Cable gauge affects how much electrical resistance a conductor has and how much space it takes. It also tells how easily it handles power over a network connection. A cable with a 23 AWG conductor is larger than a wire with a 24 AWG conductor. That is why it has a generally has lower resistance.
That difference matters in Ethernet systems. This is especially the case for longer runs and Power over Ethernet applications. Terms such as 24 AWG Ethernet cable and Ethernet wire gauge often appear when choosing network cabling.
The right size depends on cable category and distance. It also depends on installation space and power requirements with the equipment being connected. This article will give you an idea about it.
How Gauge Affects Electrical Resistance
American Wire Gauge uses smaller numbers for larger conductors. That means 23 AWG has a larger conductor than 24 AWG. A larger conductor generally has lower DC resistance. This can reduce voltage drop and resistive heating over a given distance. Southwire's conductor data shows lower resistance for 23 AWG than 24 AWG.
1. Conductor Size and Resistance
The physical size of a conductor directly affects its electrical resistance. A larger conductor provides more area for current to flow through. That gives 23 AWG an electrical advantage over 24 AWG in resistance.
Southwire lists solid 23 AWG copper at about 22.3 ohms per 1,000 feet and solid 24 AWG at about 28.6 ohms per 1,000 feet at 20°C.
2. Why Lower Resistance Matters
Lower resistance means less electrical energy is lost as heat along a cable. It can also reduce voltage drop across a longer connection.
These factors become more important as cable distance and power demand increase. For network cabling, this matters especially when Ethernet connections also carry power to devices through PoE.
3. Cable Length and Electrical Loss
Cable length increases the total resistance of the conductor. A short connection may show little practical difference between two conductor sizes. A longer connection creates more resistance, so conductor size deserves greater attention.
This does not mean a thicker cable automatically provides better network performance. Cable category and compliance still determine whether the complete cable meets the required transmission specifications.
4. Resistance and Power over Ethernet
PoE (Power over Ethernet) sends electrical power through Ethernet cabling. Cable resistance contributes to voltage drop and heat during power delivery. A larger conductor can provide lower resistance. This may be useful for higher-power applications.
5. Gauge Is Only One Specification
Gauge should never be the only factor used to select network cable. A complete cable also has a category, conductor material, insulation, jacket, shielding construction, temperature rating, and transmission specification.
A 23 AWG cable made from an unsuitable conductor material or with an unsuitable jacket may still be wrong for a particular installation. Check the complete product specification before making a selection.
What Is the Difference Between 23 AWG and 24 AWG?
The main physical difference is conductor size. 23 AWG is larger than 24 AWG in the AWG system. That difference produces lower resistance for 23 AWG copper conductors. The table below brings together the various differences that matter during cable selection.
|
Feature |
23 AWG Cable |
24 AWG Cable |
|
AWG number |
23 AWG |
24 AWG |
|
Relative conductor size |
Larger conductor |
Smaller conductor |
|
Bare conductor diameter |
Approximately 0.573 mm |
Approximately 0.511 mm |
|
Relative resistance |
Lower resistance |
Higher resistance |
|
Typical solid copper resistance |
About 22.3 Ω/1,000 ft at 20°C |
About 28.6 Ω/1,000 ft at 20°C |
|
Power delivery |
Lower conductor resistance can support lower losses |
Higher conductor resistance can create greater losses over the same length |
|
Physical flexibility |
Generally less flexible because of larger conductors and cable construction |
Often easier to route, depending on overall cable design |
|
Space requirements |
May require more pathway and termination space |
May be easier to fit into dense installations |
|
Ethernet use |
Common in Cat6 and Cat6A structured cabling |
Common in many Ethernet patch and structured cabling products |
|
PoE considerations |
Useful where lower conductor resistance is valuable |
Suitable when the cable and PoE application are within its rated limits |
|
Cable diameter |
Depends on insulation, separator, shielding, and jacket |
Depends on insulation, separator, shielding, and jacket |
|
Network speed |
Determined by the complete cable category and construction |
Determined by the complete cable category and construction |
|
Typical installation role |
Permanent horizontal cabling and higher-power applications |
Patch connections and installations where smaller cable construction is useful |
|
Bend and routing considerations |
Larger construction may require more pathway space |
Smaller construction can be easier to route in tight areas |
|
Main selection factor |
Lower resistance and power-delivery characteristics |
Smaller construction and installation convenience |
Decision Matrix: Choosing between 23 AWG Ethernet Cable vs 24 AWG Ethernet Cable
The choice between the two gauges should follow the needs of the actual network. Cable distance, PoE power, pathway space, connector compatibility, and cable category all matter. Let’s provide practical situations where each gauge may fit, without treating one size as suitable for every installation.
When to Choose 23 AWG Ethernet Cable
A 23 AWG cable can be useful when lower conductor resistance and stronger power-delivery characteristics matter. Many Category 6 and Category 6A permanent cables use 23 AWG conductors. Here is when you should choose this cable.
- Longer Network Runs: A larger conductor can reduce resistance across the same cable length. This may be useful for permanent runs where power delivery and voltage drop deserve attention.
- PoE Applications: 23 AWG can be useful for PoE systems because its larger conductor has lower resistance than 24 AWG copper of the same length.
- Higher-Power Devices: Network devices with greater PoE demands can place more electrical load on the cable. This makes conductor resistance an important design consideration.
- Permanent Structured Cabling: A cable AWG 23 construction is common in horizontal Cat6 and Cat6A cabling, making it a practical option for structured installations.
- Greater Conductor Area: The larger conductor provides more metal for current flow and generally produces lower DC resistance under comparable construction conditions.
A 23 AWG cable also needs enough physical space for its complete construction. The conductor is only one part of the finished cable. Insulation, separators, shielding, and the outer jacket can make the overall cable much larger.
When to Choose 24 AWG Ethernet Cable
24 AWG cabling can suit installations where smaller cable construction and easier handling are useful. Many Ethernet patch cables use smaller conductors, but the complete cable still needs to meet the required category and application specifications.
- Dense Patch Areas: A smaller cable construction can make crowded equipment spaces easier to organize when many short connections share a rack or patching area.
- Flexible Connections: A 24 AWG Ethernet cable may be convenient for short equipment connections where flexibility and easier handling matter.
- Limited Pathway Space: Smaller cable construction can reduce the physical space required for groups of cables, although actual outside diameter depends on the full cable design.
- Short Network Connections: Shorter connections may place less emphasis on conductor resistance, provided the cable meets the required electrical and transmission specifications.
- Existing Equipment Racks: A smaller cable Ethernet 24 AWG option can work well for patching equipment when its category, connector type, and application ratings match the network.
The phrase 24 AWG describes the conductor gauge rather than the complete cable diameter. A manufacturer may use 24 AWG conductors with different insulation thicknesses, separators, shields, and jackets.
The diameter of 24 AWG wire should be treated carefully. They may refer to bare conductor diameter or to a finished cable measurement. Those measurements are not the same.
23 AWG vs 24 AWG Cable Diameter
People often search for 24 AWG wire diameter when they actually need the outside diameter of an Ethernet cable. AWG describes the conductor size. It does not provide the complete outside diameter of a finished Ethernet cable.
Bare Conductor Diameter
The approximate bare conductor diameter for 23 AWG is 0.573 mm. 24 AWG is about 0.511 mm. This small difference reflects the AWG system's defined conductor sizes.
The finished cable can be much larger because each conductor needs insulation. Four twisted pairs then sit inside an outer jacket, and some cables also contain separators or shielding.
Finished Cable Diameter
The 24 AWG cable diameter depends on the cable's entire construction. Two products using the same conductor gauge can have different outside diameters. The same point applies to 24 gauge wire diameter. Use the manufacturer's published outside diameter rather than estimating it from the AWG number if you are planning:
- Conduit
- Cable trays
- Raceways
- Connector space
Diameter and Installation Space
Cable diameter becomes important when many cables share a pathway. Larger cables take up more room and can affect bend radius, cable tray fill, rack organization, and termination space.
A smaller cable can be easier to route in a dense installation. However, the smallest option is not automatically the right option if power delivery or permanent cabling requirements call for a different construction.
Ethernet Wire Gauge and Network Performance
The term Ethernet wire gauge describes conductor thickness within Ethernet cable. It should be considered alongside category, cable length, conductor material, and application.
Ethernet Transmission Is More Than Gauge
Network speed depends on the cable category and its complete electrical construction. A larger conductor does not automatically make an Ethernet connection faster.
For example, CommScope lists 23 AWG Cat6 products supporting transmission frequencies up to 250 MHz or 300 MHz depending on the specific construction. The product's category and tested specifications determine its network capabilities.
Cable Construction Affects Performance
Twist rate, insulation, pair separation, shielding, conductor material, and connector quality all influence Ethernet performance. These features work together to meet the applicable category requirements.
The term Ethernet cable AWG therefore provides only one part of the selection information. A buyer should also confirm the cable category, jacket rating, conductor type, and manufacturer specifications.
Solid and Stranded Conductors
Solid and stranded Ethernet cables can use the same nominal AWG size while behaving differently during installation. Solid conductors are commonly used for permanent structured cabling. Stranded cables are more flexible and are often used for patch connections.
The conductor gauge should therefore be considered with the cable's intended role. A patch cable and permanent horizontal cable may have different construction requirements even when both are described using the same gauge.
24 AWG Ampacity and PoE Considerations
24 AWG ampacity can create confusion in Ethernet applications. Ampacity is the amount of current a conductor can carry under specified conditions. It is not a single universal number based only on AWG.
Why Ampacity Has Conditions
Allowable current depends on conductor material, insulation temperature rating, ambient temperature, bundling, installation method, and the applicable standard or product specification.
For Ethernet and PoE, manufacturers may provide specific remote-powering or limited-power ratings for a cable. Those ratings should be used instead of applying a generic building-wire ampacity table to a network cable.
PoE Changes the Planning Picture
PoE places electrical current through Ethernet pairs. As power increases, cable heating and voltage drop become more important.
CommScope lists a 23 AWG Cat6A product with a 0.6 A limited-power rating and confirms support for IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 remote powering under specified installation practices. That information is more useful for a PoE design than simply asking for an AWG-based current number.
23 AWG and 24 AWG in PoE Networks
A larger 23 AWG conductor generally has lower DC resistance than 24 AWG. Southwire's published data demonstrates this difference directly.
For PoE systems, that lower resistance can reduce losses across a comparable cable length. Still, the correct cable must meet the applicable PoE, category, temperature, and installation requirements.
Build Reliable Ethernet Networks with TS Cables
Choosing between 23 AWG and 24 AWG depends on cable length, resistance, installation space, network category, and power requirements. A larger conductor can reduce resistance. A smaller construction may suit dense patching.
TS Cables provides dependable Ethernet cabling for network installations. We help you select cable that fits your project's performance and installation requirements.
FAQs
Is 23 AWG better than 24 AWG Ethernet cable?
23 AWG has a larger conductor and lower resistance. 24 AWG can provide a smaller and more flexible construction. The suitable choice depends on the installation.
What is the diameter of 24 AWG wire?
A bare 24 AWG copper conductor has an approximate diameter of 0.511 mm. The finished Ethernet cable diameter will be larger. This is because of insulation and jacket materials.
Does 23 AWG Ethernet cable support PoE?
Yes. Many 23 AWG Cat6 and Cat6A cables support PoE. Always check the manufacturer's power rating and applicable IEEE requirements before installation.
Does AWG affect Ethernet speed?
AWG alone does not determine Ethernet speed. Cable category and installation quality determine whether the cable meets the required network performance. Construction and transmission characteristics with connectors also impact it.
Is 24 AWG suitable for Ethernet?
Yes. 24 AWG Ethernet cables are widely used for suitable network connections. Check the cable category and length. Consider construction and PoE requirements as well before selecting one.
Further Reading
Browse the TS Cables blog for more practical advice on Ethernet cable sizes and network wiring. Learn more about PoE requirements, cable specifications, installation planning, and reliable connectivity.
