How many #8 THHN fit in 2-1/2" EMT?
648 AWG THHN/THWN-2 wires in 2-1/2" Electrical metallic tubing
5.858 sq in × 40 % = 2.3432 sq in allowed. ÷ 0.0366 sq in per wire = 64.02, so 64.
This pull in numbers
- 64 wires fill
- 40.0 % of 2-1/2" EMT
- Limit for three or more
- 40 %
- For 65 or more
- 3" EMT, up to 96
- Pipe to wire diameter
- 12.64 to 1
- In THW insulation
- 53 fit
- In XHHW-2 insulation
- 53 fit
Before you pull 64
- The ground counts. Every wire in the pipe counts toward fill, the green or bare ground and the neutrals too. 64 is the total, not the hots.
- Derating. If all 64 were current-carrying, each would be adjusted to 35 % of its ampacity (Table 310.15(C)(1)): a #8 THHN at 55 A in the 90 °C column becomes 19.3 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.
#8 THHN in other 2-1/2" conduit
| Conduit | Inside area | Most #8 THHN |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical metallic tubing | 5.858 | 64 |
| Intermediate metal conduit | 5.135 | 56 |
| Rigid metal conduit (RMC, GRC) | 4.866 | 53 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 40 | 4.695 | 51 |
| Rigid PVC conduit, Schedule 80 | 4.119 | 45 |
| Flexible metal conduit (FMC, Greenfield) | 4.909 | 53 |
| Liquidtight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) | 4.881 | 53 |
#8 THHN in other EMT sizes
Other wire sizes in 2-1/2" EMT
#12: 176#10: 111#8: 64#6: 46#4: 28#3: 24#2: 20#1: 15#1/0: 12#2/0: 10#3/0: 8#4/0: 7250 kcmil: 6300 kcmil: 5350 kcmil: 4500 kcmil: 3