AWG is the standardized system for measuring electrical wire diameter in North America. The system uses inverse numbering: lower AWG numbers indicate thicker wires, higher numbers indicate thinner wires. A 14 AWG wire is thicker than a 22 AWG wire.
In grounding sheet contexts, AWG comes up primarily in two places: the grounding cord wire gauge and the ground rod connection wire gauge.
Grounding cord wires are typically 22-26 AWG, which is appropriately sized for the very low currents involved in grounding (essentially nothing under normal conditions, with the inline resistor preventing meaningful current even in fault scenarios). Thicker wire than this would be unnecessary; thinner wire would be more vulnerable to mechanical breakage.
Ground rod connection wires (running from a ground rod to a building's grounding system or directly to a grounding product) typically use 6-10 AWG copper wire to handle potential fault currents from the building's electrical system. For dedicated grounding rods used specifically for grounding sheets (where there's no building electrical system involved), 10-14 AWG is sufficient.
The wire material matters as much as gauge. Copper is the standard for grounding applications because of its high conductivity, durability, and corrosion resistance. Aluminum is used in some commercial applications but isn't appropriate for grounding sheet cords. Steel or other materials shouldn't be used for direct grounding wire applications.
Insulation rating is another consideration. Outdoor ground rod connection wires should be UF-rated (underground feeder) or similar weather-resistant insulation. Indoor grounding cords use standard PVC insulation rated for typical room conditions.
For most grounding sheet users, the AWG question is effectively settled by buying a complete cord from a reputable brand rather than building one yourself. The cord that ships with the sheet uses appropriate wire gauge for the application.
Related terms: ground rod, conductive thread, inline resistor.
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