The common standard for the diameter (gauge) of round drawn wire is the American Wire Gauge (AWG). As strands of wire are made, they are drawn through progressively smaller dies. This is true of all wire. In fact, the AWG sizing system suggests this drawing procedure. For example, a size 22 AWG wire, smaller than 20 AWG, is drawn, theoretically, through 22 progressively smaller dies. Larger wire is drawn through fewer dies; hence, the lower number "gauge." See Table 1.