Metal wire and strand has a round, flat, or shaped cross section. Wires are usually less than 0.375" in diameter. Round metal wire such as high tensile-strength piano wire is an essential raw material for the manufacture of helical springs. Flat metal wire is used in small leaf-spring applications. Shaped metal wire is available in square, triangular, rectangular, half-round, oval, and custom profiles. Ultra-thin metal wire and strand is also commonly available. Shaped wire stock can be used to produce long, narrow, flat or formed parts such as blades, vanes, eyeglass frames, and flange gaskets. By replicating critical cross-sectional features during wire-drawing, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) can achieve significant cost savings.

With wire drawing, metal wire and strand is passed through a series of dies, each with a smaller-diameter bore than its predecessor. The final wire size is reached after the metal wire and strand passes through the last die in the series. In North America, wire area is specified according to American Wire Gauge (AWG) designations to indicate conductor size. As a rule, higher AWG numbers represent thinner wires. This is because AWG designations represent the number of times a wire is run through a wire-drawing machine. For example, 24-gauge wire has a larger AWG than 18-gauge wire because it requires six additional diameter-reducing dies. Outside of North America, suppliers measure the conductor size or area of metal wire and strand in square millimeters (mm2).

Metal wire and strand is usually made of aluminum, copper, nickel, or steel. Aluminum resists corrosion, provides good electrical and thermal conductivity, and has a density that is about one-third less than that of copper, nickel, or steel. On a volumetric basis, copper matches the conductivity of common, non-precious metals. Copper wire and strand also provides excellent corrosion resistance and high thermal conductivity. Today, copper and copper alloys are the most widely-used materials as electrical conductors in wires and cables. Nickel wire and strand is also commonly available. As a rule, nickel and nickel alloys provide high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior elevated-temperature properties. Steel wire and strand contains iron and is used in a variety of industrial applications.