Home wiring cable guide — India 2026
Last updated: 12 July 2026
Which cable for my home wiring?
A practical guide to choosing cable size, standard, and brand for residential wiring in India. Covers light, fan, AC, kitchen, geyser, and submersible pump circuits per current Indian standards (IS 694:2010, NBC 2016).
Standard (what specification to ask for)
For residential buildings up to G+3 floors, NBC 2016 specifies FR cable to IS 694:2010 as the minimum. For G+4 and above, NBC 2016 mandates FR-LSH (low smoke, low halogen, HCl < 15%). Hospitals, hotels above 5 storeys, and metro stations require HFFR to IS 17048:2018 (HCl < 0.5%) — a separate, stricter standard.
Cable size by circuit
| Circuit | Typical load | Cable size |
|---|---|---|
| Light point, fan | ≤ 6 A | 1.0 mm² FR |
| 5 A socket / general purpose | ≤ 10 A | 1.5 mm² FR |
| 15 A socket / kitchen point | ≤ 16 A | 2.5 mm² FR |
| AC, geyser, induction | ≤ 25 A | 4.0 mm² FR |
| Sub-main from main DB | ≤ 32 A | 6.0 mm² FR |
| Submersible pump 1 HP | — | 1.5 mm² 3-core flat |
| Submersible pump 3 HP | — | 2.5 mm² 3-core flat |
Above is a starting point. Long runs need a larger size to keep voltage drop within 3%. Use the cable size calculator to verify.
Brand
Any BIS-certified IS 694:2010 manufacturer is technically compliant. Build quality, jacket uniformity, conductor purity, and after-sales differ between makes. Compare list prices on our FR cable prices page.
Verifying a cable is genuine
- Look for the ISI mark and CM/L licence number printed on the jacket every 1m.
- Cross-check the CM/L number at bis.gov.in.
- Counterfeit detection: jacket print is fuzzy, conductor weight is suspiciously low, copper colour is dull or off-spec.
Frequently asked questions
What size cable should I use for an AC or geyser circuit?
For a 1.5 ton split AC or a 25-litre geyser drawing up to 25 A, use 4.0 sqmm FR copper cable to IS 694:2010. For long runs above 15 metres or for 2-ton inverter ACs, step up to 6.0 sqmm to keep voltage drop under 3%. Always size for the highest expected load, not the rated load.
FR vs FR-LSH vs HFFR — which one do I need at home?
For a low-rise home up to G+3 floors, FR cable to IS 694:2010 is the NBC 2016 minimum. Buildings G+4 and above require FR-LSH (low smoke, HCl < 15%). Hospitals, hotels above 5 storeys and metro stations need HFFR to IS 17048:2018 (HCl < 0.5%) — a stricter standard.
Does it matter which BIS-certified brand I pick?
Functionally, no — every IS 694:2010 BIS-licensed brand meets the same safety and ampacity spec. Differences come down to (a) per-metre price, (b) regional dealer availability, and (c) jacket print quality. Verify any brand's CM/L number at bis.gov.in before buying. Compare current list prices on /category/fr-cable-prices.
How do I tell genuine cable from a counterfeit at the dealer?
Look for the ISI mark and BIS CM/L number printed on the jacket every 1 metre. Cross-check the licence at bis.gov.in. Genuine coil ships sealed with the manufacturer's printed packing — re-spooled or partially-sold coils cannot be authenticated. Insist on a tax invoice referencing the brand's authorised-dealer code.
What size cable does a submersible pump need?
For a 1 HP submersible pump, use 1.5 sqmm 3-core flat submersible cable to IS 694:2010. A 3 HP pump needs 2.5 sqmm 3-core flat. Borewell depth and dynamic voltage drop matter — for runs over 60 metres or pumps drawing high starting current, step up by one size. Always specify Class 5 conductor.
How much spare cable should I buy for a typical 2BHK?
A typical 2BHK uses around 200 m of 1.0 mm² (lights, fans), 300 m of 1.5 mm² (5 A sockets), 200 m of 2.5 mm² (15 A sockets, kitchen), 50 m of 4.0 mm² (AC, geyser) and 50 m of 6.0 mm² (sub-main). Add 10% for dressing, terminations and offcuts.
Updated weekly by the cablepriceindia.com price-research desk. Last verified: 12 July 2026. We are an independent price-discovery service. Verify any BIS Conformity Marking Licence (CM/L) at bis.gov.in.