Welding Cable Size Chart for Amperage and Length
Match welding cable gauge to amperage and length with the sizes in the listings, and check the welder manual before choosing.
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A welder that stutters or a cable that runs hot usually points at the same thing: the wrong size cable for the job. A welding cable size chart matches gauge to amperage and length, so the cable carries the current without overheating. This guide explains how gauge, length, and strand count work together, and shows the cable sizes in the listings here.
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Below: how gauge and length work, the cable sizes in the listings, which cable fits which job, and what the listings do not state.
iGreely 2 AWG Gauge Wire 10 Feet Black + 10 Feet
A 2 AWG welding cable kit with 10 ft red and 10 ft black cable, 1070 strands of 0.2mm copper, plus 5/16 inch and 3/8 inch lugs and heat shrink tubing; the listing states a 2 year warranty.
Pros
- Lugs and heat shrink included
- 1070 strands of 0.2mm copper
- 2 year warranty stated
- OD 13mm stated
Cons
- Cable voltage is not stated; 600 volts is the heat shrink figure
- 10 ft per color, shorter than the Shirbly 20 ft lengths
- No weight is stated
- Lug sizes limited to 5/16 inch and 3/8 inch
Shirbly 1/0 Gauge Battery Cable
A 1/0 AWG pure copper welding cable with 20 ft red and 20 ft black lengths, 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper, and EPDM insulation; rated for up to 600 volts.
Pros
- 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper
- 20 ft red and 20 ft black
- Rated for up to 600 volts
- Withstands -58°F to +221°F
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No lugs included
- No heat shrink included
- No weight is stated
Geosiry 1/0 Battery Cable
A 1/0 AWG oxygen-free copper welding cable with 10 ft red and 10 ft black lengths, 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper, and an EPDM jacket; rated up to 600 volts.
Pros
- 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper
- Rated up to 600 volts
- Withstands -58°F to +221°F
- EPDM jacket, heat and oil resistant
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- 10 ft per color, shorter than the Shirbly 20 ft lengths
- No lugs or heat shrink stated
- No weight is stated
WotyWire 4 Gauge Wire Heavy Duty Battery Cable
A 4 AWG oxygen-free copper welding cable with 10 ft red and 10 ft black lengths, 673 strands of 0.2mm copper, and dual-layer EPDM and PET film insulation; rated 450/750V.
Pros
- Dual-layer EPDM and PET film insulation
- 2mm EPDM insulation stated
- Rated 450/750V
- Stated weight of 3.97 pounds
Cons
- 4 AWG, the smallest gauge here
- 673 strands, fewest here
- No warranty term is stated
- 10 ft per color, shorter than the Shirbly 20 ft lengths
Welding Cable Size Chart: How Gauge and Length Work
Gauge is the thickness of the cable, and length is how far it runs. The listings here show the range a home garage meets: 1/0 AWG, 2 AWG, and 4 AWG, in 10 ft and 20 ft lengths per color. The iGreely line lists a wider range of gauges, 1/0, 2, 4, 6, 8 gauge, so the same cable family covers thicker and thinner work. No listing here states an amperage figure, so this guide gives no amp number for any gauge. Check the welder manual and the cable maker’s chart before choosing.
Strand count shows how the cable is built. The 1/0 AWG listings state 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper wire, the 2 AWG iGreely cable states 1070 strands of 0.2mm copper, and the 4 AWG WotyWire cable states 673 strands of 0.2mm copper. Fine strands make the cable flexible: the Shirbly listing states its cable is very soft and can be bent into any shape, and the WotyWire listing states its dense, fine-strand structure keeps the cable from breaking after repeated bending and flexing.
| Cable | Gauge | Length per color | Strands | Insulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirbly 1/0 Cable | 1/0 AWG | 20FT | 1703 strands, 0.2mm | EPDM |
| Geosiry 1/0 Cable | 1/0 AWG | 10FT | 1703 strands, 0.2mm | EPDM |
| iGreely 2 AWG Kit | 2 AWG | 10 ft | 1070 strands, 0.2mm | EPDM |
| WotyWire 4 AWG Cable | 4 AWG | 10FT | 673 strands, 0.2mm | EPDM + PET film |
Voltage and temperature are stated per listing. Shirbly and Geosiry rate their 1/0 AWG cable for up to 600 volts and state a temperature range of -58°F to +221°F. WotyWire rates its 4 AWG cable 450/750V and states -50°C to 105°C. The iGreely listing states no cable voltage; the 600 volts figure in its listing belongs to the heat shrink tubing, which also states -50°C to +105°C.
The Gear: Cable for Welding, Battery, and Solar Work
Each cable here handles the same step: carrying current from the power source to the work, with the gauge, length, and strand count deciding how it fits the job.
Which Cable Fits Which Job
The 1/0 AWG cables are the thickest here, each stating 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper and a 600 volt figure. Shirbly gives 20FT of red and 20FT of black, the longest lengths here, while Geosiry gives 10FT of each color. The iGreely 2 AWG kit sits between them on gauge and adds the hardware: 5/16 inch and 3/8 inch copper lugs plus heat shrink tubing, so the cable is ready to terminate. The WotyWire 4 AWG cable is the smallest gauge here, with 673 strands and a dual-layer EPDM and PET film insulation that the listing states as 2mm EPDM plus an extra PET film layer.
Uses overlap across the listings. Shirbly and Geosiry list automotive, solar, and generator use, with pure copper recommended for DC work with high-voltage batteries. WotyWire lists welding, battery, inverter, and energy storage use across solar, automotive, RV, marine, and industrial power setups. iGreely lists welding and battery use. Match the gauge to the welder manual, then pick the length that runs from the welder to the work without pulling tight.
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What the Listings Do Not State
No listing here states an amperage figure for its cable, so this guide states none either. The listings state gauge, length, strand count, and temperature range, and those are the figures to compare. The iGreely listing states a 2 year warranty; the other listings state no warranty term. The WotyWire listing states a weight of 3.97 pounds; the other listings state no weight. Check the welder manual for the amperage the job needs, and check the cable maker’s chart for the gauge that carries it.
FAQ: garage tools
What gauge welding cable do I need?
Match the gauge to the welder manual: the listings here offer 1/0 AWG, 2 AWG, and 4 AWG, and the iGreely line lists 1/0, 2, 4, 6, 8 gauge. No listing here states an amperage figure, so this guide gives no amp number for any gauge. Check the welder manual and the cable maker’s chart before choosing.
What does 1/0 AWG mean?
It is a gauge size in the listings, larger than 2 AWG and 4 AWG. The listings show the ordering in strand counts: 1/0 AWG cable states 1703 strands of 0.2mm copper, 2 AWG states 1070 strands, and 4 AWG states 673 strands. Read the gauge on the listing before buying, and match it to the welder manual.
How long should welding cable be?
The listings here offer 10FT or 20FT per color. Shirbly gives 20FT of red and 20FT of black, while Geosiry, iGreely, and WotyWire give 10FT of each color. Pick the length that runs from the welder to the work without pulling tight, and keep the run as short as the job allows.
What is EPDM insulation?
EPDM is the insulation jacket the listings state. The Shirbly and Geosiry listings state EPDM as heat resistant, wear resistant, tear resistant, moisture resistant, oil resistant, and corrosion resistant, and very soft. WotyWire adds a PET film layer over 2mm EPDM insulation for abrasion and moisture resistance.
Do these cables come with lugs?
Only the iGreely kit states lugs: 5pcs of 5/16 inch and 5pcs of 3/8 inch copper cable lugs, plus heat shrink tubing in black and red. The Shirbly, Geosiry, and WotyWire listings state no lugs, so plan on buying lugs to match the cable and the terminal.
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