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Sheet Metal Gauge: You Need to Know

Sheet metal is a widely used material and you can find it in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, construction, and manufacturing among various other areas. Knowing the gauge of sheet metal is essential if you want to bend sheet metal smoothly and efficiently. In this article, we’ll tell you about the thicknesses and specifications of different types of sheet metal and how you can choose them.

Know The Sheet Metal Gauge

The gauge of the sheet metal is the thickness of the sheet metal. Generally speaking, the smaller the number of models, the thicker the sheet metal is, and the larger the number of models, the smaller the thickness of the sheet metal is.

Different Materials with Different Gauges

What you need to know is that not all materials have the same gauges and specifications between them. This is because metals have their own density, and strength, which leads to different results in weight, and surface. So each material has its own specification-thickness conversion table, we will show you the specification conversion table for several metals:

Mild Steel

Generally speaking, American Standard Gauge is more commonly used for steel. The smaller the gauge number, the thicker and harder your steel plate will be. For example, 10-gauge steel is roughly 3.416 millimeters thick, and 24-gauge steel has a large number, but it is 0.607 millimeters thick.

Mild Steel Gauge

Inches (MM)

7

0.1793 (4.554)

8

0.1644 (4.175)

9

0.1495 (3.797)

10

0.1345 (3.416)

11

0.1196 (3.038)

12

0.1046 (2.656)

14

0.0747 (1.897)

16

0.0598 (1.518)

18

0.0478 (1.214)

20

0.0359 (0.911)

22

0.0299 (0.759)

24

0.0239 (0.607)

26

0.0179 (0.454)

28

0.0149 (0.378)

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel sheets also follow the US standard specifications, but they vary in density because of the different materials. So let’s take the example of 16 gauge stainless steel, which is 1.5875 millimeters thick. Obviously, it is a different thickness than the same type of steel.

Stainless Steel Gauge

Inches (MM)

8

0.17187 (4.365)

9

0.15625 (3.968)

10

0.14062 (3.571)

11

0.125 (3.175)

12

0.10937 (2.778)

14

0.07812 (1.984)

16

0.0625 (1.587)

18

0.05 (1.27)

20

0.0375 (0.9525)

22

0.03125 (0.7937)

24

0.025 (0.635)

26

0.01875 (0.476)

28

0.01562 (0.396)

30

0.0125 (0.3175)

Aluminum

Generally, aluminum sheet follows the AWG system. For example, a 16-gauge aluminum sheet is roughly 1.291 mm thick. Aluminum sheets are popular in the sheet metal bending industry because of their physical properties.

Aluminum Gauge

Inches (MM)

7

0.1443 (3.665)

8

0.1285 (3.264)

9

0.1144 (2.906)

10

0.1019 (2.588)

11

0.09074 (2.305)

12

0.08081 (2.053)

14

0.06408 (1.628)

16

0.05082 (1.291)

18

0.0403 (1.024)

20

0.03196 (0.812)

22

0.02535 (0.644)

24

0.0201 (0.511)

26

0.01594 (0.405)

28

0.01264 (0.321)

30

0.01003 (0.255)

Copper

A 14-gauge copper sheet is around 1.628 mm thick. Similarly, copper sheets are also measured using the AWG system, with a thickness slightly different from aluminum. For example, a 14-gauge copper sheet is around 1.628 mm thick.

Cooper Gauge

Inches (MM)

7

0.18 (4.572)

8

0.165 (4.191)

9

0.148 (3.759)

10

0.134 (3.404)

11

0.12 (3.048)

12

0.109 (2.769)

14

0.083 (2.108)

16

0.065 (1.651)

18

0.049 (1.245)

20

0.035 (0.889)

22

0.028 (0.711)

24

0.022 (0.559)

26

0.018 (0.457)

28

0.014 (0.356)

30

0.012 (0.305)

Applications of Different Gauges

In various applications, you must design the product you want to bend to select the appropriate material. The material must meet the strength, weight, and flexibility requirements of the product you are designing.

Different industries also require different gauges of sheet metal, and we will introduce some of the sheet metal gauges required by some industries.

Automotive Industry

In the automotive industry, sheet metal can generally be used for bodywork, frames, or the rest of the components. In general, thicker plates, such as 16 or 18-gauge, are often used for structural parts. However, lighter and thinner plates, such as 22-gauge, are more often used for parts that require higher weight.

Construction

In the construction industry, sheet metal is generally used in roofing, wall panels, piping, and other parts of the building. 14 and 16-gauge sheets are thick and are generally used in structural components. The thin and light type, 24 gauge, can be used for roofing because of its flexibility and ease of installation.

Aerospace Industry

In aerospace, lightweight but stiff materials are always preferred. That’s why aluminum sheet metal is a common choice in the aerospace field. Aluminum sheets are available in thicknesses ranging from lightweight 24-gauge to strong, thick 12-gauge for different applications.

Art and Design

What you may not realize is that sheet metal panels can also be used in the art and design field. For example, artists and designers will more often than not use thin, lightweight sheet metal such as 22 or 24-gauge to create crafts, master packages, and decorative items. This is because sheet metal is easy to cut, shape, and manipulate. It is the preferred choice for designing and creating complex structural artwork.

Measuring Sheet Metal Thickness

Normally, gauges are the way to determine the thickness of sheet metal. However, there are times when you may need a more direct and precise look at the thickness of a sheet, especially if you have precise specifications. You can use measuring tools such as calipers, or micrometers, to determine the exact thickness of the sheet metal. Generally, this is the test you can choose when dealing with sheet metal inspections to ensure that the sheet metal meets industry standards.

Conclusion

If you own or work in the sheet metal bending industry, you need to understand sheet metal specifications and gauges. Whether you are bending sheet metal for use in the automotive manufacturing industry or for the creation of works of art, understanding sheet metal gauges will help you select the correct and appropriate sheet metal material to accomplish your production goals.

By ensuring that the type of sheet metal material, strength requirements, cost, and other factors are taken into account, you can easily make the most informed decision to reach the goal of a perfectly completed project.

sheet metal bending

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