Imperial Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)

Wires are manufactured to standard sizes. The reel of wire will be labelled with the type of wire and the SWG. As the SWG increases the diameter decreases.

S.W.G.	diameter (mm)
16	1.626
18	1.219
20	0.914
22	0.711
24	0.559
26	0.457
28	0.376
30	0.315
32	0.274
34	0.234
36	0.193
38	0.152
40	0.122
42	0.102

Measuring the wire diameter

When using a wire in an experiment make sure you measure the diameter of the wire. Don't just assume you know the correct SWG; it is very easy to get the wires mixed up!

You will need a micrometer screw gauge to measure the wire diameter to one hundredth of a millimetre. Take one reading and then move 90 degrees around the wire to take a second reading. This will tell you if the wire is circular or not. Take several more pairs of readings along the length of the wire. Finally, take an average of all your measurements.

Notes

The Imperial Standard Wire Gauge (S.W.G.) is used in the UK. In the USA a different set of values known as American Wire Gauge (A.W.G.) are used.

External Links

Imperial and US wire gauges: Wire Gauge conversion table
A more complete list of both gauges, in inches, plus a metric conversion table.
Interactive Micrometer demo: Micrometer Calipers (Applet)
This shows you clearly how to use one.

[Calliper is the English spelling, caliper the American spelling.]