Which length should I buy for a single outlet?

The 25 ft coil is usually enough for one outlet or switch near the panel. Measure the path along studs and add a couple of feet of slack at each end before you decide.

Is the 50 ft version better wire?

No. Both are the same 14/2 NM-B solid copper cable with the SIMpull jacket, 15 A and 600 V rating. Only the coil length differs.

Can I use either one outdoors?

No. NM-B is for indoor, dry locations, typically inside walls, ceilings and floors. Use a wet-location rated cable for outdoor or buried runs.

Neither outlasts the other. The jacket and copper are identical, so service life depends on installation, moisture and physical damage, not coil length.

Is 14/2 enough for a 20 A circuit?

No. 14 AWG copper is limited to 15 A. For a 20 A circuit you need 12/2 NM-B.

Should I step up to the 50 ft coil?

Step up only if your measured run plus slack exceeds 25 ft. Otherwise the extra cable just sits in storage.

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire vs Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Both are the same Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B copper cable, UL listed, rated 600 V and 15 A, with the same jacket and insulation thickness. The only real difference is the coil length: 25 ft versus 50 ft. Buy the length that covers your run with a little slack, not the one with the higher rating. Owners rate both well (4.7 and 4.8), and the complaints are the usual ones for solid NM-B: stiff to bend in cold and hard to pull through tight bends.

Choose the 25 ft Romex SIMpull if your run is short, like a single switch, outlet or light circuit, and you want less leftover cable to store.
Choose the 50 ft Romex SIMpull if you are wiring a longer branch circuit or several boxes on one run and want to avoid splicing or a second coil.

Prices

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire: $25.00 at Home Depot (last seen Nov 2)
Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire: $40.00 at eBay (last seen Nov 8)
Difference: the Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire is $15.00 cheaper than the Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire at the latest prices (Nov 2 and Nov 8)

	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire
Coil length	25 ft	50 ft
Wire type	14/2 NM-B with ground, solid copper	14/2 NM-B with ground, solid copper
Ampacity and voltage	15 A, 600 V	15 A, 600 V
Jacket and insulation	SIMpull jacket, 25 mil jacket, 20 mil insulation	SIMpull jacket, 25 mil jacket, 20 mil insulation
Outer diameter	About 0.372 in	About 0.372 in
Weight per 1,000 ft	About 61 lbs	About 61 lbs
Leftover waste on short runs	Less waste on runs under 25 ft	More leftover on short runs
Splicing on long runs	May need a second coil past 25 ft	Covers most single-circuit runs without a splice

Spec	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire
color	White	White
Conductor Strands	Solid	Solid
Ground Size	1x14	1x14
Approx. OD	0.372 inches	0.372 x 0.176 inch
Jacket Thickness	25 mils	25 mils
Insulation Thickness	20 mils	20 mils
Copper Weight	37 lbs/1000'	37 lbs/1000'
Approx. Weight	61 lbs/1000'	61 lbs/1000'
Voltage Rating	600 V	600 volts
Conductor Size	14 AWG (grounding conductor)	14 AWG
Length	15 ft	50 ft
Wire Gauge	14 AWG	—

Spec	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire	Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire
Number of Conductors	2	—
Current Rating	15 A	—
Operating Temperature	90 deg C	—
Type	Romex wire, NM-B cable	—
Wire Configuration	W/G	—
Insulation Material	PVC	—
Construction Type	Solid	—
Conductor Material	Copper	—
Ampacity	15 amps	—
Impedance

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire vs Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Prices

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire vs Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Prices

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

What separates them

Price history

Prices at every store

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Specs compared

What reviewers say

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Southwire Romex SIMpull 14/2 NM-B Wire

Questions and answers

Ask our shopping agent

Buying guides that pick them