Voltage Drop Calculator

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Calculate the voltage drop across an electrical wire run to ensure your wiring meets code requirements. Enter the wire gauge, circuit amps, distance, and system voltage to see if the voltage drop stays within the NEC-recommended 3% for branch circuits or 5% total for feeders and branch circuits combined.

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Enter Your Measurements

Results

Voltage Drop

5.27

volts

Voltage Drop

4.39

%

Voltage at Load

114.7

volts

Power Loss in Wire

84.3

watts

Meets 3% Code (1=Yes, 0=No)

0

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Formula

Voltage Drop = (2 × 10.75 × Amps × Distance) ÷ Circular Mils | Drop % = (Voltage Drop ÷ System Voltage) × 100

How to Use This Calculator

How to Use

  1. 1

    Enter the wire gauge in AWG (14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, or 1).

  2. 2

    Enter the load current in amps.

  3. 3

    Enter the one-way distance from panel to load.

  4. 4

    Enter the system voltage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is acceptable voltage drop?

The NEC recommends no more than 3% voltage drop for branch circuits and no more than 5% for the combined feeder and branch circuit. For a 120V circuit, 3% equals 3.6 volts maximum drop.

How do I reduce voltage drop?

You can reduce voltage drop by using a larger wire gauge, shortening the wire run, increasing the voltage (e.g., using 240V instead of 120V), or reducing the load current.
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About This Calculator

This calculator uses the formula: Voltage Drop = (2 × 10.75 × Amps × Distance) ÷ Circular Mils | Drop % = (Voltage Drop ÷ System Voltage) × 100. All calculations follow industry-standard methods. Results are estimates — always verify with a licensed professional for structural or code-compliant work.

Built and maintained by the CalcSmart team. Last updated March 2026.

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