What Is the Voltage Drop for 12 AWG at 8A and 125 Feet?

Running 8A through 12 AWG copper for 125 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit produces a 3.96-volt drop. On a 120V source that is 3.3%; on 240V it is 1.65%. NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 recommends keeping branch-circuit drop at or below 3% and total feeder+branch drop at or below 5%, these are performance recommendations, not code requirements.

12 AWG, 8A, 125ft · single-phase / DC

3.96 V drop (3.3% on 120V)

On 120V circuit3.3%

On 240V circuit1.65%

Circuit basis: This uses the single-phase / DC round-trip formula (factor of 2) for the voltage drop across the two circuit conductors. For a three-phase line-to-line run use the three-phase version of the page (append ?type=3ph). Switch to the three-phase version →

Gauge

12 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

3.96V (3.30%)

Assumes a 120V source on a single-phase / DC circuit. Use the circuit-basis link above to switch between single-phase/DC and three-phase.

Voltage Drop Formula (single-phase / DC)

V_drop = (2 × L × I × R) ÷ 1000

(2 × 125 × 8 × 1.98) ÷ 1000 = 3.96 V

DC and single-phase AC use the round-trip factor of 2. Current travels out to the load on one conductor and returns on another.

For a three-phase circuit at the same amps and distance, see the three-phase version (uses √3 instead of 2, so the drop is about 13.4% lower).

Percentage

%VD = (V_drop ÷ V_source) × 100

On 120V: (3.96 ÷ 120) × 100 = 3.3%

On 240V: (3.96 ÷ 240) × 100 = 1.65%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge That Meets the 3% Target

The smallest gauge in our table that clears the 3% drop target at 8A over 125ft on 120V is 10 AWG. Shorter runs, higher source voltage, or a higher drop tolerance (feeder-only applications often accept up to 5%) can change the pick. Run the full wire-size calculator with your actual variables.

Impact of Distance

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. Here is 12 AWG at 8A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.792V	0.66%	0.33%	OK
50ft	1.58V	1.32%	0.66%	OK
75ft	2.38V	1.98%	0.99%	OK
100ft	3.17V	2.64%	1.32%	OK
150ft	4.75V	3.96%	1.98%	Caution
200ft	6.34V	5.28%	2.64%	Past 5%
300ft	9.5V	7.92%	3.96%	Past 5%

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 8A at 125 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 8A load are listed, since thinner gauges would fail the ampacity check before drop even matters.

Gauge	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	3% Target (120V)
12 AWG	3.96V	3.3%	1.65%	Caution
10 AWG	2.48V	2.07%	1.03%	OK
8 AWG	1.56V	1.3%	0.6483%	OK
6 AWG	0.982V	0.8183%	0.4092%	OK
4 AWG	0.616V	0.5133%	0.2567%	OK
3 AWG	0.49V	0.4083%	0.2042%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 8A, 125ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 12 AWG at 8A and 125ft?expand_more

12 AWG carrying 8A over 125ft has a 3.96V drop (3.3% on 120V). Reference: 1.65% on 240V.

Is voltage drop worse on 120V or 240V?expand_more

Same wire, same amps, same distance: the volts dropped are identical. But the percentage is worse on 120V because the drop is a larger fraction of the source voltage. This run would be 1.65% on 240V versus 3.3% on 120V.

Does wire material affect voltage drop?expand_more

Yes. Aluminum has roughly 1.3 to 1.4 times the resistance of copper at the NEC Chapter 9 Table 8 75°C reference temperature, so for the same voltage drop an aluminum conductor is typically one to two gauges larger than copper. The exact gap depends on whether ampacity or voltage drop is binding, and the install still needs anti-oxidant compound and aluminum-rated lugs.

What happens if voltage drop is too high?expand_more

Motors run hotter and can have trouble starting under load. Incandescent and halogen lighting dims. Some electronics misbehave at the low end of their input tolerance. Energy is wasted as I²R heating in the conductor. These are performance issues; high drop is not itself a code violation unless the specific installation cites a hard limit.

Why does distance affect voltage drop?expand_more

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. The formula multiplies by 2 × the distance (out and back). Doubling the run doubles the drop.

This calculator provides estimates for reference purposes only. Always consult a licensed electrician and verify compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local electrical codes before performing any electrical work.