Gages Of Sheet Metal Sizes

The gauge number 18 holds no relevance to the actual measurements.

Gages of sheet metal sizes.

The thickness of sheet metal is commonly specified by a traditional non linear measure known as its gauge. Gague ga is a length measurement unit for diameters originating in north america and belongs to the browne sharpe metering system. A gauge conversion chart can be used to determine the actual thickness of sheet metal in inches or millimeters. The following sheet metal gauge size reference chart gives the weight and thickness of sheet metal given as a gauge sometimes spelled gage and indicates the standard thickness of sheet metal and wire for most materials as the gauge number increases the material thickness decreases.

Originally used in the fields of medicine and jewellery the larger the number the smaller the diameter and now it is also used to indicate the thickness. The equivalent thicknesses differ for each gauge size standard which were developed based on the weight of the sheet for a given material. 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. Please note that astm states in specification astm a480 10a the use of gage number is discouraged as being an archaic term of limited usefulness not having general agreement on meaning.

For example 18 gauge steel according to a gauge conversion chart is 0 0478 inch or 1 214 millimeter. When working with sheet metal the term gauge is often used.