Sold at Lowe's · Amazon · Menards · WalmartWire connectors: every listing mark, per product →For retailers →
4000K · Bright white

Zone · Wire connectors · Size chart

Wire nut size and colour chart

By the Zone product team

Updated

Before wiring, turn off power at the breaker; follow local code; use a licensed electrician if unsure.

Download PDF

Zone Industry Corp

Zone wire nut size and combination chart

Generated
zoneledlighting.com

Combinations as printed on each Zone box. Always follow the instructions on the package.

ColourPartTypeWire rangeUL standard
OrangeP3Standard22–14 AWGUL 486C
BlueP2Compact, low profile22–14 AWGUL 486C
RedP6Standard22–10 AWGUL 486C
—R3Waterproof, silicone-filled20–10 AWGUL 486G
YellowP11VWinged18–10 AWGUL 486C
GreenP99Grounding14–10 AWGUL 467
TanP12CWinged22–8 AWGUL 486C
RedP13Winged22–8 AWGUL 486C
—R6Waterproof, silicone-filled20–8 AWGUL 486G

P3 Solid and/or stranded

600 V max

  • 1 or 2 #14
  • 2 or 3 #16
  • 2 to 4 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 #22
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 1 or 2 #16 w/1 #20 w/1 #22
  • 2 #16 w/1 #18
  • 2 #16 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 3 #22
  • 1 #18 w/2 to 4 #20
  • 1 #18 w/3 or 4 #22
  • 1 or 2 #18 w/1 #20 w/1 #22
  • 2 #18 w/1 or 2 #20 or #22
  • 3 #18 w/1 #20 or #22

300 V max

  • 4 #16
  • 5 #18
  • 3 to 5 #20
  • 5 #22 Sol
  • 5 #22 Str
  • 3 #22 Sol w/2 #22 Str
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 #18
  • 1 #14 w/2 #16
  • 1 #14 w/3 #18
  • 1 #14 w/4 #20
  • 2 #14 w/1 #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 1 #16 w/4 #18
  • 2 #16 w/2 or 3 #18
  • 2 #16 w/3 #20
  • 3 #16 w/1 #18
  • 3 #16 w/1 or 2 #20 or #22
  • 4 #16 w/1 #20 or #22
  • 1 #18 w/1 #20
  • 1 #18 w/5 #22
  • 2 #18 w/3 #22
  • 3 #18 w/2 #20 or #22
  • 4 #18 w/1 #20 or #22
  • 1 #20 w/4 #22
  • 2 #20 w/2 or 3 #22
  • 3 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 4 #20 w/1 #22

P2 Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 #14
  • 1 to 3 #16
  • 1 to 4 #18
  • 3 to 5 #20
  • 2 #22
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16
  • 1 #14 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 #20
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 4 #20 or #22
  • 1 #16 w/1 #22 w/1 #18 or #20
  • 2 #16 w/1 #18
  • 2 #16 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 2 #16 w/1 #20 w/1 #22
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 3 #22
  • 1 #18 w/1 to 4 #20 or #22
  • 1 or 2 #18 w/1 #20 w/1 #22
  • 2 #18 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 3 #18 w/1 or 2 #20 or #22
  • 4 #18 w/1 #22
  • 3 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 4 #20 w/1 #22

P6 Solid and/or stranded

600 V max

  • 2 #10 Sol
  • 2 to 4 #12
  • 2 to 6 #14
  • 3 to 9 #18
  • 1 #10 Sol w/1 #10 Str
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #12 or #14
  • 2 #10 w/1 to 3 #16 or #18
  • 2 #10 Sol w/2 #12 Sol
  • 2 #10 Sol w/2 #12 Str
  • 2 #10 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 5 #14
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 4 #16 or #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #20
  • 2 #12 w/1 to 4 #14
  • 2 #12 w/1 to 3 #16 or #18
  • 3 #12 w/1 or 2 #16 or #18
  • 3 #12 w/2 or 3 #14
  • 4 #12 w/1 #14, #16 or #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 to 4 #16 or #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 to 3 #16 or #18
  • 4 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 4 #14 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 5 #14 w/1 #16 or #18

300 V max

  • 1 #10
  • 2 #10 Str
  • 4 to 6 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/3 or 4 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/4 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #22
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #20 w/1 to 4 #22
  • 1 #12 w/2 #14 w/3 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #22
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/2 or 3 #16
  • 2 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16 w/4 #18
  • 2 #12 w/6 #16
  • 3 #12 w/1 #14
  • 3 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 #20
  • 3 #12 w/3 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 #18 w/4 #22
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #22
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #16 w/4 #18
  • 2 #16 w/3 or 4 #18
  • 3 #16 w/1 or 2 #20 w/1 to 3 #22
  • 4 #16 w/1 #18 or #20
  • 4, 5 or 6 #16 w/1 #22
  • 4 or 5 #16 w/2 #22

R3 Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 to 3 #12
  • 2 to 3 #14
  • 2 to 4 #16
  • 2 to 4 #18
  • 2 #20
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #12 w/2 or 3 #16
  • 1 #12 w/3 or 4 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 2 #12 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 2 #14 w/1 #18 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 3 #14 w/1 #18 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 1 #18 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 1 #18 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 2 #18 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 2 #18 w/1 to 3 #16

P11V Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 #10
  • 1 to 3 #12
  • 2 or 3 #14
  • 2 to 4 #16
  • 2 to 4 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 1 #12 Sol w/5 #18 Sol
  • 2 #12 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 4 #16
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 5 #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 2 #14 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16
  • 3 #14 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 5 #18
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 3 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 4 #16 w/1 or 2 #18

P99 Solid copper · Grounding wires only

  • 2 to 5 #12
  • 2 to 4 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #12
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 2 #12 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 3 #12 w/1 #14

P12C Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 to 3 #10
  • 1 to 4 #12
  • 1 to 5 #14
  • 2 to 6 #20, #18 or #16
  • 3 to 6 #22
  • 1 #10 w/1 #8
  • 1 #12 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 1 #12 w/1 #8
  • 2 #12 w/1 #10
  • 1 #14 w/1 or 2 #12 w/1 #10
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 3 #12
  • 1 #14 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 2 #14 w/1 #12 w/1 #10
  • 2 #14 w/1 or 2 #12
  • 2 #14 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 2 #14 w/1 #8
  • 3 #14 w/1 #12 or #10
  • 3 #14 w/2 #12
  • 4 #14 w/1 #12 or #10
  • 1 #16 w/1 or 2 #14 w/1 #12
  • 1 #16 w/1 or 2 #14 w/1 #10
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 4 #14 or #12
  • 1 #16 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 1 #16 w/1 #12 w/1 #10
  • 2 #16 w/1 #14 w/1 or 2 #12
  • 2 #16 w/2 #14 w/1 #12
  • 2 #16 w/1 #12 w/1 #10
  • 3 #16 w/1 #14 w/1 #12 or #10
  • 4 #16 w/1 #12 w/1 #10
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 4 #14
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 3 #12
  • 2 #16 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 3 #16 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 3 #16 w/1 or 2 #12 or #10
  • 4 #16 w/1 or 2 #14 or #12
  • 4 #16 w/1 #10
  • 5 #16 w/1 #14
  • 5 #16 w/1 #10
  • 1 #18 w/1 to 4 #16, #14 or #12
  • 1 #18 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 2 #18 w/1 to 4 #16 or #14
  • 2 #18 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 3 #18 w/1 to 3 #16, #14 or #12
  • 3 #18 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 4 #18 w/1 or 2 #16, #14 or #12
  • 4 #18 w/1 #10
  • 5 #18 w/1 #16 or #14
  • 1 #20 w/1 to 4 #18, #16 or #14
  • 2 #20 w/1 to 3 #18, #16 or #14
  • 3 #20 w/1 or 2 #18, #16 or #14
  • 4 #20 w/1 or 2 #18, #16 or #14
  • 1 #22 w/1 to 5 #20, #18 or #16
  • 2 #22 w/1 to 4 #20, #18 or #16
  • 3 #22 w/1 to 3 #20, #18 or #16
  • 4 #22 w/1 or 2 #20, #18 or #16
  • 1 #22 w/1 #20 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 1 #22 w/1 #18 w/1 #16

P13 Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 #6
  • 1 or 2 #8
  • 1 to 4 #10
  • 1 to 5 #12
  • 1 to 6 #14 or #16
  • 2 to 6 #18
  • 3 to 6 #20
  • 4 to 6 #22
  • 1 #6 w/1 #10
  • 1 #6 w/1 #10 w/1 #14
  • 1 #6 w/1 or 2 #12
  • 1 #6 w/1 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #6 w/2 #12 w/1 #18
  • 1 #6 w/2 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 1 #8 w/1 or 2 #10
  • 1 #8 w/1 #10 w/1 or 2 #12 or #14
  • 1 #8 w/2 #10 w/1 #14
  • 1 #8 w/1 to 3 #12
  • 1 #8 w/2 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #8 w/1 to 4 #14
  • 1 #8 w/1 to 5 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 4 #12
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 to 4 #14, #16 or #18
  • 1 #10 w/2 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #10 w/2 #12 w/1 to 3 #16 or #18
  • 1 #10 w/3 #12 w/1 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 5 #14, #16 or #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #16 or #18
  • 1 #10 w/2 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 2 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 2 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 2 #10 w/1 to 3 #12 or #14
  • 2 #10 w/2 #12 w/1 #14
  • 2 #10 w/2 #12 w/1 or 2 #16 or #18
  • 2 #10 w/1 to 4 #16 or #18
  • 2 #10 w/2 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 2 #10 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 3 #10 w/1 #12
  • 3 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 #16 or #18
  • 3 #10 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 3 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 #16
  • 3 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 3 #10 w/1 to 3 #16 or #18
  • 3 #10 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 to 5 #14, #16 or #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 or 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 or 2 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 to 4 #14, #16 or #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 or #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 3 #12 w/1 to 3 #14, #16 or #18
  • 3 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 or 2 #16 or #18
  • 3 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 #16
  • 3 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 4 #12 w/1 #14
  • 4 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 #16 or #18
  • 4 #12 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 4 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 5 #16 or #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 to 5 #20 or #22
  • 2 #14 w/1 to 4 #16, #18, #20 or #22
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 to 3 #16, #18, #20 or #22
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 4 #14 w/1 or 2 #16, #18, #20 or #22
  • 4 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 #18
  • 5 #14 w/1 #16 or #18
  • 1 #16 w/1 to 5 #18, #20 or #22
  • 1 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 1 or 2 #16 w/1 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 1 #16 w/2 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 2 #16 w/1 to 4 #18, #20 or #22
  • 2 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 2 #16 w/2 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 3 #16 w/1 to 3 #18, #20 or #22
  • 3 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 or 2 #20 or #22
  • 3 #16 w/1 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 4 #16 w/1 or 2 #18, #20 or #22
  • 4 #16 w/1 #18 w/1 #20 or #22
  • 4 #16 w/1 #20 w/1 #22
  • 5 #16 w/1 #18, #20 or #22
  • 1 #18 w/1 to 5 #20 or #22
  • 1 to 3 #18 w/1 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 1 to 3 #18 w/2 #20 w/1 #22
  • 2 #18 w/1 to 4 #20 or #22
  • 3 #18 w/1 to 3 #20 or #22
  • 4 #18 w/1 or 2 #20 or #22
  • 5 #18 w/1 #20 or #22
  • 1 #20 w/2 to 5 #22
  • 2 #20 w/1 to 4 #22
  • 3 #20 w/1 to 3 #22
  • 4 #20 w/1 or 2 #22
  • 5 #20 w/1 #22

R6 Solid and/or stranded

  • 1 or 2 #8
  • 2 to 4 #10
  • 2 to 4 #12
  • 2 to 5 #14
  • 3 to 5 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #12
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/1 to 4 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 #12 w/2 to 4 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 to 3 #14
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/2 to 4 #18
  • 1 #10 w/1 #14 w/2 to 4 #20
  • 1 #10 w/3 #16
  • 1 #10 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 2 #10 w/1 #12
  • 2 #10 w/1 or 2 #14
  • 1 #12 w/2 to 4 #16
  • 1 #12 w/3 or 4 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 4 #20
  • 1 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 4 #18
  • 1 #12 w/1 #16 w/2 to 4 #20
  • 2 #12 w/2 #14
  • 2 #12 w/3 #16
  • 2 #14 w/2 or 3 #16
  • 2 #14 w/2 to 4 #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 #12
  • 3 #14 w/1 or 2 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #14 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 2 #12 w/2 #14 w/1 #16
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 2 #12 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 1 #14 w/1 #16 w/2 to 4 #20
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #18
  • 2 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 2 #14 w/1 #18 w/1 to 3 #20
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #18
  • 3 #14 w/1 #16 w/1 or 2 #20
  • 3 #14 w/1 #18 w/1 or 2 #20
Zone Industry Corp · zoneledlighting.com · Generated 2026-10-29
70-second video: wire nut colours and wire sizes.

Wire nut sizes by colour

ColourZone SKUTypeWire rangeListingPacks
OrangeP3Standard22–14 AWGUL 486C500
BlueP2Compact, low profile22–14 AWGUL 486C1000
RedP6Standard22–10 AWGUL 486C500
—R3Waterproof, silicone-filled20–10 AWGUL 486G100, 25, 50
YellowP11VWinged18–10 AWGUL 486C500, 1000, 100
GreenP99GroundingPigtail hole14–10 AWGUL 467100
TanP12CWinged22–8 AWGUL 486C500
RedP13Winged22–8 AWGUL 486C500, 1000
—R6Waterproof, silicone-filled20–8 AWGUL 486G100, 20, 50

Each pack size links to its Amazon listing. Wire range and listing as Zone publishes them there.

Which caps cover which wire size

The same ranges, read the other way: a dot means the wire size is inside that cap’s published range.

Cap22 AWG20 AWG18 AWG16 AWG14 AWG12 AWG10 AWG8 AWG
P322–14 AWG●●●●●
P222–14 AWG●●●●●
P622–10 AWG●●●●●●●
R320–10 AWG●●●●●●
P11V18–10 AWG●●●●●
P9914–10 AWG●●●
P12C22–8 AWG●●●●●●●●
P1322–8 AWG●●●●●●●●
R620–8 AWG●●●●●●●

Common wire mixes

Open an exact answer based on the printed box charts:

How to choose a wire nut size

  1. Find the sizes of the wires you are joining, in AWG. The size is printed on the wire jacket.
  2. Pick a cap whose range covers them, then check the package chart. The chart lists which mixes of wire sizes, and how many wires, that cap takes. A range that covers each wire doesn’t mean it takes all of them at once.
  3. Read the range on the pack, not the colour alone. Colour marks the size range on Zone caps, but colours are not the same from one brand to another.
  4. Wet, damp or buried? Use a cap rated for that location, like the waterproof direct-bury wire nuts. Grounding? The green cap with a hole is listed to UL 467.

How to read a wire-range chart

Wire sizes are in AWG (American Wire Gauge), and the numbers run backwards: the lower the number, the thicker the wire. So in a range like 22–8 AWG, 22 is the thinnest wire the cap takes and 8 the thickest. The size is the metal wire itself, not the insulation or the whole cable. You’ll find it printed on the wire’s insulation or the cable jacket.

Use the range to narrow your choice. It tells you each wire size is in bounds, but not that every bundle of those sizes will work. How many wires, solid or stranded, and the mix of sizes all matter. The combination chart on the package puts that together for each cap; the range on its own doesn’t.

Why colour is a starting cue

Colour makes caps quick to tell apart on the job, but it isn’t a universal size code. Colours mean different things from one brand to another, and even Zone’s two red caps have different ranges: the P13 goes to 8 AWG and the P6 to 10 AWG. Go by the part number and range on the pack, especially when you’re choosing between a standard cap and a winged or low-profile one.

If you buy an assortment, check which caps are in it and the range of each. The pack count tells you how many caps you get, not how many wires one cap takes. For more on the numbering system, see what AWG means.

Recommended Zone connectors

More buyer details

Are blue wire nuts for the largest wires?

Not at Zone. The Zone blue P2 is a compact, low-profile cap for 22 to 14 AWG, the smaller end. Other brands use blue differently, so always read the range on the pack instead of going by colour.

Can I choose between ordinary and waterproof caps by size alone?

No. Size tells you which wires fit; it doesn’t tell you where the cap can go. For wet or buried splices, you need a cap rated for that, like Zone’s silicone-filled R3 or R6. For ground wires, use the green grounding cap.

Common questions

How many 12 AWG wires fit in a red wire nut?

Check the chart on the package for the exact red cap you have. Red doesn’t mean one fixed capacity, and Zone’s two red caps (P13 and P6) take different ranges. The P13 and P6 combination charts are not published here, so no count is inferred from the range.

How many 12 AWG wires fit in a yellow or tan wire nut?

The P11V yellow cap now has a published box chart; its same-gauge #12 line reads “1 to 3 #12”. Read that line with the chart’s conductor and application conditions. The P12C tan chart is not published here, and the yellow count does not transfer to it.

Can I put three wires in a wire nut?

Only when that exact combination, conductor construction and application are allowed for the SKU. Use the published box chart where available and the product instructions. A loose connection is not a reason to guess a larger cap; have the selection and installation checked by a licensed electrician if unsure.

Is a larger wire nut always a better choice?

No. A cap that’s too big won’t grip small wires tightly, and the joint can work loose. Each cap has a minimum as well as a maximum. Pick the one whose chart covers your exact wires.