Box Fill Calculations

Box fill isn't just the number of wires in the box — it's
the total volume of the conductors, devices, and fittings in a box.

Mike Holt | Nov 01, 2008

Box fill isn't just the number of wires in the box — it's the total volume of
the conductors, devices, and fittings in a box.

Every outlet box has a specific amount of space for conductors, devices, and
fittings. We call that the box volume. You calculate box volume per
314.16(A) and box fill per 314.16(B), but make sure your 314.16(A) box
volume is greater than or equal to your 314.16(B) box fill.

Box volume

Table 314.16(A) seems to make it simple to determine the volume of a box,

but don't get too excited. You can use Table 314.16(A) only if the box
contains no switches, receptacles, luminaire studs, luminaire hickeys,
internal cable clamps, or equipment-grounding conductors. This is rarely
the case.
 Fig.
1. To calculate conductor volume, use the guidelines above for certain box fill calculations.

If Table 314.16(A) is inapplicable for your installation, which it typically will

be, how do you calculate box volume? It's a matter of adding up individual
volumes of assembled parts [314.16(A)].

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Start with the box itself. If the box is not a standard size, the volume will be
marked on the box by the manufacturer [314.16(A)(2)]. Then, add to it the
sum of the individual volumes of the assembled parts, such as plaster rings,
extension rings, etc. Include only those parts that are marked with their
volumes in cubic inches [314.16(A)] or included in NEC Table 314.16(A).

Conductor volume
Calculating conductor volume is a matter of adding up individual conductor
fill volumes and conductor equivalent volume fills — and there are five such
volumes. After you calculate all five volumes using 314.16(B)(1) through (5),
add them up using the equivalent volumes found on Table 314.16(B). The
number you get is the total conductor volume. In no case can this exceed
the box volume [314.16(A)].

Fig.
2. Each multi-gang device yoke counts as two conductor volumes for each gang, based on the
largest conductor that terminates on the device.

In this process, you don't need to count raceway and cable fittings
(including locknuts and bushings), wire connectors, or cable connectors
with their clamping mechanism outside of the box. Nor do you need to
count conductors that originate and terminate within the outlet box (such
as equipment-bonding jumpers and pigtails) [314.16(A)].
 Using 314.16(B), calculate each of the five following conductor equivalent
volumes:

1. Conductor volume

Each unbroken conductor that runs through a box, as well as each

conductor that terminates in a box, is counted as a single conductor
volume. Each loop or coil of unbroken conductor having a length of at least
twice the minimum length required for free conductors in 300.14 must be
counted as two conductor volumes. Conductors that originate and
terminate within the box (e.g., pigtails) aren't counted at all (Fig. 1).

You can omit equipment-grounding conductors and up to four 16 AWG and

smaller fixture wires from box fill calculations, if they enter the box from a
domed luminaire or similar canopy (e.g., a ceiling paddle fan canopy)
[314.16(B)(1) Ex].

2. Cable clamp volume

One or more internal cable clamps count as a single conductor volume,

based on the largest conductor that enters the box. Cable connectors that
have their clamping mechanism outside the box aren't counted.

3. Support fitting volume

Each luminaire stud or luminaire hickey counts as a single conductor

volume, based on the largest conductor that enters the box.

4. Device yoke volume

Each single gang device yoke (regardless of the ampere rating of the device)
counts as two conductor volumes, based on the largest conductor that
terminates on the device.
 A multi-gang device yoke that's too wide for mounting in a single gang box,
as described in Table 314.16(A), is counted as two conductor volumes for
each gang, based on the largest conductor that terminates on the device
(Fig. 2).

5. Equipment-grounding conductor volume

All equipment-grounding conductors in a box count as a single conductor

volume, based on the largest equipment-grounding conductor that enters
the box. Insulated equipment-grounding conductors for receptacles having
insulated grounding terminals (isolated ground receptacles) [250.146(D)]
count as an additional single conductor volume.

Total conductors

What is the total number of conductors used for the box fill calculations in
Fig. 3 on page 48?

Switch and conductors: five — 14 AWG*

Receptacles and conductors: four — 14 AWG**

Equipment-grounding conductor: one — 14 AWG

Cable clamps: one — 14 AWG

Total = 11 — 14 AWG

* two conductors for the device and three conductors terminating

** two conductors for the device and two conductors terminating

 Fig.
3. The box has the equivalent of eleven 14 AWG conductors.

Each 14 AWG counts as two cubic inches [Table 314.16(B)]. Therefore, 11

conductors × two cubic inches = 22 cubic inches.

If the cubic inch volume of the mud ring is not stamped on it or given in the
problem, we cannot include it in the box volume. Without knowing the mud
ring volume, a 4-inch-square by 2⅛-inch-deep box would be the minimum
required for this example.

Box sizing
To determine the size of the outlet box when the conductors are of different
sizes, follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine the number and size of conductor equivalents in the box.

Step 2: Determine the volume of the conductor equivalents from

314.16(B)(1) through (5).

Fig.
4. The box has the equivalent of five 14 AWG conductors and six 12 AWG conductors.

Step 3: Size the box by using Table 314.16(A).

Let's work an example. What is the minimum size square outlet box
required for one 14/3 Type NM cable that terminates on a 3-way switch,
and one 12/2 Type NM cable that terminates on a receptacle? The box has
internally installed cable clamps (Fig. 4).

Step 1: Determine the number of each size conductor.

14 AWG

14/3 NM = three — 14 AWG

Switch = two — 14 AWG

Total = five — 14 AWG

12 AWG

12/2 NM = two — 12 AWG

Cable clamp = one — 12 AWG

Receptacle = two — 12 AWG

Equipment-grounding conductor = one — 12 AWG

Total = six — 12 AWG

All equipment-grounding conductors count as one conductor, based on the

largest equipment-grounding conductor entering the box [314.16(B)(5)].
Step 2: Determine the volume of the conductors [Table 314.16(B)].

14 AWG = two cubic inches each

2 cubic inches × five conductors = 10 cubic inches

12 AWG = 2.25 cubic inches each

2.25 cubic inches × six conductors = 13.50 cubic inches

Total volume = 10 cubic inches + 13.50 cubic inches

Total volume = 23.50 cubic inches

Step 3: Select the outlet box from Table 314.16(A).

4 × 2⅛ square, 30.30 cubic inches meets the minimum cubic inch

requirements.

Getting it right

Sometimes, you already have a box in place and need to make sure you
don't overfill it. This could easily be the case during remodeling/retrofit
work, or following a change order on new construction. Other times, you
know how many conductors will go in a given run, and you need to make
sure you install a big enough box. Either way, you calculate box volume and
conductor volume. However, you can summarize the whole process this
way:
 If conductors are the same size, add them together and size the box using
the AWG size columns of Table 314.16(A). Your conductor equivalents will
all be the same size as the conductors.

 If the box contains different sizes of conductors, use Table 314.16(B) to find
the area of each conductor, add them up, and size the box from Table
314.16(A) using the cubic inch column.

But remember:

1. Calculating box volume is a matter of adding up individual volumes of

assembled parts [314.16(A)].

2. Calculating conductor volume is a matter of adding up individual conductor

equivalent volumes [314.16(B)(1) through (5)].

If box fill exceeds box volume, then you need to reduce the number of
conductors or use a larger box.

Keep in mind that these are minimum requirements [90.1]. There's no

penalty for using a box that's too big, other than the additional cost of that
box versus a smaller one. It's typically more cost-effective on a project to
use a smaller quantity of box sizes and have a few that are oversized than to
calculate the exact minimum needed at every point and try to match them
all up in the field.