What Is the Voltage Drop for 2 AWG at 94A and 25 Feet?

2 AWG at 94A and 25 feet: 0.9118V drop (0.7598% on 120V), computed on the single-phase / DC basis. Every conductor has resistance, and longer runs at higher currents drop more voltage. Use this calculation to check whether your run clears the 3% branch-circuit drop target before pulling wire.

2 AWG, 94A, 25ft · single-phase / DC
0.9118 V drop (0.7598% on 120V)
On 120V circuit0.7598%
On 240V circuit0.3799%

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 →

2 AWG
0.91V (0.76%)

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)

Vdrop = (2 × L × I × R) ÷ 1000

(2 × 25 × 94 × 0.194) ÷ 1000 = 0.9118 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 = (Vdrop ÷ Vsource) × 100

On 120V: (0.9118 ÷ 120) × 100 = 0.7598%
On 240V: (0.9118 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.3799%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

2 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 2 AWG at 94A at different distances:

DistanceDrop (V)% on 120V% on 240VNEC (120V)
25ft0.9118V0.7598%0.3799%OK
50ft1.82V1.52%0.7598%OK
75ft2.74V2.28%1.14%OK
100ft3.65V3.04%1.52%Caution
150ft5.47V4.56%2.28%Caution
200ft7.29V6.08%3.04%Past 5%
300ft10.94V9.12%4.56%Past 5%

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 94A at 25 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 94A load are listed, since thinner gauges would fail the ampacity check before drop even matters.

GaugeDrop (V)% on 120V% on 240V3% Target (120V)
2 AWG0.9118V0.7598%0.3799%OK
1 AWG0.7238V0.6032%0.3016%OK
1/0 AWG0.5734V0.4778%0.2389%OK
2/0 AWG0.4545V0.3787%0.1894%OK
3/0 AWG0.36V0.3%0.15%OK
4/0 AWG0.2858V0.2381%0.1191%OK

Frequently Asked Questions

2 AWG carrying 94A over 25ft has a 0.9118V drop (0.7598% on 120V). Reference: 0.3799% on 240V.
On 120V, this run sits at 0.7598%, 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.
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 0.3799% on 240V versus 0.7598% on 120V.
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.
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.