects in any system
Fuse size for 10 AWG (6 mm²)
The fuse must protect the wire, not the load. For 10 AWG copper (6 mm²) the maximum fuse rating is 35 A. Below this ceiling, size the fuse at 125% of your continuous load current and round up to the next standard fuse size.
| Continuous Load | 125% Calculation | Recommended Fuse | Fuse Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 A | 12.5 A | 15 A | Blade (ATC) |
| 15 A | 18.75 A | 20 A | Blade (ATC) |
| 20 A | 25 A | 25 A | Blade (ATC) |
| 30 A | 37.5 A | 35 A | MAXI Blade |
Related conversions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 10 AWG in mm²?
10 AWG equals 5.26 mm² by the precise IEC formula. Since 5.26 mm² is not a standard cable size, the practical equivalent in metric markets is 6 mm² — the next standard size up. All values on this page (35 A ampacity, voltage drop tables, fuse recommendations) reflect 6 mm² copper cable.
How many amps can 10 AWG wire handle?
10 AWG copper wire (6 mm²) is rated for 35 A continuous in chassis wiring at 20°C ambient — the standard rating used for RV, marine, and off-grid DC systems. Use this value when sizing a fuse.
What size fuse for 10 AWG wire on a 12V system?
Size the fuse at 125% of the continuous load current and round up to the next standard fuse size, capped at 35 A (the wire ampacity). Examples: 10 A load → 15 A fuse, 20 A load → 25 A fuse, 28 A load → 35 A fuse. Loads above 28 A continuous push 10 AWG close to its limit — consider 8 AWG instead.
How long can a 10 AWG cable run be at 12V?
At 12V copper with a 3% voltage drop target, 10 AWG handles 5 A over ~12 m, 10 A over ~6 m, 15 A over ~4 m, 20 A over ~3 m, and 30 A over ~2 m (one-way distance, round-trip calculated automatically). For longer runs at higher currents, step up to 8 AWG or 6 AWG.
Is 10 AWG the same as 6 mm²?
10 AWG is precisely 5.26 mm². Since 5.26 mm² is not a standard cable size, the next available metric cable is 6 mm². When shopping in metric markets, 6 mm² is the practical equivalent of 10 AWG — and is what the VoltPlan calculator uses internally. 6 mm² carries slightly more current (35 A) than the strict AWG specification (~30 A).