Gauge Definition Sheet Metal

A measure of thickness for sheet metal.

Gauge definition sheet 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. A gauge conversion chart can be used to determine the actual thickness of sheet metal in inches or millimeters. The larger the gauge number the thinner the metal. Sheet metal thickness gauges for steel are based on a weight of 41 82 pounds per square foot per inch of thickness.

So inversely the smaller the gauge number the thicker the metal. Metal decking is most commonly 16 18 20 and 22 gauge in thickness. The equivalent thicknesses differ for each gauge size standard which were developed based on the weight of the sheet for a given material. As the gauge number increases the material thickness decreases.

For example 18 gauge steel according to a gauge conversion chart is 0 0478 inch or 1 214 millimeter. 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. In most of the world sheet metal thickness is consistently specified in millimeters. Unit of thickness of a metal sheet or wire.

How gauge thickness works. 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. Why gauge thickness matters. A sheet metal gauge sometimes spelled gage indicates the standard thickness of sheet metal for a specific material.