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Electrical Code for Electrical Box Fill Capacity

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How Many Electrical Wires Can I Put In a Conduit >>

Summary: One of the mistakes often made is over loading an electrical box with too many wires. This will cause switches and outlets to not fit correctly and could even cause wires to become damaged. This information will help you plan your electrical box size properly.

Calculate The Minimum Size Junction Box for Electrical Wiring

Part (1) of Section 370-16(a) describes in detail the method of counting wires, as well as clamps, fittings, or devices (i.e., switches, receptacles, combination devices) - by establishing an equivalent conductor-value for each.

These values are added together to get a total number of conductors.

The minimum size box is the smallest one in the Box Fill Table (shown) that can accommodate that number of conductors.

BOX FILL TABLE

DEDUCTIONS

Volume Required per Conductor Size per Deductions	#18 (1.50)	9.00	10.50	12.00	13.50	15.00	16.50	18.00	19.50	21.00
	#16 (1.75)	10.50	12.25	14.00	15.75	17.50	19.25	21.00	22.75	24.50
	#14 (2.00)	12.00	14.00	16.00	18.00	20.00	22.00	24.00	26.00	28.00
	#12 (2.25)	13.50	15.75	18.00	20.25	22.50	24.75	27.00	29.25	31.50
	#10 (2.50)	15.00	17.50	20.00	22.50	25.00	27.50	30.00	32.50	35.00
	#8 (3.00)	18.00	21.00	24.00	27.00	30.00	33.00	36.00	39.00	42.00
	#6 (5.00)	30.00	35.00	40.00	45.00	50.00	55.00	60.00	65.00	70.00

Prevent Electrical Box Over Fill By Using This Table and Information

Points to Remember:

No matter how many ground wires come into a box, they only count as one conductor within the box.
Any wire running unbroken through the box counts as one wire.
Each wire coming into a splice device (crimp or twist-on type) is counted as one wire.
Each wire coming into the box and connecting to a device counts as one wire of that size.
Where devices are mounted in the box, the total conductor count must be increased by two for each mounting strap because the strap takes up space.

NEC Table 370-16(a). Metal Boxes
Number of Conductors in Outlet, Device, and Junction Boxes
Box Dimension in Inches Trade Size or Type	Minimum Capacity (in.3)	Maximum Number of Conductors
Box Dimension in Inches Trade Size or Type	Minimum Capacity (in.3)	No. 18	No. 16	No. 14	No. 12	No. 10	No. 8	No. 6
4 X 1-1/4 round or octagonal 4 X 1-1/2 round or octagonal 4 X 2-1/8 round or octagonal	12.5 15.5 21.5	8 10 14	7 8 12	6 7 10	5 6 9	5 6 8	4 5 7	2 3 4
4 X 1-1/4 square 4 X 1-1/2 square 4 X 2-1/8 square	18.0 21.0 30.3	12 14 20	10 12 17	9 10 15	8 9 13	7 8 12	6 7 10	3 4 6
4-11/16 X 1-1/4 square 4-11/16 X 1-1/2 square 4-11/16 X 2-1/8 square	25.5 29.5 42.0	17 19 28	14 16 24	12 14 21	11 13 18	10 11 16	8 9 14	5 5 8
3 X 2 X 1-1/2 device 3 X 2 X 2 device 3 X 2 X 2-1/4 device 3 X 2 X 2-1/2 device 3 X 2 X 2-3/4 device 3 X 2 X 3-1/2 device	7.5 10.0 10.5 12.5 14.0 18.0	5 6 7 8 9 12	4 5 6 7 8 10	3 5 5 6 7 9	3 4 4 5 6 8	3 4 4 5 5 7	2 3 3 4 4 6	1 2 2 2 2 3
4 X 2-1/8 X 1-1/2 device 4 X 2-1/8 X 1-7/8 device 4 X 2-1/8 X 2-1/8 device	10.3 13.0 14.5	6 8 9	5 7 8	5 6 7	4 5 6	4 5 5	3 4 4	2 2 2
3-3/4 X 2 X 2-1/2 masonry box / gang 3-3/4 X 2 X 3-1/2 masonry box / gang	14.0 21.0	9 14	8 12	7 10	6 9	5 8	4 7	2 4