The Steel gauge system originated during the 19th-century industrialization process due to the need for standardization in metal materials. Initially, gauge numbers were primarily defined based on the weight and thickness of metal sheets. Over time, it evolved into a globally recognized standard, simplifying the measurement of steel thickness.
The gauge system provided the steel and metalworking industries with a quick and straightforward way to describe and standardize the thickness of metal materials.
With technological advancements, the gauge system gradually incorporated standardized size charts and modern precision measurement tools and instruments to ensure the accuracy of metal thickness measurements.
Today, organizations such as ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) have clearly defined the gauge standards used in the steel industry. For steel and other metal products, gauge numbers are typically converted into standard millimeter or inch thickness values to facilitate precise material selection.
What is Steel Gauge?
The Steel gauge is a standardized unit used to measure the thickness of steel, commonly employed to describe the thickness of steel plates, steel pipes, and other metal materials.
Gauge is not a specific physical unit but a numerical code system representing metal thickness, primarily for standardized production and easier communication.
This means it does not exactly correspond to actual thickness values (e.g., millimeters or inches).
Steel Gauge Chart
A Steel Gauge Chart is a reference table that shows the relationship between different gauge numbers and the actual thickness of steel (usually measured in inches or millimeters). It is a commonly used tool in metalworking and material selection, helping users quickly determine the thickness of steel for a specific gauge.
| Gauge # | Cold & Hot Rolled Steel Sheets (inches/mm) | Galvanized Steel Sheets (inches/mm) | Stainless Steel Sheets (inches/mm) | Brass & Aluminum Sheets (inches/mm) | Alu, Copper, Brass & Steel Tubes (inches/mm) |
| 7 | 0.1793 / 4.554 | – | – | 0.1443 / 3.665 | 0.180 / 4.572 |
| 8 | 0.1644 / 4.175 | 0.1681 / 4.269 | 0.17187 / 4.365 | 0.1285 / 3.264 | 0.165 / 4.191 |
| 9 | 0.1495 / 3.797 | 0.1532 / 3.891 | 0.15625 / 3.968 | 0.1144 / 2.906 | 0.148 / 3.759 |
| 10 | 0.1345 / 3.416 | 0.1382 / 3.510 | 0.14062 / 3.571 | 0.1019 / 2.588 | 0.134 / 3.404 |
| 11 | 0.1196 / 3.038 | 0.1233 / 3.1318 | 0.125 / 3.175 | 0.09074 / 2.305 | 0.120 / 3.048 |
| 12 | 0.1046 / 2.656 | 0.1084 / 2.753 | 0.10937 / 2.778 | 0.08081 / 2.053 | 0.109 / 2.769 |
| 14 | 0.0747 / 1.897 | 0.0785 / 1.9939 | 0.07812 / 1.984 | 0.06408 / 1.628 | 0.083 / 2.108 |
| 16 | 0.0598 / 1.518 | 0.0635 / 1.6129 | 0.0625 / 1.587 | 0.05082 / 1.291 | 0.065 / 1.651 |
| 18 | 0.0478 / 1.214 | 0.0516 / 1.310 | 0.050 / 1.270 | 0.04030 / 1.024 | 0.049 / 1.245 |
| 20 | 0.0359 / 0.911 | 0.0396 / 1.005 | 0.0375 / 0.9525 | 0.03196 / 0.812 | 0.035 / 0.889 |
| 22 | 0.0299 / 0.759 | 0.0336 / 0.853 | 0.03125 / 0.7937 | 0.02535 / 0.644 | 0.028 / 0.711 |
| 24 | 0.0239 / 0.607 | 0.0276 / 0.701 | 0.025 / 0.635 | 0.02010 / 0.511 | 0.022 / 0.559 |
| 26 | 0.0179 / 0.454 | 0.0217 / 0.551 | 0.01875 / 0.476 | 0.01594 / 0.405 | 0.018 / 0.457 |
| 28 | 0.0149 / 0.378 | 0.0187 / 0.474 | 0.01562 / 0.396 | 0.01264 / 0.321 | 0.014 / 0.356 |
| 30 | 0.0120 / 0.305 | 0.0157 / 0.398 | 0.0125 / 0.3175 | 0.01003 / 0.255 | 0.012 / 0.305 |
Relationship Between Gauge Numbers and Thickness:
- The smaller the gauge number, the thicker the steel.
- For example, 10-gauge steel is thicker than 20-gauge steel.
Differences by Material Type:
The thickness may vary slightly for different materials (e.g., stainless steel, cold-rolled steel, aluminum), even if they share the same gauge number. For instance:
- 16-gauge stainless steel has a thickness of 0.0625 inches (approximately 1.59 mm).
- 16-gauge cold-rolled steel has a thickness of 0.0598 inches (approximately 1.52 mm).
Applications:
Steel Gauge Charts are widely used in the following areas:
- Steel sheet and pipe selection
- Engineering design and construction
- Metal fabrication and manufacturing
- Material cost estimation
Facilitates Material Selection and Standardization:
A Steel Gauge Chart is a convenient reference tool for quickly converting gauge numbers into actual thickness, allowing engineers, manufacturers, and customers to understand material specifications better and ensure standardized production and communication.
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