WireGaugeCalc Free calculator · NEC cited · works offline
10 Awg Copper Ok for Ground Wire
10 awg copper ok for ground wire is simple to check with WireGaugeCalc, which matches your overcurrent device size to the NEC 250.122 equipment grounding conductor table.
You enter the breaker amps and conductor material, so the calculator returns the minimum ground size and whether 10 AWG copper meets it.
That answer keeps the equipment grounding conductor sized to the circuit it protects.
Open the calculatorSmallest conductor whose ampacity meets the load, NEC Table 310.16. Field aid only, verify against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
When 10 AWG Copper Works as an Equipment Grounding Conductor
The NEC sizes the equipment grounding conductor by the rating of the overcurrent device, not by the load, since the ground must clear a fault fast.
Per Table 250.122, 10 AWG copper is permitted as the equipment grounding conductor up to a 60 amp overcurrent device.
Above 60 amps the table requires a larger conductor, so a 100 amp breaker needs 8 AWG copper instead.
Sizing the Ground Wire Against the Breaker
Enter the circuit details and the calculator returns the grounding conductor size:
- 10 AWG copper for up to a 60 amp device
- 12 AWG copper for up to a 20 amp device
- 8 AWG copper for up to a 100 amp device
- Aluminum sizes when the conductor is not copper
- Upsizing rules when the ungrounded conductors are increased
- A clear pass or fail for 10 AWG on your circuit
One app for every NEC calculation
WireGaugeCalc keeps the calculations you reach for most in one place:
- Voltage drop and wire sizing for any run
- Conduit fill for EMT, PVC, and RMC
- Box fill and junction box sizing
- Ampacity and temperature derating
- Motor circuit and load calculations
- Conduit bend offsets and saddles
Built for the field, works offline
The whole app runs on your phone, so it keeps working in a basement, an attic, or a job site with no signal.
There is no account to create and nothing to load. Open it, run the number, and get back to work.
- No signup and no signal needed
- Answers in a tap, not a spreadsheet
- Same tool on phone, tablet, and desktop
Every result cites the NEC article
Each answer shows the table or formula it came from, so you can check the method and learn the code as you go.
That makes the app useful on the job and during exam prep, since the reasoning is right next to the number.
Switch the code year your job runs on
Jurisdictions adopt the NEC at different times, so you can match the calculation to the code in force:
- NEC 2017, 2020, and 2023 tables
- Copper and aluminum conductors
- 60, 75, and 90 degree C terminations
- Single-phase and three-phase systems
Run the number, then get back to work
Stop flipping through a paper book or hopping between calculator sites. Enter your values, read the code-cited answer, and move on. Free to use, no signup.
Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
Is 10 AWG copper ok for the ground on a 50 amp circuit?
Yes, NEC Table 250.122 permits 10 AWG copper as the equipment grounding conductor for overcurrent devices up to 60 amps, which covers a 50 amp breaker. Confirm the size against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
Do I need to upsize the ground if I upsize the hot conductors?
Yes, when ungrounded conductors are increased for voltage drop, NEC 250.122(B) requires the equipment grounding conductor to be increased proportionally. The calculator applies that adjustment when you enter the larger conductor.
Can 10 AWG copper ground work on a 100 amp breaker?
No, a 100 amp device requires at least 8 AWG copper per Table 250.122, so 10 AWG is too small. Use the table value tied to the overcurrent device, not the load current.
Is WireGaugeCalc free to use?
Yes. Every calculator is free to run with no signup. A paid tier adds saved projects, PDF reports, and extra code years, but the core math stays free.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. The app runs on your device, so it keeps working with no signal on a job site, in a basement, or in an attic.
Are the results code accurate?
Results follow published NEC tables and standard formulas, and each answer shows the article it came from. It is a field aid, not a stamp of approval, so verify against the current code and your local authority before you wire anything.
Which NEC code year does it use?
You can switch between NEC 2017, 2020, and 2023, since jurisdictions adopt the code at different times. Pick the year your job runs on.