6 mm² to AWG
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 6 mm² in AWG?
6 mm² is the standard metric pairing for 10 AWG. The precise AWG value of 6 mm² is between 9 AWG (6.63 mm²) and 10 AWG (5.26 mm²), closer to 9 AWG. In international cable sizing tables, 6 mm² and 10 AWG are matched, and substituting one for the other is standard practice.
How many amps can 6 mm² wire handle?
6 mm² copper cable is rated for 35 A continuous at 20°C in chassis wiring — the same ampacity as 10 AWG. For free-air installation or high-temperature environments, derate accordingly.
What size fuse for 6 mm² wire?
The maximum fuse for 6 mm² copper cable is 35 A. Below that ceiling, size the fuse at 125% of continuous load current and round up to the next standard fuse: 10 A load → 15 A fuse, 20 A load → 25 A fuse, 28 A load → 35 A fuse.
What is 6 mm² wire used for?
In camper and boat electrical systems, 6 mm² is the standard for medium-current branch circuits: compressor fridges, heater blower fans, solar charge controller to battery on 30 A class systems, and sub-panel feeds.