How to Pull Electrical Wire or Cable Through Conduit

By
Timothy Thiele
Timothy Thiele

Timothy Thiele has an associate degree in electronics and is an IBEW Local #176 Union Electrician with over 30 years of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 10/12/22
Reviewed by
Larry Campbell
Larry Campbell
Reviewed by Larry Campbell
Larry Campbell is an electrical contractor with 36 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical wiring. He worked as an electronic technician and later as an engineer for the IBM Corp. He is also a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Electrical coil pulled through conduit tube

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 mins - 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

If you've never pulled wire through conduit, it may seem a bit troubling. How in the world can you get the wire to push through the conduit, especially when the conduit run may be hundreds of feet long? Unless the conduit is very short and/or perfectly straight, pushing it through is highly unlikely. And, of course, it won't just crawl through the pipe itself. Dry and bare wiring being pulled through conduit, especially PVC conduit, creates friction, making it even more difficult to pull the wire.

There are a few basic tools and supplies that can help make pulling wire through conduit a snap, however. And remember: It's always easier to pull wires with a partner.

Pulling NM Cable Through Conduit

Most wire that is installed in conduit is insulated wire (usually THHN or THWN) rather than sheathed cable, such as non-metallic (NM), or Romex, cable. Running NM cable inside conduit is not a standard practice and may not be allowed in all jurisdictions.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not prohibit running NM cable inside conduit, but this installation is subject to conduit fill limits, just like insulated wire in conduit. Because NM cable takes up more space than individual wires, it's easier to exceed the fill limit with cable. Also, cable is difficult to pull through conduit, due to the cable's size and the sheathing, so running cable in conduit typically is limited to very short runs that do not require standard wire pulling techniques.

Also note that NM cable is not rated for outdoor, or wet, applications. It is never permissible to run NM cable outdoors or in other wet areas, even if the cable is installed in conduit.

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Lubricating the Wires

Pulling wires can be difficult enough through straight runs of conduit, but throwing a few bends and turns in the run increases friction, making pulling much more difficult. That's when you use a lubricant. Wire-pulling compound is a non-conductive lubricant in either a gel or a slimy, soapy form that makes both the conduit and wires slick by coating the wiring, allowing it to slide through the conduit with relative ease.

Apply the compound directly to the wires before pulling them into the conduit. Use the lubricant more heavily at the beginning of the pull and less so toward the end of the pull, as the interior of the conduit will become coated along its length as you pull. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper application.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Conduit mouse or conduit piston
  • Shop vacuum with hose
  • Fish tape
  • Linesman's pliers
  • Wire strippers

Materials

  • Pull string
  • Lubricant (optional)
  • Electrical tape

Instructions

Materials and tools to pull wire through conduit

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Pulling Wire With a Mouse

A conduit mouse, also called a conduit piston, is a small cylinder of foam that is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the conduit. You use it with a shop vacuum.

  1. Tie Pull String to Wire

    Tie a strong string, called a pull string, to the loop on the wire running through the mouse.

    Pull string tied to the wire running loop through the mouse

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Insert Mouse Into Conduit

    Insert the mouse into the conduit on the end that is opposite to the end you will pull from. The mouse goes in first, followed by the string.

    Mouse inserted into conduit through opposite end where its pulled from

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Fit Shop Vac Hose Over Conduit

    Fit the hose of a shop vac over the other end of the conduit (or inside if the conduit is too large), and turn on the vacuum until the mouse is sucked all the way to that end, then turn off the vacuum.

    Shop vac hose fit into conduit to suck mouse to the end

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Pull Mouse Out of Conduit

    Pull the mouse out of the conduit and untie the string from the wire loop.

    Mouse pulled on other end of conduit tube

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Secure String

    Secure the string to the wires, and lubricate the wires, as needed.

    Electrical wires secured to pull string

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Feed Wires Into Conduit

    Feed the wires into the conduit while your partner pulls them from the other end, using the string.

    Wires def through conduit tube with pull string

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Pulling Wire With a Fish Tape 

The most commonly used tool for pulling wire through conduit is fish tape, an electrician's tool with a long, flat metal wire wound inside a wheel-shaped spool. Fish tapes are widely available in a range of lengths starting at 25 feet. There are also nylon tapes that don't include a spool; these may be the most economical option for smaller jobs.

  1. Feed End of Tape Into Conduit

    Feed the end of the tape, which has a hook on it, into the same end of the conduit that you will pull from.

    Fish tape end fed through conduit tube

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Push Tape Through Conduit

    Push the tape through the conduit, unwinding from the spool as you go. Stop feeding when the hook end emerges from the opposite end of the conduit.

    Fish tape pushed through conduit tube

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Strip Insulation

    Strip insulation from the end of each wire, using wire strippers. Strip each wire a different amount. For example, if there are three wires, strip one about six inches, one about four inches, and one about two inches.

    Wire insulation stripped with wire stripper above conduit

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Hold Wires Together

    Hold the three wires together so their insulation is aligned by grabbing all three with linesman's pliers and twisting their bare ends together.

    Three wires aligned and then twisted with lineman's pliers

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Bend Wire and Loop Through Fish Tape

    Bend the longest wire into a hook and loop it through the hook of the fish tape, then wrap the loop closed.

    Longest wired bent and looped into fish tape

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Wrap Fish Tape Hook

    Wrap the fish tape hook and the bare wire ends with electrical tape.

    Electrical tape covering fish tape hook and wire ends

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  7. Apply Lubricant

    Apply lubricant to the tape and/or wires, if desired. Feed the wires into the conduit while your partner pulls them through from the other end by pulling on the fish tape.

    Lubricant applied wires fed through the conduit tube

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

FAQ
  • What tool is used to pull wire conduits?

    Fish tape and a conduit mouse (or conduit piston) are common tools used to pull wire through conduit. Lubricant may also be used. 

  • Can I pull Romex through conduit?

    While it’s possible to run Romex, or nonmetallic cable, through conduit, it’s not a common practice. Its size makes it difficult to pull and causes it to quickly hit the fill limit.

  • What is wire-pulling lubricant made of?

    Wire-pulling lubricants come in several forms, including gel, liquid, foam, and wax. They contain additives, such as silicone, that allow the wires to slide more easily.