Convert Square Inch (in²) to Circular Mil (circ mil) instantly.
About these units
Square Inch (in²)
A square inch represents the area of a one-inch by one-inch square. It is indispensable in engineering, manufacturing, machine design, and consumer product specifications. Mechanical components, gasket areas, electronic device screens, and pipe cross-sections are often measured in square inches. Because imperial units are deeply rooted in American manufacturing, the square inch enables precise communication among engineers and technicians. The unit remains important in pressure measurement as well—psi (pounds per square inch) combines force and area into one of the most widely recognized engineering units worldwide.
Circular Mil (circ mil)
A circular mil is defined as the area of a circle with a diameter of exactly one mil. Because wires and cables have circular cross-sections, the circular mil has become a standard unit in electrical engineering for specifying conductor sizes. One circular mil simplifies calculations because area scales directly with the square of wire diameter without needing π in computations. For example, doubling a wire's diameter increases its circular-mil area fourfold. This makes circular mils extremely convenient for determining ampacity, resistance, and voltage drop in electrical conductors. Even though SI units are common elsewhere, the circular mil remains entrenched in North American electrical codes.