Sheet metal thickness plays a crucial role in the fabrication process, with metal fabrication shops commonly handling raw stock sheet metal ranging from 0.02” to 0.250” thick. But what does this mean for you as the customer?
The thickness of the sheet metal directly impacts the tools and time required to manipulate the metal and bring your design to life. As sheet metal thickness can alter our approach to working with the material, it significantly influences the overall cost of your project.
Understanding sheet metal gauges is key, as they specify the thickness of the material. Delve deeper into the world of gauges to gain valuable insights. Explore this resource to discover more about sheet metal gauges, particularly for steel and aluminum, helping you make informed decisions for your fabrication needs.
What Are Sheet Metal Gauges?
Sheet metal gauges refer to a standardized measurement system used to specify the thickness of sheet metal. This system helps communicate the thickness of metal sheets in a uniform manner, facilitating accurate and consistent understanding across various industries. The gauge measurement is typically represented by a numerical value, and as the gauge number increases, the thickness of the sheet metal decreases.
Here are some key points about sheet metal gauges:
1.Numerical Representation
Sheet metal gauges are represented by numerical values. For example, a lower gauge number, such as 18 gauge, indicates a thicker sheet metal compared to a higher gauge number, like 24 gauge.
2.Standardization
The sheet metal gauge system is standardized, which means that a specific gauge corresponds to a particular thickness across the industry. This standardization allows for consistency in communication and manufacturing processes.
3.Inches and Millimeters
Sheet metal gauges are commonly expressed in both inches and millimeters. For example, a sheet metal gauge might be specified as “18 gauge (0.0478 inches or 1.214 millimeters).”
4.Versatility
Sheet metal gauges are used for various types of metals, including steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Different metals may have different gauge ranges to achieve equivalent thicknesses.
5.Applications
Understanding sheet metal gauges is crucial in metal fabrication and construction. It influences decisions related to material selection, tooling requirements, and overall project costs.
6.Measuring Tools
Various tools, such as calipers or micrometers, can be used to measure the thickness of sheet metal and determine its gauge.
Conversion Charts:
Conversion Charts:
Conversion charts are available to help individuals convert between gauge numbers and actual thickness measurements in inches or millimeters.
Different types of metals are subject to distinct gauge systems. Aluminum and other nonferrous metals follow the Brown and Sharpe system, also known as the American Wire Gauge. On the other hand, carbon steel, galvanized steel, and stainless steel adhere to the Manufacturer’s Standard Gauge scale.
Provided below are sheet metal gauge charts for commonly used metals. These charts display the gauge alongside its corresponding thickness in both inches and millimeters.
What Is the History of Sheet Metal Gauges?
Originally, sheet metal gauges were derived from wire drawings. They used to sell wire by weight before the industrial revolution. The problem with selling wire by weight alone was that these wires could be of different thicknesses at the same weight, so customers ended up with wires that were not uniform in thickness.
Due to the lack of a standard for measuring wire diameter, it was difficult to convey what wire size was needed. Wire drawers devised a solution by quoting wire based on how many draws it would take to make the wire. The number of draws became the gauge.
A gauge is a tool that is used to measure wire by drawing it through thinner and thinner dies and assigning each wire a number. When steelmakers began rolling steel sheets, gauges were followed.
Steelmakers discovered it was difficult to measure sheets by their thickness, so they began using the gauge system to specify sheet metal thickness.
Sheet Metal Gauge Size Chart
| Gauge | Inches | MM |
| 3 | 0.2391 | 6.07 |
| 4 | 0.2242 | 5.69 |
| 5 | 0.2092 | 5.31 |
| 6 | 0.1943 | (4.94) |
| 7 | 0.1793 | 4.55 |
| 8 | 0.1644 | 4.18 |
| 9 | 0.1495 | 3.80 |
| 10 | 0.1345 | 3.42 |
| 11 | 0.1196 | 3.04 |
| 12 | 0.1046 | 2.66 |
| 13 | 0.0897 | 2.28 |
| 14 | 0.0747 | 1.90 |
| 15 | 0.0673 | 1.71 |
| 16 | 0.0598 | 1.52 |
| 17 | 0.0538 | 1.37 |
| 18 | 0.0478 | 1.21 |
| 19 | 0.0418 | 1.06 |
| 20 | 0.0359 | 0.91 |
| 21 | 0.0329 | 0.84 |
| 22 | 0.0299 | 0.76 |
| 23 | 0.0269 | 0.68 |
| 24 | 0.0239 | 0.61 |
| 25 | 0.0209 | 0.53 |
| 26 | 0.0179 | 0.45 |
| 27 | 0.0164 | 0.42 |
| 28 | 0.0149 | 0.38 |
| 29 | 0.0135 | 0.34 |
| 30 | 0.0120 | 0.30 |
These steel gauge charts aren’t exhaustive lists. A 38-gauge steel sheet, for example, is 0.0060” thick.
| Gauge | Inches | MM |
| 7 | 0.1875 | 4.76 |
| 8 | 0.1719 | 4.37 |
| 9 | 0.1563 | 3.97 |
| 10 | 0.1406 | 3.57 |
| 11 | 0.1250 | 3.18 |
| 12 | 0.1094 | 2.78 |
| 13 | 0.094 | 2.4 |
| 14 | 0.0781 | 1.98 |
| 15 | 0.07 | 1.8 |
| 16 | 0.0625 | 1.59 |
| 17 | 0.056 | 1.4 |
| 18 | 0.0500 | 1.27 |
| 19 | 0.044 | 1.1 |
| 20 | 0.0375 | 0.95 |
| 21 | 0.034 | 0.86 |
| 22 | 0.0312 | 0.79 |
| 23 | 0.028 | 0.64 |
| 24 | 0.025 | 0.64 |
| 25 | 0.022 | 0.56 |
| 26 | 0.019 | 0.48 |
| 27 | 0.017 | 0.43 |
| 28 | 0.016 | 0.41 |
| 29 | 0.014 | 0.36 |
| 30 | 0.013 | 0.33 |
| Gauge | Inches | MM |
| 8 | 0.1681 | 4.27 |
| 9 | 0.1532 | 3.89 |
| 10 | 0.1382 | 3.51 |
| 11 | 0.1233 | 3.13 |
| 12 | 0.1084 | 2.75 |
| 13 | 0.0934 | 2.37 |
| 14 | 0.0785 | 1.99 |
| 15 | 0.0710 | 1.8 |
| 16 | 0.0635 | 1.61 |
| 17 | 0.0575 | 1.46 |
| 18 | 0.0516 | 1.31 |
| 19 | 0.0456 | 1.16 |
| 20 | 0.0396 | 1.01 |
| 21 | 0.0366 | 0.93 |
| 22 | 0.0336 | 0.85 |
| 23 | 0.0306 | 0.78 |
| 24 | 0.0276 | 0.70 |
| 25 | 0.0247 | 0.63 |
| 26 | 0.0217 | 0.55 |
| 27 | 0.0202 | 0.51 |
| 28 | 0.0187 | 0.47 |
| 29 | 0.0172 | 0.44 |
| Gauge | Inches | MM |
| 6 | 0.162 | 4.1 |
| 7 | 0.1443 | 3.67 |
| 8 | 0.1285 | 3.26 |
| 9 | 0.1144 | 2.91 |
| 10 | 0.1019 | 2.59 |
| 11 | 0.0907 | 2.3 |
| 12 | 0.0808 | 2.05 |
| 13 | 0.072 | 1.8 |
| 14 | 0.0641 | 1.63 |
| 15 | 0.057 | 1.4 |
| 16 | 0.0508 | 1.29 |
| 17 | 0.045 | 1.1 |
| 18 | 0.0403 | 1.02 |
| 19 | 0.036 | 0.91 |
| 20 | 0.0320 | 0.81 |
| 21 | 0.028 | 0.71 |
| 22 | 0.025 | 0.64 |
| 23 | 0.023 | 0.58 |
| 24 | 0.02 | 0.51 |
| 25 | 0.018 | 0.46 |
| 26 | 0.017 | 0.43 |
| 27 | 0.014 | 0.36 |
| 28 | 0.0126 | 0.32 |
| 29 | 0.0113 | 0.29 |
| 30 | 0.0100 | 0.25 |
What Is the Importance of Sheet Metal Gauges?
The gauge of a sheet metal has a significant impact on the techniques employed for cutting, forming, and welding it.
Engineers rely on gauges to determine optimal designs and manufacturing approaches. This knowledge is equally beneficial for fabricators, welders, and machine operators, guiding them in selecting the most effective methods.
For instance, welding thin-gauge metals poses challenges due to the risk of burn-through and surface distortion from high heat. Welders must minimize heat exposure by starting and stopping frequently or spreading smaller welds over the joint.
Welding thin-gauge sheets can be intricate, while thicker materials present challenges in bending. Maintaining a minimum inside bend radius helps mitigate cracking and hardening, with the radius increasing as the sheet’s thickness rises.
These examples illustrate how sheet metal gauges directly influence the fabrication process. If you have questions about sheet metal or require the expertise of an experienced fabrication company, Huijinmaterials has been assisting companies in producing custom parts for over 37 years. Offering a comprehensive range of metal manufacturing capabilities, our team is ready to answer your queries and guide you through the manufacturing process. Trust Metaltech to deliver precision and quality—every time.
Click here to request a quote today! Let’s work together.
