What Is the Voltage Drop for 3 AWG at 87A and 50 Feet?

3 AWG at 87A and 50 feet: 2.13V drop (1.78% 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.

3 AWG, 87A, 50ft · single-phase / DC

2.13 V drop (1.78% on 120V)

On 120V circuit1.78%

On 240V circuit0.8881%

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

3 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

2.13V (1.78%)

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 × 87 × 0.245) ÷ 1000 = 2.13 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: (2.13 ÷ 120) × 100 = 1.78%

On 240V: (2.13 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.8881%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

3 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 3 AWG at 87A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	1.07V	0.8881%	0.4441%	OK
50ft	2.13V	1.78%	0.8881%	OK
75ft	3.2V	2.66%	1.33%	OK
100ft	4.26V	3.55%	1.78%	Caution
150ft	6.39V	5.33%	2.66%	Past 5%
200ft	8.53V	7.11%	3.55%	Past 5%
300ft	12.79V	10.66%	5.33%	Past 5%

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 87A at 50 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 87A 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)
3 AWG	2.13V	1.78%	0.8881%	OK
2 AWG	1.69V	1.41%	0.7032%	OK
1 AWG	1.34V	1.12%	0.5583%	OK
1/0 AWG	1.06V	0.8845%	0.4422%	OK
2/0 AWG	0.8413V	0.7011%	0.3505%	OK
3/0 AWG	0.6664V	0.5554%	0.2777%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 87A, 50ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 3 AWG at 87A and 50ft?expand_more

3 AWG carrying 87A over 50ft has a 2.13V drop (1.78% on 120V). Reference: 0.8881% on 240V.

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.

Does 3 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 87A and 50ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 1.78%, 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 0.8881% on 240V versus 1.78% on 120V.

What wire gauge should I use instead of 3 AWG for this run?expand_more

3 AWG already sits within the 3% branch-circuit drop target at these inputs (1.78% on 120V). Going to a larger gauge is only useful if you want more headroom for future load growth, longer runs, or tighter drop targets like the 5% feeder+branch total recommendation used in sensitive or motor-heavy installations.

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.