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Aluminium is abundantly available and offers a cheaper alternative to copper for conductors. The demand for copper is variable and the price fluctuates considerably whereas the price of aluminium is much more stable. Whilst an aluminium conductor is only about 61% as conductive as the same sized copper conductor it is also three times lighter in weight which makes it much easier to handle. For this reason aluminium finds favour in large size cables and cables for overhead power distribution.

Aluminium cables are lighter than their copper counterparts, but as the metal is less conductive, it must be around one-third larger in cross-sectional area size to achieve parity in current carrying capacity. They are commonly used for overhead lines and also in installations where copper theft may be a risk, such as the rail industry.