1/2" PVC Schedule 40 Conduit Fill
How many wires fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 conduit? Maximum counts for every wire size from #14 to 500 kcmil, with worked examples, under NEC 2026.
Updated
For reference only. Always verify with the NEC edition adopted by your AHJ.
Most wires in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40
The maximum number of conductors of one type and size that fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 conduit. #12 THHN is the one most people look for: 8.
| Wire size | THHN / THWN-2 | XHHW-2 | THW |
|---|---|---|---|
| #14 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
| #12 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| #10 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| #8 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| #6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| #4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| #3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| #2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| #1 | — | — | — |
| #1/0 | — | — | — |
| #2/0 | — | — | — |
| #3/0 | — | — | — |
| #4/0 | — | — | — |
| 250 kcmil | — | — | — |
| 300 kcmil | — | — | — |
| 350 kcmil | — | — | — |
| 400 kcmil | — | — | — |
| 500 kcmil | — | — | — |
— means a single conductor of that size does not fit.
Worked examples
Most #12 THHN wires
The largest number of #12 THHN/THWN-2 conductors that fits, and the next one up.
- PASS8 × #12 THHN / THWN-237.3% filled, limit 40%
- FAIL9 × #12 THHN / THWN-242.0% filled, limit 40%
Largest four-wire THHN feeder: #10
Three hots and a neutral of one size: the biggest set that fits here, and the same set one wire size up.
- PASS4 × #10 THHN / THWN-229.6% filled, limit 40%
- FAIL4 × #8 THHN / THWN-251.4% filled, limit 40%
Most #12 THHN wires
#12 is the biggest THHN size where this conduit still holds 6 or more, enough for a couple of multi-wire circuits. Shown at the maximum and one over.
- PASS8 × #12 THHN / THWN-237.3% filled, limit 40%
- FAIL9 × #12 THHN / THWN-242.0% filled, limit 40%
Underground feeder in PVC
XHHW-2 is a wet-location insulation, the usual choice for buried PVC: four #4 and one #8 conductor.
- FAIL4 × #4 XHHW-2 + 1 × #8 XHHW-2129.6% filled, limit 40%
How 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 fill is worked out
Table 4 gives 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 a total inside area of 0.285 square inches. Three or more wires may fill 40% of that, 0.114 square inches. One wire may use 53% (0.151) and two wires 31% (0.088).
Each wire takes up its Table 5 area, which depends on insulation and size. Divide the allowed area by the area of one wire and you get the counts above. When every wire is the same size and the result ends in .8 or more, Note 7 lets you round up to the next whole wire.
Fill examples show wire counts only; for equipment ground sizes, see NEC 2026 Table 250.122. Mixed wire sizes add up area by area rather than by count. The calculator does that for you.
1/2" PVC Schedule 40 questions
- How many #12 THHN wires fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 conduit?
- Up to 8 #12 THHN/THWN-2 conductors fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 under NEC 2026 Chapter 9 (40% fill for three or more wires).
- How many #10 THHN wires fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 conduit?
- Up to 5 #10 THHN/THWN-2 conductors fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 under NEC 2026 Chapter 9 (40% fill for three or more wires).
- How many #14 THHN wires fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 conduit?
- Up to 11 #14 THHN/THWN-2 conductors fit in 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 under NEC 2026 Chapter 9 (40% fill for three or more wires).
Keep going
You can read the NEC 2026 for free at NFPA free access. Need a different combination? Use the conduit fill calculator.