About This Tool

Built for electricians, engineers, and serious DIYers.

VoltageDrop.calc is a free, browser-based voltage drop calculator that applies NEC Chapter 9 Table 8 and Table 9 resistance data to the industry-standard formulas for DC, single-phase AC, and three-phase AC circuits. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser — zero backend, zero data collection, zero logins.

What the Calculator Does

DC Voltage Drop

12V, 24V, 48V, and any custom DC voltage. NEC Table 8 copper and aluminum resistance at 75°C. Ideal for solar, RV, and battery systems.

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AC Single-Phase

120V and 240V single-phase circuits using NEC Table 9 AC impedance values. Adjustable conduit type and power factor.

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3-Phase (√3 Factor)

480V and any three-phase voltage with correct √3 line geometry. Full effective impedance calculation per NEC Chapter 9 preamble.

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Wire Recommendation

Automatically recommends the minimum wire size that meets your target drop threshold — from 14 AWG to 1000 kcmil.

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Copper & Aluminum

Full support for both conductor materials across all wire sizes. Switch instantly to compare resistance and voltage drop.

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Metric Support

Enter distance in feet or meters. Resistance values shown in both Ω/kft and Ω/km for international cable sizing.

NEC Standards We Follow

Calculation accuracy depends on using the correct code-referenced resistance values. VoltageDrop.calc uses data sourced directly from the following NEC references:

NEC Table 8
DC resistance of conductors at 75°C (copper and aluminum, stranded)
NEC Table 9
AC resistance and reactance for 600V cables in various conduit types
NEC 210.19(A)
Informational Note recommending ≤3% branch circuit voltage drop
NEC 215.2(A)
Informational Note recommending ≤5% total feeder + branch voltage drop
NEC 310.10(H)
Requirements for parallel conductor installations above 1/0 AWG
ANSI C84.1
Voltage range standard: utilization voltage within ±5% of nominal under load

Who Uses VoltageDrop.calc

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Licensed Electricians

Quick field calculations for residential, commercial, and industrial circuits. Verify wire sizing before pulling cable on new construction, service upgrades, and panel replacements.

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Electrical Engineers

Rapid feeder and branch circuit sanity checks during design. Validate voltage drop on 480V three-phase feeders, motor branch circuits, and power distribution studies.

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Informed DIYers

Plan garage subpanels, EV charger circuits, solar system wiring, and home addition circuits. Understand the code requirements before speaking with your electrician.

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Students & Apprentices

Learn the voltage drop formula, understand NEC Chapter 9 tables, and practice real-world wire sizing problems with instant visual feedback.

"Undersized wire is a fire hazard. Oversized wire is wasted money. The right wire size — calculated correctly — is what we're here for."

Our mission is to make authoritative, NEC-accurate voltage drop calculations accessible to everyone — from the master electrician on a job site to the homeowner planning a generator transfer switch.

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Engineering Disclaimer: All calculations are for educational and planning purposes only. Electrical installations must comply with the NEC, local codes, and must be verified by a licensed electrician before implementation. See our full Terms of Service.