Speaker Wire Gauge Calculator

Choosing the Right Speaker Wire Gauge

Speaker wire gauge (measured in AWG — American Wire Gauge) determines how much resistance the cable adds to your audio signal. Thicker wire (lower AWG number) has less resistance, which means less power loss between your amplifier and speakers. The right gauge depends on three factors: cable run length, speaker impedance, and how much power loss you find acceptable.

For most home theater setups with runs under 50 feet and 8-ohm speakers, 16 AWG wire works perfectly. If you have longer runs (50-100 feet) or lower impedance speakers (4 ohm), step up to 14 or 12 AWG. In-wall installations should use CL2 or CL3 rated cable for code compliance. For very short runs under 15 feet, even 18 AWG is adequate.

The key metric is power loss percentage. Most listeners won't notice a 5% loss, making it a practical target. Audiophiles may prefer 1% or less, which requires thicker (and more expensive) cable. Use this calculator to find the sweet spot for your specific setup, then pair it with our Amplifier Power Calculator to ensure you have enough watts to drive your system.