Landscape wire is burial-rated, multi-conductor cable designed to carry low-voltage power from a transformer to outdoor lighting fixtures through underground or mulched runs. Choosing the right gauge is critical to system performance: undersized wire over long runs causes voltage drop that dims fixtures at the far end of the circuit unevenly and shortens LED driver life.
The most common sizes in landscape wiring are 12AWG and 14AWG two-conductor direct-burial cable. As a general rule, 12AWG handles runs up to 100 feet at standard fixture wattages without significant voltage drop; 14AWG works well on shorter runs or very low-wattage LED fixtures. For runs exceeding 100 feet, or for high-wattage fixture clusters at the end of a run, 10AWG is the right choice.
Look for wire with a sunlight-resistant and moisture-resistant jacket rated for direct burial without conduit. Copper conductors provide better conductivity than copper-clad aluminum alternatives, which is a meaningful difference on longer runs with multiple fixtures. Wire is available by the foot or in 50-foot, 100-foot, and 250-foot spools; always buy more than the measured run length to account for depth, connections, and future repositioning of fixtures.
Connect landscape wire to the transformer using options from Landscape Transformers. For general-purpose electrical wire for conduit or indoor branch circuits, see Wire and Cable. All accessories are organized in Landscape Lighting Accessories, and fixtures are in Landscape Spot Lights.
