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What Size Wire for 80 Amps?

For 80 amps with the displayed 75 C termination defaults, start with 4 AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum. This page is mainly the 70-to-80 A aluminum jump check.
Load
80 A
Distance
0 ft entered
Band
Feeder / subpanel
Defaults
Non-continuous, 75 C lugs, 86 F, 240 V single-phase
Conductor count
3 current-carrying

Computed Starting Point

The table uses common defaults. Change the calculator inputs for the actual installation.

MaterialComputed sizeOCPDUsable ampacityGoverning constraintDefault check
Copper4 AWG80 A85 ATermination rated 75 CPasses defaults
Aluminum2 AWG80 A90 ATermination rated 75 CPasses defaults
What Size Wire for 80 Amps? under common non-continuous defaults: THHN or XHHW-2 insulation, 75 C terminations, 86 F ambient, 240 V single-phase, no more than three current-carrying conductors, and 0 ft route length entered.

What 80 A ChangesAt 80 A, the default copper row still has 85 A usable ampacity, but the aluminum row moves to 2 AWG and shows 90 A. If either end is limited to 60 C, rerun the calculator before relying on the displayed 75 C answer.

Run the wire size calculator

Adjacent Amp Ratings

See whether stepping one standard size up or down forces a conductor jump under the same defaults.

LoadCopper sizeCopper OCPDAluminum sizeAluminum OCPD
70 A4 AWG70 A3 AWG70 A
80 A (this page)4 AWG80 A2 AWG80 A
90 A3 AWG90 A2 AWG90 A
Copper and aluminum starting sizes for 80 A and the neighboring published amp pages, under the same defaults as the result above.

A plateau means neighboring amp ratings share a conductor size under these defaults. A jump means a standard breaker change often needs a larger wire; confirm with your real ambient, length and terminations.

80 A Is the Aluminum Jump After 70 A

Feeder / subpanel context for an 80 A circuit.

An 80 A wire-size search often means a garage subpanel, shop feeder, listed equipment feeder, or a planned step above a 70 A circuit. The conductor result is not just a larger breaker handle; material choice changes the answer.

Under the displayed 75 C termination defaults, copper stays at 4 AWG from 70 A to 80 A, while aluminum moves from 3 AWG to 2 AWG. That is the useful distinction for this page: copper is on a plateau, aluminum is not.

What Changes This Answer

Checks that can change the starting conductor under the displayed defaults.

  • Do not reuse 70 A aluminum

    Under these defaults, 70 A aluminum is 3 AWG, while 80 A aluminum moves to 2 AWG.

  • Confirm 75 C terminations

    The direct answer assumes 75 C lugs. At 80 A, equipment limited to 60 C can change both the copper and aluminum conductor results.

  • Feeder load first

    An 80 A conductor answer assumes 80 A is the correct feeder or equipment rating. Confirm the load calculation before sizing from the breaker alone.

  • Check the 90 A copper step

    The adjacent 90 A page moves copper from 4 AWG to 3 AWG, while aluminum stays 2 AWG under the same defaults.

80 Amp Wire Size FAQs

What size wire for 80 amps?
Under the 75 C termination defaults on this page, start with 4 AWG copper or 2 AWG aluminum. If either end is limited to 60 C, rerun with that terminal rating.
Can I use 70 A wire for an 80 A feeder?
Not for aluminum under these defaults. Copper stays 4 AWG, but aluminum moves from 3 AWG at 70 A to 2 AWG at 80 A.
Is 80 A the same as 90 A wire size?
Not for copper. The 90 A page moves copper to 3 AWG while aluminum stays 2 AWG under the displayed 75 C defaults.
What else changes an 80 A feeder answer?
Terminal temperature, actual feeder load, route length, conductor count, aluminum lug listing, raceway fill, and voltage drop can all move the final conductor.