Copper Wire Weight per Foot: THHN and Bare Copper

01Reading the Copper Wire Weight per Foot Chart

Start with the conductor size, then select the column for the material you actually have. The displayed wire weight chart separates approximate THHN weight from bare copper weight per 1,000 ft. Those columns are not interchangeable: THHN includes insulation and its nylon jacket, while bare copper does not.

Read the chart heading for the weight unit before calculating. Keep that unit consistent with your scale reading, and divide the listed weight by 1,000 to obtain an approximate weight per foot. Do not mix weight units within the same calculation.

Use reel tags and jacket print to identify the wire rather than judging size by outside diameter. Insulation changes outside diameter without changing conductor size. If the size marking is unfamiliar, the AWG and kcmil wire gauge guide explains the designation system. A correct row and material column matter more than extra decimal places in an estimate.

02THHN Weight Versus Bare Copper Weight

THHN weight per 1000 ft represents the insulated wire, not just its copper content. Bare copper values represent the conductor without that insulation and jacket. Using the bare copper column for a weighed coil of THHN will generally overestimate its footage because you are treating insulation weight as copper.

Match the chart to the product description. Do not apply a single-conductor THHN value to a cable assembly, a jacketed multiconductor cable or another construction simply because the copper conductors share a gauge. Additional components contribute weight that the selected chart column may not include.

Chart figures are approximate references, not universal product specifications. Construction differences can affect actual weight, so manufacturer information for the identified product is preferable when available. Check the wire types we buy when sorting mixed surplus, and keep different constructions separate before weighing or estimating footage.

03Get Net Wire Weight Before Calculating Footage

A scale reading for a loaded reel includes more than wire. The reel, wrapping and other packaging contribute to the gross weight. Subtract their combined weight to obtain the net wire weight used in your footage calculation.

Use a documented empty-reel weight when available, but confirm that it applies to the actual reel. Do not assume another reel has the same weight because it looks similar. Moisture, attached hardware and damaged packaging can also complicate a gross reading. If the packaging weight is unknown, label the resulting footage as an estimate rather than a measured length.

Keep a record of the scale reading, the packaging allowance and the chart row used. That makes the calculation easier to review later. For another way to assess a partial reel, see how to estimate footage left on a reel. Compare available evidence instead of relying on one uncertain measurement.

04Estimate Footage From a Known Wire Weight

Use this relationship once you have identified the wire and removed packaging weight:

Estimated footage = net wire weight ÷ chart weight per 1,000 ft × 1,000.

Worked example: you have a partial reel of identified THHN. Select its conductor-size row and THHN column, then divide the measured net wire weight by that chart entry. Multiply the result by 1,000 to estimate the remaining feet. Use the chart entry’s weight unit throughout.

If the net wire weight equals the selected weight per 1,000 ft, the estimated footage is 1,000 ft. This provides a useful check on the formula: equal weights should produce the chart’s reference length.

For a bare copper coil, follow the same steps using the bare copper column instead. Do not substitute the THHN value. Record the result as approximate footage, especially when either the packaging allowance or product identification remains uncertain.

05Estimate Wire Weight From Known Footage

Reverse the calculation when footage is known and you need an approximate material weight:

Estimated wire weight = footage ÷ 1,000 × chart weight per 1,000 ft.

Worked example: for a known 1,000 ft length of THHN, the estimated wire weight is the THHN entry for its conductor size. No reel allowance belongs in that material-weight result. Add packaging weight separately only when estimating the gross weight of the loaded reel.

Another worked example: for a cut length of bare copper, divide its measured footage by 1,000, then multiply by the bare copper entry for its size. The result uses the same weight unit as the chart.

These calculations help compare inventory records with scale readings, but they do not confirm an old reel tag’s remaining footage. A tag may describe the original reel rather than what remains after material has been removed. Use current measurements whenever possible.

06Check Estimates Before Using Them for Inventory

Treat a weight-based result as supporting evidence, not proof of exact length. An incorrect conductor size, the wrong material column or an unverified reel allowance can each change the estimate. Mixed sizes or constructions should be separated because a single chart value cannot accurately represent the whole lot.

Compare your calculation with reel tags, visible footage markings and current inventory records. Investigate a substantial mismatch rather than changing the assumed size until the numbers fit. Clear jacket-print photos can help establish what the wire actually is.

Weight also does not establish electrical suitability, insulation condition or compliance for a proposed installation. Refer design and installation questions to a licensed electrician or engineer. For selling decisions, keep estimated footage distinct from verified condition: reusable stock is usually worth more than melt value, as explained in surplus wire value versus scrap price.

07Use Your Estimate to Sell Surplus Wire in Houston

Send Houston Wire Buyers photos of reel tags or jacket print, estimated footage or weight, and the material’s location. Include whether your weight is net wire weight or a gross reel reading. We review the information, provide a written offer, schedule pickup or drop-off, verify material on site, and pay according to the written offer.

We buy new, unused and reusable surplus in full reels, partial reels, cut lengths, coils and boxes. Short, burned or heavily damaged material may be better suited to scrap; we will tell you what is reusable. Weight alone does not determine value.

We serve Greater Houston only. Pickup is scheduled at the seller’s site; drop-off at 6402 McGrew St, Houston, TX 77087, near I-45 and I-610, is by appointment. Call or text 951-403-5738 before visiting. Use get an offer to share your material details, or review Houston wire pickup before arranging collection.