What Is the Voltage Drop for 1 AWG at 121A and 50 Feet?

1 AWG copper carrying 121 amps over 50 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit drops 1.86 volts (1.55% on a 120V source). This sits within the 3% branch target and the 5% feeder+branch total target that NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 cites. Both are planning targets, not code requirements.

1 AWG, 121A, 50ft · single-phase / DC

1.86 V drop (1.55% on 120V)

On 120V circuit1.55%

On 240V circuit0.7764%

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

1 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

1.86V (1.55%)

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 × 50 × 121 × 0.154) ÷ 1000 = 1.86 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: (1.86 ÷ 120) × 100 = 1.55%

On 240V: (1.86 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.7764%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

1 AWG clears the 3% drop target at these inputs. A smaller conductor may also meet it with less margin. See the minimum gauge for this load and distance.

Impact of Distance

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. Here is 1 AWG at 121A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.9317V	0.7764%	0.3882%	OK
50ft	1.86V	1.55%	0.7764%	OK
75ft	2.8V	2.33%	1.16%	OK
100ft	3.73V	3.11%	1.55%	Caution
150ft	5.59V	4.66%	2.33%	Caution
200ft	7.45V	6.21%	3.11%	Past 5%
300ft	11.18V	9.32%	4.66%	Past 5%

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 121A at 50 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 121A 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)
1 AWG	1.86V	1.55%	0.7764%	OK
1/0 AWG	1.48V	1.23%	0.6151%	OK
2/0 AWG	1.17V	0.9751%	0.4875%	OK
3/0 AWG	0.9269V	0.7724%	0.3862%	OK
4/0 AWG	0.7357V	0.6131%	0.3065%	OK
250 kcmil	0.6232V	0.5193%	0.2596%	OK

Related Calculations

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 1 AWG at 121A and 50ft?expand_more

1 AWG carrying 121A over 50ft has a 1.86V drop (1.55% on 120V). Reference: 0.7764% on 240V.

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.

How do I reduce voltage drop?expand_more

Use a larger wire gauge (lower AWG number), shorten the run, or increase the source voltage. Each option reduces the percentage drop, and higher source voltage is usually the most effective change for long runs because the drop is a smaller fraction of a larger reference.

Does 1 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 121A and 50ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 1.55%, which is within the 3% branch and 5% feeder+branch total drop targets. NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 cites 3% for branch circuits and 5% for total feeder+branch drop as performance recommendations, not hard code requirements.

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 0.7764% on 240V versus 1.55% on 120V.

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.