NM-B cable, known under one of its brand names, Romex, is a non-metallic sheathed cable used for indoor residential and light commercial wiring. The cable comprises an outer sheath of PVC plastic, 2 or 3 insulated conductors (black, white, red), and one bare copper ground wire. The insulated outer sheath of the conductor has traditionally been color-coded in white, yellow, orange, or black, depending on the cable size. However, in 2024, new colors were added to the toss-up -pink, purple, and pink, to differentiate between 2-conductor and 2-conductor cable configurations.

Currently, the colors of the outer jacket of the NM-B Romex Cable are as follows, depending on the cable size:

• 14 AWG /2 → White — 15 amps

• 14 AWG /3 → Blue (new in 2024) — 15 amps

• 12 AWG /2 → Yellow — 20 amps

• 12 AWG /3 → Purple (new in 2024) — 20 amps

• 10 AWG /2 → Orange — 30 amps

• 10 AWG /3 → Pink (new in 2024) — 30 amps

• 8 AWG /2 and /3 → Black — 40 amps

• 6 AWG /2 and /3 → Black — 55 amps

Before the update, each size was the same color, regardless of the number of conductors. For example, 14/2 and 14/3 were yellow, 12/2 and 12/3 were yellow, etc.

The History Of Romex Wire Color Chart

A commonly used Romex color scheme since 2001, before the update was:

• White → 14 AWG

• Yellow → 12 AWG

• Orange → 10 AWG

• Black → 8 AWG (and 6 AWG sometimes).

NEC or any other similar legislation did not mandate this color scheme. It was first described in NEMA’s “Bulletin No. 94 – Type NM-B Cable Jacket Color Coding for Conductor Size Identification” in 2001, and has since been accepted as a part of general practice in the industry.

However, NEMA’s bulletin also clarifies that this color coding is not required by the NEC or UL 719, and that NM-B cable may be manufactured without conforming to that color coding. In other words, the jacket color is a helpful convention, not a code mandate. Using the colour code scheme, whether old or new, is voluntary. The label on the jacket that directly states the cable size is more important than the color.

The Logic Behind The New 2024 Romex Wire Colors

The introduction of blue (14/3), purple (12/3), and pink (10/3) colours to the NM-B Romex canon is a manufacturing-led initiative. In 2024, it was adopted by the manufacturers Soutwire and Cerrorwire and was quickly picked up by other companies in the industry. This is meant to reduce installation errors, like pulling the wrong cable, and make distinguishing 2‑conductor vs 3‑conductor cables from a distance easier. The latest version of the NEMA bulletin does not mention the new colours, but they have been adopted.

The old versions of the NM-B Romex cables from the NEMA bulletin are still legit to use (e.g 10/3 Orange, 12/3 Yellow). You do not have to replace the cables, and you can still buy the old color versions where they are in stock; it is just that the updated color code is more convenient.

Guide To Romex Sizes

Here is the quick guide for every Romex size and color to eliminate confusion. Three-conductor configurations that received new colors in 2024 are used in multi-way switches to control the lighting from several locations, dedicated circuits with neutral and multiple hots, multiwire branch circuits, and other applications:

White Jacket

14/2 NM‑B

• Gauge: 14 AWG

• Amps: 15A

• Use:

• General lighting

• Bedroom and living room outlets

• Basic switch loops

• Notes:

• Still used for 14/2

• May still be found on older 14/3 installs

Blue Jacket (NEW in 2024)

→ 14/3 NM‑B only

• Gauge: 14 AWG

• Amps: 15A

• Use:

• 3-way or 4-way light switch setups

• Ceiling fans with separate light/fan control

• Multiwire branch circuits needing two hots + neutral

Yellow Jacket

→ 12/2 NM‑B

• Gauge: 12 AWG

• Amps: 20A

• Use:

• General-purpose outlets

• Kitchen countertop circuits

• Bathroom GFCI circuits

• Laundry room receptacles

• Notes:

• Still used for 12/2

• Previously also for 12/3

Purple Jacket (NEW in 2024)

→ 12/3 NM‑B only

• Gauge: 12 AWG

• Amps: 20A

• Use:

• Split-wired receptacles (top/bottom controlled separately)

• MWBCs (multiwire branch circuits with shared neutral)

• 3-way switches in kitchens or large spaces

Orange Jacket

→ 10/2 NM‑B

• Gauge: 10 AWG

• Amps: 30A

• Use:

• Electric water heaters

• Clothes dryers

• A/C units

• Baseboard heaters

• Notes:

• Used for 10/2

• 10/3 now has its own color, but is still used

Pink Jacket (NEW in 2024)

→ 10/3 NM‑B only

• Gauge: 10 AWG

• Amps: 30A

• Use:

• Dual-load 240V appliances with control wiring

• Electric heater + fan/light combo units

• 240V circuits with pilot duty thermostats

Black Jacket

→ 8/2, 8/3, 6/2, 6/3 NM‑B

• Gauge: 8 or 6 AWG

• Amps:

• 8 AWG = 40A

• 6 AWG = 55A

• Use:

• Electric ranges

• Double ovens

• Large subpanels

• Tankless water heaters

• Notes:

• Both 6 and 8 AWG use black, so read the jacket print carefully

Nassau National Cable stocks every size of Romex NM-B cable in both new and old colours, so you can choose whichever you prefer.