What Is the Voltage Drop for 4/0 AWG at 50A and 300 Feet?

4/0 AWG at 50A and 300 feet: 1.82V drop (1.52% 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.

4/0 AWG, 50A, 300ft · single-phase / DC

1.82 V drop (1.52% on 120V)

On 120V circuit1.52%

On 240V circuit0.76%

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

1.82V (1.52%)

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 × 300 × 50 × 0.0608) ÷ 1000 = 1.82 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: (1.82 ÷ 120) × 100 = 1.52%

On 240V: (1.82 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.76%

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 50A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.152V	0.1267%	0.0633%	OK
50ft	0.304V	0.2533%	0.1267%	OK
75ft	0.456V	0.38%	0.19%	OK
100ft	0.608V	0.5067%	0.2533%	OK
150ft	0.912V	0.76%	0.38%	OK
200ft	1.22V	1.01%	0.5067%	OK
300ft	1.82V	1.52%	0.76%	OK

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 50A at 300 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 50A 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	1.82V	1.52%	0.76%	OK
250 kcmil	1.55V	1.29%	0.6437%	OK
300 kcmil	1.29V	1.07%	0.5363%	OK
350 kcmil	1.1V	0.9175%	0.4587%	OK
500 kcmil	0.774V	0.645%	0.3225%	OK
750 kcmil	0.513V	0.4275%	0.2138%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 50A, 300ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 4/0 AWG at 50A and 300ft?expand_more

4/0 AWG carrying 50A over 300ft has a 1.82V drop (1.52% on 120V). Reference: 0.76% 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 0.76% on 240V versus 1.52% on 120V.

Does 4/0 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 50A and 300ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 1.52%, 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 (1.52% 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.