Steel Sheet Metal Thickness Chart

We use steel in several aspects of life. We use metal to build roofs, equipment, machines, computers, hinges, door locks, and many more. Almost everything around us these days has its part of its component. For example, a high-rise building uses metal for its internal structure.

Everywhere we look, we see it as a part of our life. However, it does not simply come in one type. Different applications require different thicknesses, which we refer to as metal gauges.

Summary

The sheet metal thickness chart is the easiest way to convert gauge to inches or mm. From it, you can see the following along with other things such as weight & conversion to mm:

  • 7 gauge stainless steel has a thickness of 0.1875″.
  • 10 gauge stainless steel has a thickness of 0.1406.”
  • 11 gauge stainless steel has a thickness of 0.1250″.

Sheet Metal Thickness Chart

The table below shows the sheet metal thickness chart to make sure you get the right products. We have these in millimeters and inches, so you do not have to convert from gauge to mm or to inches. It’s no different from copper wire and PVC pipe having their own standards and specifications.

The volume and material will influence the weight.

Standard Steel

Gauge
Thickness (inch)Thickness (mm)
Weight per Area
lb./ft²kg/m²
30.23916.0739.75447.624
40.22425.6959.14644.656
50.20925.3148.53441.668
60.19434.9357.92738.701
70.17934.5547.31535.713
80.16444.1766.70732.745
90.14953.7976.09929.777
100.13453.4165.48726.790
110.11963.0384.87923.822
120.10462.6574.26720.834
130.08972.2783.65917.866
140.07471.8973.04714.879
150.06731.7092.74613.405
160.05981.5192.44011.911
170.05381.3672.19510.716
180.04781.2141.9509.521
190.04181.0621.7058.326
200.03590.9121.4657.151
210.03290.8361.3426.553
220.02990.7591.2205.955
230.02690.6831.0975.358
240.02390.6070.9754.760
250.02090.5310.8534.163
260.01790.4550.7303.565
270.01640.4170.6693.267
280.01490.3780.6082.968
290.01350.3430.5512.689
300.01200.3050.4902.390
310.01050.2670.4282.091
320.00970.2460.3961.932
330.00900.2290.3671.793
340.00820.2080.3351.633
350.00750.1910.3061.494
360.00670.1700.2731.335
370.00640.1630.2611.275
380.00600.1520.2451.195

Stainless Steel


ThicknessWeight per Area
Gaugeinmmlb./ft²kg/m²
00000000.500012.70020.808101.594
0000000.468611.90219.50195.213
000000.437511.11318.20788.894
00000.406310.32016.90982.555
0000.37509.52515.60676.195
000.34388.73314.30869.856
00.31257.93813.00563.496
10.28137.14511.70757.157
20.26566.74611.05353.966
30.25006.35010.40450.797
40.23445.9549.75547.627
50.21875.5559.10144.437
60.20315.1598.45241.267
70.18754.7637.80338.098
80.17194.3667.15434.928
90.15623.9676.50031.738
100.14063.5715.85128.568
110.12503.1755.20225.398
120.10942.7794.55322.229
130.09372.3803.89919.039
140.07811.9843.25015.869
150.07031.7862.92614.284
160.06251.5882.60112.699
170.05621.4272.33911.419
180.05001.2702.08110.159
190.04371.1101.8198.879
200.03750.9531.5617.620
210.03440.8741.4326.990
220.03120.7921.2986.339
230.02810.7141.1695.710
240.02500.6351.0405.080
250.02190.5560.9114.450
260.01870.4750.7783.800
270.01720.4370.7163.495
280.01560.3960.6493.170
290.01410.3580.5872.865
300.01250.3180.5202.540
310.01090.2770.4542.215
320.01020.2590.4242.073
330.00940.2390.3911.910
340.00860.2180.3581.747
350.00780.1980.3251.585
360.00700.1780.2911.422
370.00660.1680.2751.341
380.00620.1570.2581.260

Galvanized Steel


ThicknessWeight per Area
Gaugeinmmlb/ft²kg/m²
80.16814.2706.85833.482
90.15323.8916.25030.514
100.13823.5105.63827.527
110.12333.1325.03024.559
120.10842.7534.42221.591
130.09342.3723.81018.603
140.07851.9943.20215.636
150.07101.8032.89614.142
160.06351.6132.59012.648
170.05751.4612.34611.453
180.05161.3112.10510.278
190.04561.1581.8609.083
200.03961.0061.6157.888
210.03660.9301.4937.290
220.03360.8531.3716.692
230.03060.7771.2486.095
240.02760.7011.1265.497
250.02470.6271.0084.920
260.02170.5510.8854.322
270.02020.5130.8244.023
280.01870.4750.7633.725
290.01720.4370.7023.426
300.01570.3990.6403.127
310.01420.3610.5792.828
320.01340.3400.5472.669

However, we must note that the thickness may change according to the steel type. For example, a size three in standard steel is 0.2391 inches thick, while a three in stainless steel is 0.2500 inches. The difference is minimal but could make or break it in actual application. Another example is between the size 38 standard and stainless steel. The former is 0.0060 inches thick, while the latter is 0.0062 inches. Again, the difference is very minimal. 

Welding requires knowledge and awareness. You might need to stick two metal sheets together, so you will need to know more about welding. A MIG vs. TIG welding article should help you get a jumpstart.

Easy tools to measure

Here’s a tool that makes it easy for you to figure out what you have rather than having to consult a chart. Otherwise, scroll down to check out the chart.

[amazon table=”32774″]

Pimoys

Pros

  • The round tool works great for wire & steel.
  • It’s sturdier than we anticipated.
  • Engraved numbers that are colored in
  • Good value

Cons

  • The edges are somewhat sharp.

[amazon box=”B08P8LC49F” title=”Pimoys Store” description=”It consists of two pieces.”]

DGOL

Pros

  • It’s great for steel metal.
  • Very handy
  • Nice that it can attach to the key ring.

Cons

  • It does not measure wire.
  • It doesn’t feel quite as durable.
  • The round device above measures more gauges.

[amazon box=”B07GXV3GLM” title=”DGOL” description=”These can be put on key chain.”]

Table of Contents

What does gauge mean?

A sheet metal gauge, or simply a metal gauge, refers to the thickness of a specific material, which is steel in this case. The standard system expresses it in numbers, where a higher number means a thinner material, and a lower number means a thicker one.

sheet metal

Its weight is 41.82 lbs per square foot per inch of thickness, which we use to express weight per square foot. It is a standard value for the sheet metal gauge chart, which is different for brass and aluminum. For example, an eight sheet has a thickness of 0.1644 inches. Its weight will be 41.82 * 0.1644 inches = 6.875 lbs per square foot.

A shoe size chart guide is what you need if you do not know your shoe. Shoes come in different widths and lengths, which should affect your shoe. Men’s are not the same as women’s, so pay attention if the shoe you are fitting is for women’s or men’s.

In the United States, they use inches and feet to measure. For sheet metal thickness, they use the gauge, which is a dimensionless number. Larger numbers denote a thinner sheet, while smaller numbers denote a thicker sheet.

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metal sheet

What gauge is thicker? 

Most people would think a higher number means a thicker material. However, it does not hold with steel gauge thicknessAmp wires come in different sizes too, which is comparable with steel.

From 10 to 18, the thickest is the 10, and the thinnest is the 18. If we look at the measurements, the increments are minimal. For example, a size ten standard steel is 0.1345 inches, while a size 11 is 0.1196 inches. It does not imply there is not much difference in its strength. The former is significantly more durable than the latter despite a very minimal thickness increase.

The following section shows a table of all the measurements you need. The weight per area is also available for your convenience.

piece of sheet metal

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cheap sheet metal

Types & gauges

There are several metal gauge types in the market, which gets confusing. The following should give you a rough idea of where each one is ideal to use, such as:

  • residential buildings
  • commercial spaces
  • repair shops
  • condominiums
  • and many more.

These are not the only available ones because there are so many options in the market. These are the ones that are common and sell out faster than the rest.

We thought it would be more convenient for customers to get more information on the types, particularly in the application.

24

The 24 is common for use in buildings that experience snow loads or high winds and standing seam panels. We also use it for residential roofing and it’s great for metal stamping, forming the shapes you need in a neat process.

22

We use the size 22 for metal roofing. It runs on the thinner side of sheet metals, so expect it to be lighter. We also use the same for steel chairs and desks. 

20

The size 20 is common in flutter spoon and metal case manufacturing. If you wish to drill a hole at the center of it, we recommend using a carbide bit.

We also use the 20-gauge for oversize caskets because it is much lighter than a 22. 

18

We use the size for regular casket sizes. Despite its heftier weight than the 20, we recommend using it because of its smaller dimensions in a not oversize casket. 

16

Our recommendation for the 16 is for light to medium-duty projects. You can use it for your desk and table projects at home. The kitchen sink is another home application for this option. 

14

The 14 gauge is likely the global standard for frame thickness for metal structures and carports. Although several people compare the 12 with the 14, you must know when to use one over the other.

Some manufacturers interchangeably use the two, depending on the availability. Before making any decisions, we recommend confirming the requirements. The 14 gauge standard steel thickness is 0.0747 inches.

12-

The 12 typically stands out in applications such as:

  • base rail anchor of a building
  • overhead rafters
  • vertical uprights
  • window frames
  • door frames
  • walkways
  • and cutouts.

Manufacturers also use a 12 for steel during manufacturing.

Moreover, you should also see the 12 in:

  • storage buildings
  • retail stores
  • parking garages
  • auto repair shops
  • and workshops. 

As you can see above, 12 gauge standard steel has a thickness of 0.1046 inches.

11

The 11-gauge is about 1.45 times stronger than its size 12 sibling. However, their practical applications are similar. We also recommend using it for window frames, walkways, cutouts, door frames, parking garages, workshops, and retail stores. The thickness of gauge 11 standard steel is 0.1196 inches.

10

The 10-gauge works best on more heavy-duty applications, such as:

  • blower systems
  • industrial systems
  • ventilation systems
  • and many more.

They come in different heights so you can order the right one. The 10 gauge standard steel thickness is 0.1345 inches.

8

The 8 gauge is similar to the 10 in terms of application. We can use it for heavy-duty systems. 

7

The 7 gauge is the thickest among the thicknesses listed in this section. We recommend using a 7 for any heavy-duty project, such as tall buildings and industrial systems. Manufacturers also use a 7 for:

However, the trade-off is weight, which is significantly more. Gauge 7 standard steel has a thickness of 0.1793 inches, as you can see above.

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Materials

Besides getting the right thickness, metal comes in many different materials. We’ve covered sheets here, but make sure you figure out if you need galvanized steel, mild steel, carbon steel, or cold rolled. The chart above makes thickness conversion easy.

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