BARE COPPER WIRE

Bare copper wire is most commonly used for grounding and bonding in electrical systems, as well as overhead transmission, tracer wire, and jumper applications. Because it has no insulation, it is not used for current-carrying circuits inside walls.

The difference lies in the temper and flexibility of the metal:

• Soft Drawn (Annealed): This copper has undergone a heat-treating process to make it highly flexible and easy to bend by hand. It is the industry standard for grounding and bonding in residential and commercial electrical work.
• Hard Drawn: This copper retains its structural stiffness and high tensile strength from the drawing process. It is highly resistant to stretching, making it ideal for overhead spans where the wire must support its own weight over distances without sagging.

Your choice depends on the wire size and how much physical flexibility your installation requires:

• Solid Bare Copper: A single, solid strand of copper. It is highly rugged, provides excellent surface area for grounding clamps, and is standard for smaller gauges (like 8 AWG and 10 AWG).
• Stranded Bare Copper: Composed of multiple smaller copper strands twisted together. This design significantly increases flexibility, making it much easier to pull, bend, and route through tight enclosures or conduit—especially in larger gauges.

Tinned copper features a microscopic layer of tin alloy over the copper strands. While standard bare copper is highly corrosion-resistant in normal conditions, tinned copper is essential for environments exposed to extreme moisture, soil acidity, industrial chemicals, or saltwater. The tin coating prevents the copper from oxidizing (which turns it green and reduces conductivity), drastically extending the life of the grounding system.

Yes. Wire America is a leading supplier of bare copper wire, and we provide custom cut-to-length options by the foot for sizes 10 AWG up to 1000 MCM so you can order the exact length your project requires. (Note: Smaller gauges like 12 AWG and 14 AWG are sold in standard pre-packaged spool lengths).

We process and pack your orders rapidly, offering fast and reliable nationwide shipping with standard orders typically delivered to your job site within 2-4 business days. Expedited shipping options are available on the checkout page.