12 awg is larger.
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12 AWG wire is larger in diameter than 15 AWG wire. Wire gauge sizes decrease as the number increases, so a lower gauge number represents a larger wire diameter.
I think you mean either what is the correct size or minimum wire size needed when a branch circuit is protected by a 20 A breaker. The size is 12 American Wire gauge (AWG). 14 AWG is used for 15 A circuit and 10 AWG for a 30 A breaker. The lower the gauge the larger the cross-section of the wire.
14 AWG wire has a cross-section of 2.07 square millimetres so can be used up to a limit of 15 amps.
Yes, a 20 amp breaker requires AWG # 12 copper wire. A 15 amp breaker requires AWG # 14 copper wire.
Depends on the wire size used in the circuit. If you use AWG # 14 wire you must use a 15 amp breaker. If it is wired with AWG # 12 wire then you use a 20 amp breaker. If a AWG # 10 wire is used then a 30 amp breaker is required. The breaker protects the wiring from overheating so you must use the proper size breaker for the wire used.
The minimum size home wiring is #14 AWG, the rating for that size wire is 15 amps.