Standard wire gauge

British Standard Wire Gauge is a set of wire sizes given by BS 3737:1964, and is generally abbreviated to SWG. Use of SWG sizes has fallen greatly in popularity, but is still in use. Cross sectional area in square millimetres is now a more popular size measurement.

Also known as: Imperial wire gauge, British Standard Gauge.

SWG was fixed by Order of Council August 23 1883. It was constructed by improving the Birmingham Wire Gauge. Made legal standard March 1 1884.

A table of wire gauges and diameters is shown below