Sheet Steel Gauge Chart
Manufacturers’ Standard Gauge for carbon steel sheet, gauge 3 to 30, in inches, millimeters and mass per area.
Sheet metal in the United States is often ordered by gauge, a number that gets smaller as the sheet gets thicker. The number is not a thickness and the system is not logical, so a table is the only way to read it. This chart lists the Manufacturers’ Standard Gauge for uncoated carbon steel sheet.
Other metals use different gauge systems: 14 gauge aluminum, stainless steel and galvanized steel are not the same thickness as 14 gauge carbon steel. Always check the system and the thickness with your supplier.
The table
| Gauge | Thickness (in) | Thickness (mm) | Mass of steel sheet (kg/m2) | Mass of steel sheet (lb/ft2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.2391 | 6.073 | 47.674 | 9.755 |
| 4 | 0.2242 | 5.695 | 44.703 | 9.147 |
| 5 | 0.2092 | 5.314 | 41.712 | 8.535 |
| 6 | 0.1943 | 4.935 | 38.741 | 7.927 |
| 7 | 0.1793 | 4.554 | 35.751 | 7.315 |
| 8 | 0.1644 | 4.176 | 32.78 | 6.708 |
| 9 | 0.1495 | 3.797 | 29.809 | 6.1 |
| 10 | 0.1345 | 3.416 | 26.818 | 5.488 |
| 11 | 0.1196 | 3.038 | 23.847 | 4.88 |
| 12 | 0.1046 | 2.657 | 20.856 | 4.268 |
| 13 | 0.0897 | 2.278 | 17.885 | 3.66 |
| 14 | 0.0747 | 1.897 | 14.894 | 3.048 |
| 15 | 0.0673 | 1.709 | 13.419 | 2.746 |
| 16 | 0.0598 | 1.519 | 11.924 | 2.44 |
| 17 | 0.0538 | 1.367 | 10.727 | 2.195 |
| 18 | 0.0478 | 1.214 | 9.531 | 1.95 |
| 19 | 0.0418 | 1.062 | 8.335 | 1.705 |
| 20 | 0.0359 | 0.912 | 7.158 | 1.465 |
| 21 | 0.0329 | 0.836 | 6.56 | 1.342 |
| 22 | 0.0299 | 0.759 | 5.962 | 1.22 |
| 23 | 0.0269 | 0.683 | 5.364 | 1.098 |
| 24 | 0.0239 | 0.607 | 4.765 | 0.975 |
| 25 | 0.0209 | 0.531 | 4.167 | 0.853 |
| 26 | 0.0179 | 0.455 | 3.569 | 0.73 |
| 27 | 0.0164 | 0.417 | 3.27 | 0.669 |
| 28 | 0.0149 | 0.378 | 2.971 | 0.608 |
| 29 | 0.0135 | 0.343 | 2.692 | 0.551 |
| 30 | 0.012 | 0.305 | 2.393 | 0.49 |
Source and notes: Manufacturers' Standard Gauge for uncoated carbon steel sheet (gauge systems for aluminum, stainless and galvanized sheet differ). Mass uses 7 850 kg/m3.
How to use this table
- Find the gauge in the first column.
- Read the thickness in inches or millimeters.
- Use the mass per area to estimate the weight of a sheet or a part.
Worked example: a 4 ft × 8 ft sheet of 14 gauge steel
- 14 gauge is 0.0747 in = 1.897 mm thick, with a mass of 14.89 kg/m².
- A sheet 1.2 m × 2.4 m has an area of 2.88 m², so it weighs about 42.9 kg (95 lb).
- A 10 gauge sheet of the same size is 3.42 mm thick and weighs about 77.2 kg.
Notes and cautions
- Mass uses 7 850 kg/m³ (0.2836 lb/in³). Aluminum is about one third of that for the same thickness.
- Sheet tolerances are wide: the actual thickness of purchased sheet can be a few percent either way.
- Metric sheet is ordered by thickness in millimeters, with no gauge number.
Related tools and guides
- Sheet-Metal Bend Allowance Calculator
- Steel and Plate Weight Calculator
- Sheet Metal Forming (guide)
- All reference tables
FAQ
Why is a higher gauge number thinner?
The gauge system comes from the number of drawing operations used to make wire, and more passes made thinner wire and sheet. The numbers are historical, not a formula.
Is 16 gauge the same for steel and aluminum?
No. Each material has its own gauge table. Always give the thickness as well as the gauge when you order.
Sources
- Manufacturers’ Standard Gauge for uncoated carbon steel sheet; ASTM A568 and A1008 give the thickness tolerances.
- Manufacturers' Standard Gauge for uncoated carbon steel sheet (gauge systems for aluminum, stainless and galvanized sheet differ). Mass uses 7 850 kg/m3.