Why does the footage come out higher than my run length?

Each conductor is its own length of wire. A 3-conductor circuit over a 100 ft run uses 300 linear feet of wire. The tool multiplies your run length by the number of conductors before pricing.

What waste percentage should I use?

Most electricians add 10 to 15 percent for stripping, terminations, slack left in boxes and panels, and cut-off ends. Longer or more complex pulls justify a higher allowance.

Are the default prices accurate for my area?

The defaults are representative copper market figures and move with commodity prices. Always override the per-foot field with your current supplier quote before bidding a job.

What is the difference between THHN, XHHW, and UF-B?

THHN is general building wire, XHHW-2 is a wet-rated feeder insulation, and UF-B is direct-burial cable. UF-B costs the most per foot because of its tougher jacket and is used for outdoor underground runs.

Does this include labour or conduit?

No. This estimates only the cost of the wire itself. Add conduit, fittings, boxes, breakers, and your labour and markup separately to reach a full bid price.

Electrical Wire Cost Estimator

Wire is often the single largest material line on an electrical estimate, and it is easy to undercount because every conductor in a circuit is a separate length of wire. This calculator turns gauge, insulation type, conductor count, and run length into an honest material cost, with a waste allowance for the slack and cut-offs that always disappear on a real job.

How it works

The cost is straightforward once you account for every conductor:

base feet   = conductors × run length
waste feet  = base feet × (waste% / 100)
total feet  = base feet + waste feet
material    = total feet × price per foot

A representative per-foot price loads for each AWG and insulation combination, but copper prices move daily, so the price field is fully editable — drop in your supplier’s current quote and the estimate updates immediately.

Example and tips

A 12 AWG THHN circuit with 3 conductors over a 100 ft run is 300 base feet. At a 10 percent waste allowance that becomes 330 feet, and at roughly 0.28 per foot the wire costs about 92 dollars. Round your final order up to standard spool or reel quantities, and remember that grounds, neutrals, and travelers all count as conductors — under-counting them is the most common way a wire estimate comes in short on site.