What Is the Voltage Drop for 4/0 AWG at 35A and 500 Feet?

Running 35A through 4/0 AWG copper for 500 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit produces a 2.13-volt drop. On a 120V source that is 1.77%; on 240V it is 0.8867%. 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.

4/0 AWG, 35A, 500ft · single-phase / DC

2.13 V drop (1.77% on 120V)

On 120V circuit1.77%

On 240V circuit0.8867%

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

4/0 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

2.13V (1.77%)

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 × 500 × 35 × 0.0608) ÷ 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 = 1.77%

On 240V: (2.13 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.8867%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

4/0 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 4/0 AWG at 35A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.1064V	0.0887%	0.0443%	OK
50ft	0.2128V	0.1773%	0.0887%	OK
75ft	0.3192V	0.266%	0.133%	OK
100ft	0.4256V	0.3547%	0.1773%	OK
150ft	0.6384V	0.532%	0.266%	OK
200ft	0.8512V	0.7093%	0.3547%	OK
300ft	1.28V	1.06%	0.532%	OK

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 35A at 500 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 35A 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)
4/0 AWG	2.13V	1.77%	0.8867%	OK
250 kcmil	1.8V	1.5%	0.751%	OK
300 kcmil	1.5V	1.25%	0.6256%	OK
350 kcmil	1.28V	1.07%	0.5352%	OK
500 kcmil	0.903V	0.7525%	0.3763%	OK
750 kcmil	0.5985V	0.4988%	0.2494%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 35A, 500ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 4/0 AWG at 35A and 500ft?expand_more

4/0 AWG carrying 35A over 500ft has a 2.13V drop (1.77% on 120V). Reference: 0.8867% 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 0.8867% on 240V versus 1.77% on 120V.

Does 4/0 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 35A and 500ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 1.77%, 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.

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.

What wire gauge should I use instead of 4/0 AWG for this run?expand_more

4/0 AWG already sits within the 3% branch-circuit drop target at these inputs (1.77% 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.