4 Things to Know About Extension Cord Gauge and Color

Don’t trust cord color to tell you the gauge Color conventions like orange for 12-gauge or yellow for 14-gauge are not standardized. Many manufacturers use colors for other purposes, like outdoor rating.

Color often indicates environment, not wire size Orange cords are frequently used for outdoor-rated models regardless of gauge. Blue cords often mean indoor-only use, not a specific wire thickness.

Read the fine print on the jacket Look for a code like “12/3 SJTW.” The number before the slash is the gauge. That is the only reliable way to know the wire size and duty rating.

Never guess the gauge Using a cord with too thin a gauge for your tool can cause overheating or voltage drop. Always check the label, not the jacket color.