If you have ever been exposed to the sheet metal fabrication industry or worked in similar industries, you may have heard about the term “Gauge.”
Many of us do not understand when someone says 18 gauge steel or 16 gauge aluminum. In this article, we will learn about the Sheet Metal Gauge Chart or simply the Gauge Thickness Chart.
What Is Sheet Metal Gauge Chart?
Manufacturers use sheet metal gauge charts, whereas designers use the material thickness in MM or Inches. So a sheet metal gauge chart shows the gauge-to-unit conversion data suitable for both manufacturers and designers. Sheet metal gauges are also called “Gage.”
Gauges were introduced well before any standards were in the picture. The British wire industries initially submitted it to standardize the diameter of wire drawn. After that, it got wide acceptance all around the world.
The more the gauge number, the lower the thickness value. For example, 16 gauge aluminum measures 1.29 mm, whereas 24 gauge aluminum measures 0.51 mm. The same rule is valid for all materials.
One point must be noted the thickness will be different for different materials for the same gauge. For example, the 16 gauge stainless steel thickness is 1.60 mm, whereas the 16 gauge aluminum thickness is 1.29 mm. It is essential to keep a copy of the gauge Chart handy when you design any part.
As the Gauge number increases, the sheet metal thickness decreases
Why Sheet Metal Gauge Chart Is Important?
Different countries use different units of measurement. For example, India follows units in MM, whereas the USA follows units in INCH. So it is hard for manufacturers to understand and convert units when reading a drawing.
Nowadays manufacturing industry is not limited to any specific region or country. So the gauge system provides a system of measurement that is universally accepted.
Disclaimer: This sheet metal gauge chart is prepared by compiling data from many reliable sources. However since every manufacturer uses a different and customized gauge chart based on their business, it is always advisable to check manufacturer-specific gauge charts while designing any part or assemblies.
Cold Rolled Close Annealed Steel (CRCA) Gauge Chart
Gauge # | Thickness In MM | Thickness In Inches |
---|---|---|
3 | 6.07 | .238 |
4 | 5.69 | .224 |
5 | 5.31 | .209 |
6 | 4.94 | .194 |
7 | 4.55 | .179 |
8 | 4.18 | .164 |
9 | 3.80 | .149 |
10 | 3.40 | .133 |
11 | 3.00 | .118 |
12 | 2.66 | .104 |
13 | 2.28 | .089 |
14 | 1.90 | .074 |
15 | 1.70 | .066 |
16 | 1.50 | .059 |
17 | 1.37 | .053 |
18 | 1.20 | .047 |
19 | 1.10 | .043 |
20 | 0.90 | .035 |
21 | 0.84 | .033 |
22 | 0.76 | .029 |
23 | 0.68 | .026 |
24 | 0.60 | .023 |
25 | 0.53 | .020 |
26 | 0.45 | .017 |
27 | 0.40 | .015 |
28 | 0.38 | .014 |
29 | 0.34 | .013 |
30 | 0.30 | .011 |
31 | 0.27 | .010 |
32 | 0.25 | .009 |
33 | 0.23 | .009 |
34 | 0.21 | .008 |
35 | 0.19 | .007 |
Aluminum Gauge Chart
Gauge # | Thickness In MM | Thickness In Inches |
---|---|---|
3 | 5.83 | .229 |
4 | 5.19 | .204 |
5 | 4.62 | .181 |
6 | 4.11 | .161 |
7 | 3.67 | .144 |
8 | 3.26 | .128 |
9 | 2.9 | .114 |
10 | 2.59 | .101 |
11 | 2.23 | .087 |
12 | 2.05 | .080 |
13 | 1.83 | .072 |
14 | 1.63 | .064 |
15 | 1.45 | .057 |
16 | 1.29 | .050 |
17 | 1.15 | .045 |
18 | 1.02 | .040 |
19 | 0.91 | .035 |
20 | 0.81 | .031 |
21 | 0.72 | .028 |
22 | 0.64 | .025 |
23 | 0.57 | .022 |
24 | 0.51 | .020 |
25 | 0.45 | .017 |
26 | 0.40 | .015 |
27 | 0.36 | .014 |
28 | 0.32 | .012 |
29 | 0.29 | .011 |
30 | 0.25 | .009 |
31 | 0.23 | .009 |
32 | 0.20 | .007 |
33 | 0.18 | .007 |
34 | 0.16 | .006 |
35 | 0.14 | .005 |
Stainless Steel Gauge Chart
Gauge # | Thickness In MM | Thickness In Inches |
---|---|---|
5 | 5.55 | .181 |
6 | 5.16 | .203 |
7 | 4.76 | .187 |
8 | 4.19 | .164 |
9 | 3.97 | .156 |
10 | 3.57 | .140 |
11 | 3.18 | .125 |
12 | 2.78 | .109 |
13 | 2.38 | .093 |
14 | 2 | .078 |
15 | 1.79 | .070 |
16 | 1.6 | .060 |
17 | 1.43 | .056 |
18 | 1.27 | .050 |
19 | 1.10 | .043 |
20 | 0.95 | .037 |
21 | 0.87 | .034 |
22 | 0.79 | .031 |
23 | 0.70 | .027 |
24 | 0.60 | .023 |
25 | 0.56 | .022 |
26 | 0.47 | .018 |
27 | 0.44 | .017 |
28 | 0.40 | .015 |
29 | 0.36 | .014 |
30 | 0.32 | .012 |
31 | 0.28 | .011 |
32 | 0.26 | .010 |
33 | 0.24 | .009 |
34 | 0.22 | .008 |
35 | 0.2 | .007 |
Carbon Steel Gauge Chart
Gauge# | Thickness in MM | Thickness in Inches |
---|---|---|
7 | 4.55 | .179 |
8 | 4.17 | .164 |
9 | 3.79 | .149 |
10 | 3.41 | .134 |
11 | 3.03 | .119 |
12 | 2.65 | .104 |
14 | 1.89 | .074 |
16 | 1.51 | .059 |
18 | 1.21 | .047 |
20 | 0.91 | .035 |
22 | 0.75 | .029 |
24 | 0.60 | .023 |
26 | 0.45 | .017 |
28 | 0.37 | .014 |
Galvanized Steel Gauge Chart
Gauge# | Thickness in MM | Thickness in Inches |
---|---|---|
8 | 4.26 | .168 |
9 | 3.89 | .153 |
10 | 3.51 | .138 |
11 | 3.13 | .123 |
12 | 2.75 | .108 |
14 | 1.99 | .078 |
16 | 1.61 | .063 |
18 | 1.31 | .051 |
20 | 1.00 | .039 |
22 | 0.85 | .033 |
24 | 0.70 | .027 |
26 | 0.55 | .021 |
28 | 0.47 | .018 |
30 | 0.39 | .015 |
Brass Gauge Chart
Gauge# | Thickness in MM | Thickness in Inches |
---|---|---|
7 | 3.66 | .144 |
8 | 3.26 | .128 |
9 | 2.90 | .114 |
10 | 2.58 | .101 |
11 | 2.30 | .090 |
12 | 2.05 | .080 |
14 | 1.62 | .064 |
16 | 1.29 | .050 |
18 | 1.02 | .040 |
20 | 0.81 | .031 |
22 | 0.64 | .025 |
24 | 0.51 | .020 |
26 | 0.40 | .015 |
28 | 0.32 | .012 |
30 | 0.25 | .010 |
Copper gauge Chart
Gauge# | Thickness in MM | Thickness in Inches |
---|---|---|
7 | 4.57 | .180 |
8 | 4.19 | .165 |
9 | 3.75 | .148 |
10 | 3.40 | .134 |
11 | 3.04 | .120 |
12 | 2.76 | .109 |
14 | 2.10 | .083 |
16 | 1.65 | .065 |
18 | 1.24 | .049 |
20 | 0.88 | .035 |
22 | 0.71 | .028 |
24 | 0.55 | .022 |
26 | 0.45 | .018 |
28 | 0.35 | .014 |
30 | 0.30 | .012 |
Conclusion: Guage Thickness Chart
So that is all that we have in this article. A gauge table is just a conversion table from gauge numbers to different thicknesses. You can use this gauge Chart table as a ready reference when you work on a design project.
Frequently Asked Questions on Sheet Metal Gauge Chart (FAQ)
What is a sheet metal gauge chart
A sheet metal gauge chart is a conversion table that shows the thickness of sheet metal at different gauge sizes. The higher the gauge size, the lower the sheet thickness
Do All manufacturers Use the same gauge chart?
Not necessarily. Many manufacturers use their customized gauge charts. But the values are more or less similar.