Gauge Definition Sheet Metal

How gauge thickness works.

Gauge definition sheet metal.

In the u s the thickness of sheet metal is commonly specified by a traditional non linear measure known as its gauge. As the gauge number increases the thickness drops by 10 percent for example a 12 gauge sheet is 2 732 millimeters thick and a 13 gauge sheet is 2 391 millimeters thick. The larger the gauge number the thinner the metal. 1 for sheet metal a retrogressive scale higher numbers mean lower thickness that starts with 10 gauge representing a thickness of 3 416 millimeters or 0 1345 inches.

Metal decking is most commonly 16 18 20 and 22 gauge in thickness. Why gauge thickness matters. A sheet metal gauge sometimes spelled gage indicates the standard thickness of sheet metal for a specific material. So inversely the smaller the gauge number the thicker the metal.

The larger the gauge number the thinner the metal. A gauge conversion chart can be used to determine the actual thickness of sheet metal in inches or millimeters. Sheet metal gauge size chart gauge or gage sizes are numbers that indicate the thickness of a piece of sheet metal with a higher number referring to a thinner sheet. In most of the world sheet metal thickness is consistently specified in millimeters.

As the gauge number increases the material thickness decreases. Commonly used steel sheet metal ranges from 30 gauge to about 7 gauge. For example 18 gauge steel according to a gauge conversion chart is 0 0478 inch or 1 214 millimeter. The equivalent thicknesses differ for each gauge size standard which were developed based on the weight of the sheet for a given material.