Spade Connector Sizes: Size Chart and Dimensions
Spade connector sizes are the tab widths 2.8 mm and 4.8 mm and 6.3 mm, matched to wire gauges by red, blue and yellow sleeve colors.
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The trailer lights quit on the way home, and the fault turns out to be a spade terminal that slid off its tab in the junction box. Spade connector sizes are the widths of the flat tabs the terminals slide onto, and matching the tab width and the wire gauge is the whole job: the wrong width wobbles loose, and the wrong gauge leaves a weak crimp. This guide lays out the widths, the color codes and the kits that cover them.
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Below: the size chart, the matching steps, the kits and the common questions.
Twidec/300PCS 16Types Spade Crimp Connectors
A 300-piece spade, fork and ring kit in 2.8 / 4.8 / 6.3 mm, with a crimping tool that also strips and cuts wire.
Pros
- Includes a crimping tool with stripper and cutter
- 300 pieces in 16 types across spade, fork and ring
- Color and code markings for AWG 22-16 / 16-14 / 12-10
- Plastic box for easy access and storage
Cons
- Title says 300PCS while the spec table color field says 301PCS
- No warranty term is stated
- Insulating sleeves are PVC rather than nylon
- No operating temperature is stated
Feggizuli 540pcs 2.8mm 4.8mm 6.3mm Male and Female
A 540-piece spade-only kit in 2.8 / 4.8 / 6.3 mm with nylon sleeves and 60-piece groups per size.
Pros
- 540 pieces, the largest count here
- Nylon insulating sleeves, flame retardant
- Tin-plated red copper for conductivity
- Stated to suit 22-14 gauge wire
Cons
- Spade connectors only, no ring or fork terminals
- No warranty term is stated
- No crimping tool is included
- No operating temperature is stated
Feggizuli 280PCS Crimp Connectors
A 280-piece kit in 15 types with 2.8 / 4.8 / 6.3 mm spade, ring and fork terminals and color-coded wire ranges.
Pros
- 15 types across spade, ring and fork terminals
- Color codes for AWG 22-16 / 16-14 / 12-10
- Tinned copper with a flame retardant PVC sleeve
- Crimp and connect in a few seconds without soldering
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No crimping tool is included
- No operating temperature is stated
- Insulating sleeves are PVC rather than nylon
Twidec/440Pcs 2.8/4.8/6.3mm Quick Splice Male
A 440-piece spade-only kit in 2.8 / 4.8 / 6.3 mm with nylon sleeves and 40-piece and 30-piece groups per size.
Pros
- 440 pieces across three tab widths
- Nylon insulating sleeves
- Tin-plated red copper for conductivity
- Stated to suit 22-14 gauge wire
Cons
- Spec table says 270 items against a 440-piece title
- No warranty term is stated
- Spade connectors only, no ring or fork terminals
- No crimping tool is included
Spade connector sizes: the size chart
The fit comes down to the tab width and the wire gauge. Every kit here carries the same tab widths, and the color of the insulating sleeve marks the wire gauge range.
| Sleeve color | Wire gauge |
|---|---|
| Red | AWG 22-16 |
| Blue | AWG 16-14 |
| Yellow | AWG 12-10 |
The tab widths in every kit here are 2.8 mm and 4.8 mm and 6.3 mm. The sleeve color marks the wire gauge. Red covers the AWG 22-16 range. Blue covers the AWG 16-14 range. Yellow covers the AWG 12-10 range. The Feggizuli 540-piece kit and the Twidec 440-piece kit state their sizes suit 22-14 gauge wire. For the gauge side, see the automotive wire gauge chart.
How to match a spade connector to the tab and the wire
Match in this order: tab width first, then wire gauge, then male or female.
- Match the tab width. The terminal must slide onto the tab and grip it.
- Match the wire gauge to the sleeve color. Red covers the AWG 22-16 range. Blue covers the AWG 16-14 range. Yellow covers the AWG 12-10 range.
- Pick male or female. The male terminal is the flat tab and the female terminal is the receptacle that slides over it.
- Crimp the terminal. The Feggizuli kits state the terminals crimp on in a few seconds without soldering, and the Twidec 440-piece kit lists crimp and/or solder. Strip the wire, seat it in the barrel and crimp with the tool.
Spade connector kits for the garage
One kit with all three tab widths and the color-coded wire ranges covers the matching step above.
Electrical safety before you crimp
Disconnect the battery or switch off the circuit before you crimp a terminal onto a car wire. Three of the kits here state flame retardant insulating sleeves; the Twidec 440-piece kit states nylon sleeves and makes no flame retardant claim. Household mains work is not a garage crimp job: use a licensed electrician for mains wiring.
Use rated jack stands on solid ground, wear eye protection with power and air tools, keep fuel-burning equipment out of a closed garage, and follow the manual for every tool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
FAQ: garage tools
What are the standard spade connector sizes?
The tab widths are 2.8 mm and 4.8 mm and 6.3 mm. Match the terminal to the tab width, then match the wire gauge to the sleeve color.
What wire gauge fits a red, blue or yellow spade connector?
Red fits the AWG 22-16 range. Blue fits the AWG 16-14 range. Yellow fits the AWG 12-10 range. The color marks the wire range, not the tab width.
What is the difference between male and female spade connectors?
The male terminal is the flat tab and the female terminal is the receptacle that slides over it. Every kit here includes male and female terminals, so one box covers each side of the connection.
Do spade connectors need soldering?
No. The Feggizuli kits state the terminals crimp on in a few seconds without soldering, and the Twidec 440-piece kit lists crimp and/or solder, so crimping is the method these kits share. Strip the wire, seat it in the barrel and crimp with the tool.
What does 2.8 mm measure on a spade connector?
It measures the width of the flat tab the female terminal slides onto. The same three widths appear in every kit here: 2.8 mm and 4.8 mm and 6.3 mm.
Related: see every spade connector sizes guide in the diagnostics and electrical hub, the best spade connector kits, spade vs ring terminals and crimp vs solder connectors.
