What size wire for 60 amps at 50 feet?
Short answer: For a 60 amp load 50 feet away (one way) at 240 V, use 6 AWG copper or 4 AWG aluminum in conduit with 75 °C terminations, which keeps voltage drop at 1.2% and 1.3%. In NM-B (Romex) cable it is 4 AWG copper. The breaker stays 60 A; distance does not force a larger size.
60 amps at 50 feet: wire size by type
| Wire type | Size by ampacity | Size for 50 ft (≤3% drop) | Voltage drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper THHN/THWN-2 in conduit, 75 °C | 6 AWG | 6 AWG | 1.23% |
| Aluminum XHHW-2 in conduit, 75 °C | 4 AWG | 4 AWG | 1.27% |
| Copper NM-B (Romex) cable, 60 °C | 4 AWG | 4 AWG | 0.77% |
| Aluminum SER / NM-B cable, 60 °C | 3 AWG | 3 AWG | 1.01% |
At 50 ft, voltage drop stays under 3% with the ampacity size, so distance does not force a bigger wire. NEC 250.122(B) then requires the equipment ground to be increased in proportion: start from 10 AWG copper for a 60 A breaker.
Voltage drop of each gauge over 50 ft
| Wire | Volts lost at 60 A | Drop at 60 A | Drop at 48 A (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AWG copper | 2.95 V | 1.23% | 0.98% |
| 4 AWG copper | 1.85 V | 0.77% | 0.62% |
| 3 AWG copper | 1.47 V | 0.61% | 0.49% |
| 2 AWG copper | 1.16 V | 0.49% | 0.39% |
| 1 AWG copper | 0.92 V | 0.39% | 0.31% |
voltage drop = 2 × length × resistance per 1,000 ft × amps ÷ 1,000
= 2 × 50 × R(6 AWG) × 60 ÷ 1,000 = 2.95 V
percent = 2.95 ÷ 240 × 100 = 1.23%
If the real load is the 80% continuous maximum (48 A, as with an EV charger on a 60 A breaker), copper in conduit can be 8 AWG. 3% is the NEC's recommendation for a branch circuit (Informational Note to 210.19), not a hard rule, but motors, compressors and chargers run better with it.
Same 60 A, other distances
75 ft · 100 ft · 150 ft · 200 ft. Minimum sizes with no distance correction: what size wire for a 60 amp breaker.
Other loads at 50 feet
30 A · 40 A · 50 A · 100 A · 125 A · 150 A · 200 A
Change the numbers in the calculator
Safety. A 60 A circuit or feeder over 50 ft needs a permit almost everywhere in the US. Buried runs have their own depth and conduit rules (NEC 300.5), and equipment nameplates override any general table.