How Much Does 100 Feet of 10 Gauge Wire Cost? 2026 Price Guide by Wire Type

If you are buying wire for a residential, commercial, industrial, or electrical project, you may be wondering:

How much does 100 feet of 10 gauge wire cost?

For most copper 10 AWG wire, 100 feet can cost anywhere from about $90 to $300 or more, depending on the wire type, number of conductors, insulation, copper content, certification, brand, and where you buy it.

For example, current U.S. retail pricing shows 100 ft of single-conductor 10 AWG stranded copper THHN at around $94, while 100 ft of 10/2 copper NM-B cable is around $227.

That is a large difference for two products both described as “10 gauge wire.”

The reason is simple: 10 gauge only tells you the conductor size. It does not tell you the complete cable construction.

This guide explains what 100 ft of 10 gauge wire costs, why prices vary, what affects the price per foot, and how contractors, distributors, and wholesale buyers can get a more accurate quotation.

How Much Is 100 Feet of 10 Gauge Wire?

A useful 2026 price range is:

Wire Type	Approximate Retail Price for 100 ft	Approx. Price Per Foot
10 AWG Copper THHN	$90–$100	$0.90–$1.00
10/2 Copper NM-B	$220–$240	$2.20–$2.40
10/3 Copper Cable	$275–$325+	$2.75–$3.25+
10 AWG Outdoor Wire	Varies	Varies
10 AWG Automotive Wire	Varies	Varies
10 AWG Solar/PV Wire	Varies	Varies

As a current market reference, Home Depot lists Southwire 100 ft 10 AWG stranded copper THHN at $94, or $0.94 per foot.

By comparison, 100 ft of Southwire 10/2 copper NM-B cable is currently listed at approximately $227, or $2.27 per foot.

These prices illustrate an important point:

You cannot determine the price of 10 gauge wire from AWG size alone.

How Much Is 10 Gauge Wire Per Foot?

For basic single-conductor copper THHN, current retail pricing is approximately:

$94 ÷ 100 ft = $0.94 per foot

That makes approximately $0.90 to $1.00 per foot a reasonable reference point for retail 10 AWG copper THHN.

However, this does not mean every 10 gauge cable costs around $1 per foot.

For example, current 10/2 NM-B pricing is around:

$227 ÷ 100 ft = $2.27 per foot.

The difference comes from the amount of copper, insulation, outer jacket, grounding conductor, production process, and cable construction.

Why Is There Such a Big Difference in 10 Gauge Wire Prices?

The price of electrical wire is determined by much more than gauge.

Two cables can both contain 10 AWG conductors but have completely different prices.

Copper Content

Copper is usually one of the biggest cost components in electrical wire.

A larger conductor contains more copper than a smaller conductor, which is one reason 10 AWG generally costs more than 12 AWG or 14 AWG of the same construction.

Copper is also a globally traded commodity.

When copper prices increase, manufacturers' raw material costs increase, and wire prices can change accordingly.

This becomes particularly important for distributors and industrial buyers purchasing thousands of feet or several kilometers of cable.

Single-Conductor vs Multi-Conductor Cable

This is one of the biggest reasons prices differ.

A 100 ft roll of 10 AWG THHN normally contains one insulated conductor.

A 10/2 cable includes multiple conductors within one cable assembly.

A 10/3 cable contains even more conductors.

That means significantly more copper and more insulation material are required.

This is why comparing:

10 AWG THHN at $0.94/ft

with:

10/2 NM-B at $2.27/ft

is not a direct like-for-like comparison.

They are different cable products intended for different applications.

Solid vs Stranded 10 Gauge Wire

Another factor is conductor construction.

Solid 10 AWG wire consists of a single solid conductor.

Stranded 10 AWG wire consists of multiple smaller copper strands combined to achieve the required conductor cross-sectional area.

Stranded wire is usually more flexible, making it suitable for applications where cable routing, vibration, or movement is a consideration.

Manufacturing requirements can also differ between stranded and solid conductors, which may affect pricing.

When comparing quotes, always confirm whether the conductor is solid or stranded.

Copper vs Aluminum 10 Gauge Wire

Conductor material can make a major difference in wire price.

Copper generally costs more than aluminum but provides higher electrical conductivity for a given conductor size.

Some lower-cost wire products may also use copper-clad aluminum, commonly known as CCA.

When comparing 10 gauge wire prices, therefore, check whether the conductor is:

Bare copper, tinned copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum.

Two cables labeled “10 AWG” can have very different prices if they use different conductor materials.

For professional electrical projects, comparing price without checking conductor material can lead to misleading conclusions.

Does Insulation Affect the Cost of 10 Gauge Wire?

Yes.

Insulation and jacket materials can significantly affect cable cost.

Different applications may use PVC, XLPE, nylon, rubber, PE, LSZH, or other specialized compounds.

A simple indoor wire does not require the same construction as a cable designed for outdoor, industrial, high-temperature, chemical-resistant, or fire-performance applications.

For example, Southwire's THHN/THWN products use copper conductors with heat- and moisture-resistant PVC insulation and a nylon jacket and are rated for 600 V applications.

More demanding environmental or electrical requirements generally mean a more complex cable construction.

10 AWG THHN Wire Cost

THHN is one of the most common types people are referring to when searching for the cost of 10 gauge wire.

Current U.S. retail listings show 100 ft of stranded copper 10 AWG THHN at around $94.

That equals approximately:

$0.94 per foot

or approximately:

$940 per 1,000 ft, if you simply multiplied the 100 ft retail price.

However, this does not mean a commercial buyer purchasing 1,000 ft or 10,000 ft would necessarily pay the same per-foot price.

Large-volume manufacturer and distributor quotations are normally structured differently from small retail-pack prices.

How Much Does 100 Feet of 10/2 Wire Cost?

If you specifically mean 10/2 copper cable, the cost is much higher than a single 10 AWG conductor.

Current 100 ft 10/2 copper NM-B retail products are around $227, equivalent to approximately $2.27 per foot.

Why?

Because 10/2 cable contains more than a single piece of 10 AWG wire.

It incorporates multiple conductors, grounding components, insulation, and an overall cable jacket.

Therefore, searches for “100 ft 10 gauge wire price” and “100 ft 10/2 wire price” should not be treated as the same product.

How Much Would 500 Feet of 10 Gauge Wire Cost?

If 10 AWG THHN costs approximately $0.94 per foot, a simple retail estimate would be:

500 × $0.94 = $470

For 1,000 feet:

1,000 × $0.94 = $940

For 2,500 feet:

2,500 × $0.94 = $2,350

However, these calculations are only useful for rough budgeting.

Wholesale and manufacturer pricing may be different because larger orders are typically quoted according to conductor material, copper market price, manufacturing quantity, packaging, certification, and delivery terms.

Retail Price vs Wholesale Wire Price

This distinction is particularly important for contractors, importers, distributors, OEMs, and industrial buyers.

Retail wire prices generally include costs associated with small packaging, domestic distribution, warehousing, retail operations, inventory management, and retail margins.

Factory pricing works differently.

For larger orders, cable manufacturers commonly calculate pricing based on the technical specification and quantity required.

This means you should not estimate the cost of a 100,000 ft commercial wire order simply by multiplying a retail 100 ft roll price by 1,000.

The actual manufacturer quotation may follow a completely different pricing structure.

What Determines Wholesale 10 Gauge Wire Price?

For wholesale orders, several specifications can materially change the price.

The most important factors are conductor material, AWG size, strand construction, insulation type, jacket material, voltage rating, operating temperature, certification, cable length, packaging, order quantity, and copper price at the time of quotation.

For example, a distributor asking for:

“10 gauge wire, 10,000 ft”

has not provided enough information for an accurate quotation.

A much better RFQ would specify:

“10 AWG stranded copper THHN/THWN-2, 600 V, black, 10,000 ft.”

That allows the manufacturer to calculate a much more accurate price.

Why Does Copper Price Matter So Much?

Copper often represents a substantial percentage of the material value of electrical cable.

For this reason, large wire and cable quotations may remain valid only for a limited period when copper prices are volatile.

A small change in copper cost may not matter much when buying a single 100 ft roll.

But for an importer purchasing several tons of electrical cable, the difference can become substantial.

Professional buyers should therefore pay attention not only to the quoted cable price but also to quotation validity and the copper price basis used by the supplier.

Is 10 Gauge Wire More Expensive Than 12 Gauge?

Under equivalent construction, yes.

10 AWG contains more conductor material than 12 AWG.

Because copper is one of the main material costs, a 10 AWG copper conductor normally costs more than an equivalent 12 AWG copper conductor.

However, gauge is only one factor.

A specialized 12 AWG cable with high-performance insulation and multiple certifications could still cost more than a basic 10 AWG building wire.

The correct comparison should always use equivalent cable types.

Is 10 Gauge Wire More Expensive Than 8 Gauge?

Normally, no.

8 AWG is larger than 10 AWG and therefore contains more conductor material.

If both wires use the same conductor material, insulation, certification, and construction, 8 AWG generally costs more.

A typical price relationship for otherwise similar copper wire is:

12 AWG → lower cost

10 AWG → medium cost

8 AWG → higher cost

The exact percentage difference depends heavily on copper prices and cable construction.

How Many Amps Can 10 Gauge Wire Handle?

This is another common question buyers ask when researching 10 AWG wire.

There is no universal ampacity number that applies to every installation.

Allowable current depends on conductor material, insulation temperature rating, installation method, ambient temperature, number of current-carrying conductors, terminal ratings, applicable electrical code, and other conditions.

This is why wire should not be selected based only on a simple AWG-to-amps chart.

Always follow the applicable electrical code and engineering requirements for the installation.

Is 100 Feet of 10 Gauge Wire Enough?

That depends on the project.

For a straightforward run, buyers sometimes assume a 100 ft distance requires exactly 100 ft of wire.

In practice, additional cable may be required for routing, terminations, vertical runs, equipment connections, service loops, and installation allowances.

If the circuit requires outgoing and return conductors, total conductor length can also be significantly greater than the physical distance between two points.

Always calculate actual conductor length rather than measuring only straight-line distance.

How to Calculate 10 Gauge Wire Cost

The basic calculation is:

Wire Cost = Price Per Foot × Required Length

For example, at $0.94 per foot:

100 ft = $94

250 ft = $235

500 ft = $470

1,000 ft = $940

But a professional procurement calculation should also account for freight, packaging, connectors or terminals where applicable, duties, taxes, testing, certification requirements, and installation waste.

For international wholesale buyers, Incoterms can also have a significant effect on the final landed cost.

Should You Buy Wire by the Foot or by the Roll?

Small DIY or repair projects may only require wire by the foot.

Professional installers generally purchase rolls, reels, or spools.

Large distributors and industrial buyers may order cable by thousands of feet or by kilometer.

The larger the project becomes, the more important packaging becomes.

Possible packaging formats include small coils, 100 ft rolls, 500 ft spools, 1,000 ft reels, wooden drums, and customized industrial packaging.

For wholesale orders, selecting the correct packaging can reduce handling costs and simplify installation.

How to Get the Best Price on 10 Gauge Wire

The lowest advertised price is not always the lowest total cost.

For professional buyers, a better approach is to compare equivalent specifications.

A $0.70/ft cable and a $0.90/ft cable may look similar online, but one may use a different conductor material, smaller actual copper content, different insulation, or lack the certification required for the project.

A proper comparison should therefore examine both price and specification.

For wholesale purchasing, larger order quantities, standardized specifications, optimized packaging, and direct manufacturer sourcing can also help reduce overall procurement costs.

What Information Should You Send a Wire Manufacturer for a Quote?

To receive an accurate quotation, specify the cable type, AWG size, conductor material, solid or stranded construction, number of conductors, insulation and jacket material, voltage rating, color, certification, total quantity, packaging requirement, destination, and application.

Providing complete specifications from the beginning can significantly reduce quotation time and prevent incorrect price comparisons.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 100 ft of 10 gauge copper wire cost?

For single-conductor stranded copper THHN, a current U.S. retail reference is approximately $94 per 100 ft, or about $0.94 per foot.

How much is 10 gauge wire per foot?

Basic copper THHN currently costs roughly $0.90–$1.00 per foot in 100 ft retail rolls, while multi-conductor cables can cost significantly more.

How much does 100 ft of 10/2 wire cost?

Current 100 ft 10/2 copper NM-B products are around $227, or approximately $2.27 per foot.

Why is 10 gauge wire so expensive?

The main reasons are copper content, insulation materials, conductor construction, cable type, certification, manufacturing cost, and distribution margins.

Is stranded 10 gauge wire more expensive than solid wire?

It can be, depending on the application and construction. Stranding requires additional manufacturing processes, but actual market price also depends on insulation, material, certification, and purchase quantity.

Does the price of 10 gauge wire change?

Yes. Copper market prices, energy costs, manufacturing costs, logistics, supply conditions, and demand can all influence electrical wire prices.

Is wholesale 10 AWG wire cheaper than retail?

On a per-foot basis, large-volume orders directly from manufacturers or distributors can be priced differently from small retail rolls. The final price depends on specifications, quantity, raw material costs, packaging, and delivery terms.

Final Answer: What Does 100 Feet of 10 Gauge Wire Cost?

So, how much does 100 feet of 10 gauge wire cost?

For standard single-conductor copper THHN, a realistic current U.S. retail reference is approximately $90–$100 per 100 ft.

For 10/2 copper building cable, expect closer to $220–$240 per 100 ft.

More complex 10 AWG cable constructions may cost $300 or more per 100 ft.

The most important takeaway is that “10 gauge” alone is not enough information to determine price.

Conductor material, number of conductors, insulation, voltage rating, certification, packaging, quantity, and copper market conditions can all significantly affect the final cost.

For contractors, electrical distributors, OEMs, and bulk cable buyers, requesting a manufacturer quotation based on a complete specification provides a much more reliable cost estimate than simply multiplying the retail price of a 100 ft roll.

FRCABLE supplies electrical wire and cable for a wide range of residential, commercial, industrial, and OEM applications. For bulk quantities, custom cable specifications, conductor sizes, insulation options, or private-label requirements, contact FRCABLE for a project-specific quotation.