Waveguide Types:- Dimensions & Sizes

There are two main standards for waveguides: WG and WR series – each has its own set of dimensions, parameters etc. .

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Waveguides come in a variety of sizes so that they can meet the variety of different requirements for use in many different frequency bands.

In order to bring order to the market, different waveguide standards have been introduced. The most common series are the WG and WG waveguide standards.

Waveguide sizes and waveguide dimensions determine the properties of the waveguide, including parameters such as the waveguide cut off frequency and many other properties.

Waveguide sizes and waveguide dimensions have been standardised to enable waveguides from different manufacturers to be used together. In this way the industry is able to benefit from the ability to use waveguide with known properties, etc.

Waveguide types: standards

There are a number of different standards for differnet types of waveguide. These tend to be country specific. Some of the major standards include:

WR waveguide system: EIA designation (Standard US) using a WR designator to indicate the size. The designator for a size consists of the letters WR followed by numerals indicating the lowest frequency for which they were designed for use. The letters WR stand for Waveguide Rectangular.
WG waveguide system: RCSC Designation (Standard UK). The waveguides types are given designators which comprise the letters WG followed by one or two numerals, e.g. WG10.

Both systems are in widespread use and enable the waveguide sizes to be matched and known.

WR waveguide sizes & designations

The WR waveguide designation system is used within the USA and is also widely used in many other areas around the globe. It is popualr because many WR series waveguide parts are made within the USA and these are widely exported. Like the WG waveguide sizes, the WR waveguide designations start with the letters WR.

WR waveguide dimensions, sizes and waveguide cut-off frequencies for rigid rectangular RF waveguides
WR Designation	WG Equivalent	Standard Freq Range GHz	Inside dimensions (inches)
WR340	WG9A	2.20 - 3.30	3.400 x 1.700
WR284	WG10	2.60 - 3.95	2.840 x 1.340
WR229	WG11A	3.30 - 4.90	2.290 x 1.150
WR187	WG12	3.95 - 5.85	1.872 x 0.872
WR159	WG13	4.90 - 7.05	1.590 x 0.795
WR137	WG14	5.85 - 8.20	1.372 x 0.622
WR112	WG15	7.05 - 10.00	1.122 x 0.497
WR90	WG16	8.2 - 12.4	0.900 x 0.400
WR75	WG17	10.0 - 15.0	0.750 x 0.375
WR62	WG18	12.4 - 18.0	0.622 x 0.311
WR51	WG19	15.0 - 22.0	0.510 x 0.255
WR42	WG20	18.0 - 26.5	0.420 x 0.170
WR28	WG22	26.5 - 40.0	0.280 x 0.140
WR22	WG23	33 - 50	0.224 x 0.112
WR19	WG24	40 - 60	0.188 x 0.094
WR15	WG25	50 - 75	0.148 x 0.074
WR12	WG26	60 - 90	0.122 x 0.061

It can be seen from the table that the WR number is taken from the internal measurement in mils of the wider side of the waveguide.

WG waveguide sizes and dimensions

The details including cut-off frequency as well as the waveguide dimesions and sizes are given below are for some of the more commonly used rigid rectangular waveguides.

WG waveguide dimensions, sizes and waveguide cut-off frequencies for rigid rectangular RF waveguides
WG Design	Freq range*	Waveguide cut off*	Theoretical attn dB/30m	Material	Band	Waveguide dimensions (mm)
WG00	0.32 - 0.49	0.256	0.051 - 0.031	Alum	B	584 x 292
WG0	0.35 - 0.53	0.281	0.054 - 0.034	Alum	B,C	533 x 267
WG1	0.41 - 0.625	0.328	0.056 - 0.038	Alum	B,C	457 x 229
WG2	0.49 - 0.75	0.393	0.069 - 0.050	Alum	C	381 x 191
WG3	0.64 - 0.96	0.513	0.128 - 0.075	Alum	C	292 x 146
WG4	0.75 - 1.12	0.605	0.137 - 0.095	Alum	C,D	248 x 124
WG5	0.96 - 1.45	0.766	0.201 - 0.136	Alum	D	196 x 98
WG6	1.12 - 1.70	0.908	0.317 - 0.212	Brass	D	165 x 83
WG6	1.12 - 1.70	0.908	0.269 - 0.178	Alum	D	165 x 83
WG7	1.45 - 2.20	1.157			D,E	131 x 65
WG8	1.70 - 2.60	1.372	0.588 - 0.385	Brass	E	109 x 55
WG8	1.70 - 2.60	1.372	0.501 - 0.330	Alum	E	109 x 55
WG9A	2.20 - 3.30	1.736	0.877 - 0.572	Brass	E,F	86 x 43
WG9A	2.20 - 3.30	1.736	0.751 - 0.492	Alum	E,F	86 x 43
WG10	2.60 - 3.95	2.078	1.102 - 0.752	Brass	E,F	72 x 34
WG10	2.60 - 3.95	2.078	0.940 - 0.641	Alum	E,F	72 x 34
WG11A	3.30 - 4.90	2.577			F,G	59 x 29
WG12	3.95 x 5.85	3.152	2.08 - 1.44	Brass	F,G	48 x 22
WG12	3.95 x 5.85	3.152	1.77 - 1.12	Alum	F,G	48 x 22
WG13	4.90 - 7.05	3.711			G,H	40 x 20
WG14	5.85 - 8.20	4.301	2.87 - 2.30	Brass	H	35 x 16
WG14	5.85 - 8.20	4.301	2.45 - 1.94	Alum	H	35 x 16
WG15	7.05 - 10.0	5.26	4.12 - 3.21	Brass	I	29 x 13
WG15	7.05 - 10.0	5.26	3.50 - 2.74	Alum	I	29 x 13

* waveguide cut off frequency in GHz and for TE10 mode
Alum = Aluminium

Waveguide type choice

It is important to choose the right type of waveguide. Each type has different dimensions and this will give it different properties, the cut-off frequency being particularly important, along with the overall recommended frequency range.

The material used in the waveguide will also help dictate some properties. Low resistance materials help to keep losses to a minimum, whereas light weight materials like aluminium keep the weight to a minimum.

Balancing all the different requirements makes sure that the best choice is made for any given application.