How many #3 THHN fit in 3" EMT?
363 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 3" Electrical metallic tubing
8.846 sq in × 40 % = 3.5384 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0973 sq in per wire = 36.37, so 36.
This pull in numbers
- 36 wires fill
- 39.6 % of 3" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 37 or more
- 3-1/2" EMT, up to 47
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 9.53 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 31 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 36 fit
Before you pull 36
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 36 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 36 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 40 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #3 THHN at 115 A in the 90 °C column becomes 46 A. Grounds don't count as current-carrying. How derating works
- Bends. A full pipe pulls hard. Keep to 360° of bends between pull points, less for a tight fill.
#3 THHN in other 3" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #3 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 8.846 | 36 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 7.922 | 32 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 7.499 | 31 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 7.268 | 30 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 6.442 | 26 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 7.069 | 29 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 7.475 | 30 |
#3 THHN in other EMT sizes
Other wire sizes in 3" EMT
#10: 167#8: 96#6: 69#4: 43#3: 36#2: 30#1: 22#1/0: 19#2/0: 16#3/0: 13#4/0: 11250 kcmil: 9300 kcmil: 7350 kcmil: 6500 kcmil: 5