Are there different sizes of coaxial cables?

# Are there different sizes of coaxial cables?

> Meta Description: Yes—coaxial cables come in many sizes, from 0.1-inch RG-6 to 0.4-inch RG-11. Learn how diameter, impedance, and application drive B2B sourcing decisions.

> Target Keyword: coaxial cable sizes

If you've ever stood in front of a cable supplier's catalog and seen RG-6, RG-11, RG-58, and RG-213 listed side by side, you know the answer is not a simple yes or no. Coaxial cables come in a wide range of physical sizes, and that size is not cosmetic. It determines impedance, signal loss, power handling, flexibility, and ultimately which applications the cable can serve. For B2B buyers sourcing for telecom, broadcast, aerospace, or test-and-measurement projects, picking the wrong diameter can mean a link that fails at 3 GHz or a cable bundle that won't fit through a conduit.

The global coaxial cable market was valued at over $18 billion in 2025, according to industry reports, with demand driven by 5G rollout, satellite communications, and automotive radar. Within that market, the range of sizes is broader than most procurement teams realize. Let's walk through the major size families, what drives their dimensions, and how to specify the right one for your next order. 

## What determines the size of a coaxial cable

A coaxial cable is built from four concentric layers: center conductor, dielectric insulator, metallic shield, and outer jacket. The overall diameter is primarily set by the dielectric and the shield, which together establish the cable's characteristic impedance. For a given impedance—50 ohms or 75 ohms—the ratio between the center conductor diameter and the shield inner diameter must stay constant. If you want a larger center conductor to reduce resistance, the dielectric and shield must also grow. That is why 50-ohm cables come in a continuum of sizes, from thin 0.05-inch micro coax to thick 0.4-inch RG-213.

The dielectric material also matters. Solid polyethylene is common and cheap, but it makes the cable stiff. Foam polyethylene reduces weight and improves flexibility, while PTFE (Teflon) handles high temperatures and is often used in aerospace. The shield type—braid, foil, or combination—affects flexibility and shielding effectiveness but adds or removes only a small amount of thickness. The jacket, usually PVC or PE, protects against moisture and abrasion and is the outermost dimension you measure. 

## The main size families you'll encounter

The most familiar naming system is the RG (Radio Guide) series, originally a U.S. military designation. RG-6, for example, has an overall diameter around 0.27 inches (6.9mm) and is the workhorse for cable TV and satellite. RG-11 is larger, roughly 0.4 inches (10.3mm), with lower loss over long runs. RG-59 is thinner at 0.24 inches (6.1mm) and was once standard for analog video, now largely replaced by RG-6. RG-58 and RG-8 belong to the 50-ohm family, with RG-58 at 0.195 inches (5mm) and RG-8 at 0.405 inches (10.3mm). RG-213 is a ruggedized 50-ohm cable at 0.405 inches, often used in ham radio and industrial RF.

Beyond RG, there are metric and specialized families. LMR (Land Mobile Radio) cables from Times Microwave come in sizes like LMR-100, LMR-240, LMR-400, and LMR-600, where the number roughly indicates the diameter in thousandths of an inch. Micro coaxial cables, used in smartphones and endoscopes, can be as thin as 0.3mm (0.012 inches). Semi-rigid cables use a solid copper shield and come in precision diameters like 0.085 inch and 0.141 inch, often used in microwave assemblies. 

## Why size matters for performance

The most important electrical consequence of size is attenuation, or signal loss. Larger cables have lower loss because the center conductor is thicker and the dielectric is wider, which reduces resistance and dielectric loss. At 1 GHz, RG-6 might lose about 4 dB per 100 feet, while RG-11 loses closer to 2.5 dB. At 6 GHz, the gap widens further. For a long antenna run, choosing RG-11 instead of RG-6 can mean the difference between a usable signal and a dead link.

Power handling is another factor. Thicker cables can dissipate more heat, so they carry higher RF power without overheating. This matters in broadcast transmitters and industrial RF heating. Flexibility, however, goes the other way. Larger cables have a minimum bend radius that can be several inches, making them unsuitable for tight spaces or moving parts. Smaller cables bend easily but lose more signal and handle less power. There is no free lunch—only a trade-off curve that procurement and engineering must agree on. [图片：衰减与频率关系曲线示意]

## How to choose the right size for your B2B project

Start with the electrical requirements. What frequency range will the cable carry? What is the maximum acceptable attenuation over the required length? For a 100-meter run at 2.4 GHz, a thin RG-58 will likely fail, while RG-8 or LMR-400 will work. For a 30-centimeter jumper inside a device, micro coax is the only option. Next, consider the mechanical environment. Will the cable be pulled through conduit? Then overall diameter and bend radius are constraints. Will it be exposed to weather? Then jacket material and UV resistance matter more than size alone.

Impedance must match the system. Most RF equipment uses 50 ohms, while video and broadcast often use 75 ohms. Mixing them causes reflections and signal loss. Connector compatibility is also size-dependent: a BNC connector for RG-6 will not fit RG-11 without an adapter, and adapters add loss and failure points. Always specify the connector type alongside the cable size.

Finally, think about procurement logistics. Larger cables take up more space, weigh more, and cost more per meter. For multi-site rollouts, the shipping and handling cost can rival the cable cost itself. As a trading partner, we help clients balance performance against logistics by running attenuation calculations for their specific frequency and distance, then recommending the smallest cable that meets the loss budget. 

## What we check before quoting

When you send us a coaxial cable requirement, we verify four things: impedance (50 or 75 ohms), frequency range, maximum attenuation allowed, and connector type. We also ask about the installation environment—indoor, outdoor, plenum, or direct burial—because that determines jacket rating and fire code compliance. For custom lengths, we provide sample assemblies with swept-frequency test reports so your engineers can validate performance before committing to volume.

We source from factories that can hold tight tolerances on diameter and impedance. A variation of just 0.005 inches in the dielectric can shift impedance by several ohms, causing reflections that degrade return loss. That is why we require S-parameter data for high-frequency orders, not just a generic datasheet.

Whether you need a thousand feet of RG-6 for a hotel AV system or a hundred precision semi-rigid assemblies for a radar module, the size question is the first one to answer. Tell us your frequency, distance, and connector—we'll send a size recommendation and a sample kit for your lab.