Why you should trust this review
I have wired four full home rough-ins and dozens of remodel circuits in the past five years. For this review I purchased a Southwire 250-ft spool of 12/2 at retail and used it on a basement subpanel run plus a kitchen circuit refresh in my own home. No sample was provided.
Romex is the most boring product on this site, and the differences between brands are real. The wrong cable will fight you on every pull.
How we tested the Southwire spool
- Pulled 184 ft total across 11 home runs through 1/2 inch and 9/16 inch bored studs.
- Measured conductor diameter with a digital caliper on three random samples.
- Stripped 60 cable ends with a Klein zip tool and inspected each for jacket damage.
- Read jacket print across an 8 ft span under shop fluorescents.
- Confirmed UL listing and NEC markings on the spool flange. See methodology.
Who should buy this spool?
Buy a 250-ft spool if you are roughing in a kitchen, finishing a basement, or running a generator inlet circuit. Buy a 50-ft stick if you have a single device to add. Skip generic imported cable, which often shows undersized conductors and inconsistent jacket print.
Conductor quality: 0.0808 inch measured
Spec for 12 AWG solid copper is 0.0808 inch nominal. Three random samples measured 0.0808, 0.0809, and 0.0807. That is exactly on spec. The conductors are bright copper, not tinned, with no surface oxidation.
Jacket strip: 95 percent clean
Out of 60 strips with a Klein zip tool, 57 came clean without scoring the conductor insulation. The three that scored were on a 90-degree fold near a box, where the operator (me) was the problem.
Pull behavior: flat after warm-overnight rest
The spool sat in a 35F garage on the first day. Pulls were stiff and the cable wanted to corkscrew. After an overnight rest at 65F, the same pulls went smooth through 1/2 inch holes. NM-B is temperature-sensitive. Plan accordingly.
Print legibility
Yellow jacket with bold black print every 24 inches. NEC markings, conductor count, AWG, voltage, and UL listing are all present and readable. This matters for inspection.
Value vs the alternatives
At $200 the Southwire 250-ft spool is mid-pack. Cerrowire is sometimes $10 cheaper. Generic imported cable can be $50 less and is not worth the risk.
Southwire 12/2 Romex 250-ft NM-B Cable vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Length | Origin | Price | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwire 12/2 250 ft | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 250 ft | USA | Clear | $200 | Top Pick |
| Cerrowire 12/2 250 ft | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | 250 ft | USA | Clear | $189 | Recommended |
| Encore Wire 12/2 250 ft | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | 250 ft | USA | Clear | $195 | Recommended |
| Generic No-Brand 12/2 | ★★★☆☆ 2.6 | 250 ft (claimed) | Imported | Inconsistent | $149 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Conductor | 12 AWG solid copper, 2 + ground |
| Jacket | Yellow PVC, NM-B |
| Length | 250 ft |
| Voltage rating | 600 V |
| Temp rating | 90C dry |
| Ampacity | 20 A on 12 AWG copper |
| Listings | UL 719, NEC compliant |
| Use | Residential branch circuits |
| Origin | USA |
| Insulation | THHN/THWN equivalent on individual conductors |
Should you buy the Southwire 12/2 Romex 250-ft NM-B Cable?
Southwire is the Romex I buy by default. The 250-ft spool unrolls without memory kinks if you let it sit warm overnight, the jacket strips clean with a Klein zip tool, and the conductors meet AWG spec on a caliper check. The yellow jacket print is readable at a glance from across a room. The price tracks copper market and is not where you cut corners on residential rough-in. The only mild complaint is the spool's center hole, which does not fit every wire dispenser.
Frequently asked questions
Is Southwire 12/2 worth $200 in 2026?+
Yes if you are doing a full home or kitchen rough-in. The savings on a 250-ft spool over 50-ft sticks is real. Skip the spool if you only have one circuit to add.
Southwire vs Cerrowire 12/2: which is better?+
Both are USA-made and meet NEC. Southwire prints brighter. Cerrowire's spool is sometimes easier to dispense. Tossup.
Can I use 12/2 on a 15A circuit?+
Yes. NEC permits 12 AWG on a 15A breaker. The reverse (14 AWG on a 20A breaker) is not allowed.
Should I upgrade from 14/2 to 12/2 on a kitchen circuit?+
Kitchen small-appliance circuits must be 20A per NEC, which requires 12/2. Bedroom lighting can stay on 15A and 14/2.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Added pull-through-stud data after a full basement rough-in.
- Oct 29, 2025Initial review published.
