There are several steel 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:
- oversize tables
- desks
- and cabinets.
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.
