Stainless steel sheet is usually ordered by gauge, a number where higher means thinner. The catch: stainless gauges don’t match carbon steel, galvanized or aluminum gauges, and wire uses another system again. This guide gives you the full stainless gauge-to-inch-to-mm chart with weights, shows how the other gauge systems differ, converts metric thicknesses to the nearest gauge, and helps you choose the right thickness for your project.
Quick answers
- 16 gauge stainless = 0.0625″ = 1.59 mm. 18 gauge = 0.050″ = 1.27 mm. 20 gauge = 0.0375″ = 0.95 mm. 22 gauge = 0.0312″ = 0.79 mm.
- A lower number is thicker. 16 gauge is about 25% thicker than 18 gauge.
- Stainless ≠ carbon steel gauge. 16-gauge stainless is 0.0625″, but 16-gauge carbon steel is 0.0598″. Always order by decimal inches or mm.
- Weight: thickness in inches × 41.6 = lb per sq ft, or thickness in mm × 7.93 = kg per m². A 4′ × 8′ sheet of 16 gauge weighs about 83 lb (38 kg).
Why stainless gauges are different
Gauge numbers began as a way of describing sheet by weight per square foot, not by thickness. Each material ended up with its own table:
- Stainless steel is normally quoted on the older U.S. Standard Gauge (1893), whose steps fall on neat fractions of an inch. 16 gauge = 1/16″ (0.0625″), and 11 gauge = 1/8″ (0.125″).
- Carbon (mild) steel uses the Manufacturers’ Standard Gauge, which is based on carbon steel’s density, so each gauge is a little thinner.
- Galvanized steel uses the carbon-steel gauge plus the thickness of its zinc coating.
- Aluminum, copper and brass sheet use the Brown & Sharpe system (the same as AWG wire), which is much thinner gauge-for-gauge.
So “16 gauge” can mean four different thicknesses depending on the metal. That’s why fabricators and suppliers increasingly quote decimal inches or millimeters, and why you should too.
Complete stainless steel gauge chart (7–30 gauge)
Thicknesses are nominal. Weights are for 304 stainless (7.93 g/cm³). 316 is about 1% heavier and 430 about 2% lighter. Rows in bold are the gauges most commonly stocked.
| Gauge | Inches | Fraction | mm | lb / sq ft | kg / m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0.1875 | 3/16″ | 4.76 | 7.80 | 37.7 |
| 8 | 0.1719 | 11/64″ | 4.37 | 7.15 | 34.6 |
| 9 | 0.1562 | 5/32″ | 3.97 | 6.50 | 31.5 |
| 10 | 0.1406 | 9/64″ | 3.57 | 5.85 | 28.3 |
| 11 | 0.1250 | 1/8″ | 3.18 | 5.20 | 25.2 |
| 12 | 0.1094 | 7/64″ | 2.78 | 4.55 | 22.0 |
| 13 | 0.0937 | 3/32″ | 2.38 | 3.90 | 18.9 |
| 14 | 0.0781 | 5/64″ | 1.98 | 3.25 | 15.7 |
| 15 | 0.0703 | 9/128″ | 1.79 | 2.93 | 14.2 |
| 16 | 0.0625 | 1/16″ | 1.59 | 2.60 | 12.6 |
| 17 | 0.0562 | 9/160″ | 1.43 | 2.34 | 11.3 |
| 18 | 0.0500 | 1/20″ | 1.27 | 2.08 | 10.1 |
| 19 | 0.0437 | 7/160″ | 1.11 | 1.82 | 8.8 |
| 20 | 0.0375 | 3/80″ | 0.95 | 1.56 | 7.5 |
| 21 | 0.0344 | 11/320″ | 0.87 | 1.43 | 6.9 |
| 22 | 0.0312 | 1/32″ | 0.79 | 1.30 | 6.3 |
| 23 | 0.0281 | 9/320″ | 0.71 | 1.17 | 5.6 |
| 24 | 0.0250 | 1/40″ | 0.64 | 1.04 | 5.1 |
| 25 | 0.0219 | 7/320″ | 0.56 | 0.91 | 4.4 |
| 26 | 0.0187 | 3/160″ | 0.48 | 0.78 | 3.8 |
| 28 | 0.0156 | 1/64″ | 0.40 | 0.65 | 3.2 |
| 30 | 0.0125 | 1/80″ | 0.32 | 0.52 | 2.5 |
Above 7 gauge (3/16″), stainless is generally sold as plate by fractional or metric thickness, not gauge (see the plate table below).
Stainless vs carbon steel vs galvanized vs aluminum gauges
The same gauge number, four different thicknesses (in inches):
| Gauge | Stainless | Carbon steel | Galvanized steel | Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.1406 | 0.1345 | 0.1382 | 0.1019 |
| 11 | 0.1250 | 0.1196 | 0.1233 | 0.0907 |
| 12 | 0.1094 | 0.1046 | 0.1084 | 0.0808 |
| 14 | 0.0781 | 0.0747 | 0.0785 | 0.0641 |
| 16 | 0.0625 | 0.0598 | 0.0635 | 0.0508 |
| 18 | 0.0500 | 0.0478 | 0.0516 | 0.0403 |
| 20 | 0.0375 | 0.0359 | 0.0396 | 0.0320 |
| 22 | 0.0312 | 0.0299 | 0.0336 | 0.0253 |
| 24 | 0.0250 | 0.0239 | 0.0276 | 0.0201 |
| 26 | 0.0187 | 0.0179 | 0.0217 | 0.0159 |
Why it matters: if a drawing says “16 gauge” and was drawn for mild steel, stainless at the same gauge is about 4.5% thicker. That’s usually harmless, but it can throw off tight-fitting parts and bend allowances. Swapping aluminum for stainless at the “same gauge” gives you a much thinner part.
Metric thickness to the nearest stainless gauge
Outside the US, sheet is sold in millimeters. Here’s what the common metric sizes are closest to:
| Metric sheet | Inches | Nearest stainless gauge | kg / m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 mm | 0.016″ | 28 ga (0.40 mm) | 3.2 |
| 0.5 mm | 0.020″ | Between 26 and 25 ga | 4.0 |
| 0.6 mm | 0.024″ | ≈ 24 ga (0.64 mm) | 4.8 |
| 0.8 mm | 0.031″ | ≈ 22 ga (0.79 mm) | 6.3 |
| 1.0 mm | 0.039″ | ≈ 20 ga (0.95 mm) | 7.9 |
| 1.2 mm | 0.047″ | ≈ 18 ga (1.27 mm) | 9.5 |
| 1.5 mm | 0.059″ | ≈ 16 ga (1.59 mm) | 11.9 |
| 2.0 mm | 0.079″ | ≈ 14 ga (1.98 mm) | 15.9 |
| 2.5 mm | 0.098″ | ≈ 13 ga (2.38 mm) | 19.8 |
| 3.0 mm | 0.118″ | ≈ 11 ga (3.18 mm) | 23.8 |
| 4.0 mm | 0.157″ | ≈ 9 ga (3.97 mm) | 31.7 |
“Nearest” isn’t “equal”. If you’re replacing a part, measure the original and order the exact thickness.
Weight of a full 4′ × 8′ sheet
A 48″ × 96″ sheet is 32 sq ft (2.97 m²). Handy for shipping, handling and checking that your counter or wall can carry it:
| Gauge | 4′ × 8′ sheet weight | Handling |
|---|---|---|
| 26 ga | ≈ 25 lb (11 kg) | One person, but floppy |
| 24 ga | ≈ 33 lb (15 kg) | One person |
| 22 ga | ≈ 42 lb (19 kg) | One person, carefully |
| 20 ga | ≈ 50 lb (23 kg) | Two people recommended |
| 18 ga | ≈ 67 lb (30 kg) | Two people |
| 16 ga | ≈ 83 lb (38 kg) | Two people |
| 14 ga | ≈ 104 lb (47 kg) | Two people or a sheet cart |
| 11 ga | ≈ 166 lb (76 kg) | Lifting equipment |
For other sizes and shapes, use the stainless steel weight calculator.
Stainless plate thicknesses (3/16″ and up)
| Plate | mm | lb / sq ft | kg / m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16″ | 4.76 | 7.80 | 37.7 |
| 1/4″ | 6.35 | 10.4 | 50.4 |
| 3/8″ | 9.53 | 15.6 | 75.6 |
| 1/2″ | 12.7 | 20.8 | 101 |
| 3/4″ | 19.05 | 31.2 | 151 |
| 1″ | 25.4 | 41.6 | 201 |
Metric plate is commonly 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 and 25 mm. More on plate grades and finishes in stainless steel plate finishes.
Which gauge should you use?
| Project | Typical gauge | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen backsplash | 22–20 ga (24 ga on a perfectly flat backer) | Light enough to glue to a wall, stiff enough to stay flat |
| Wall cladding / wall protection | 24–20 ga | Covers large areas without much weight |
| Range hood | 20–18 ga | Holds its shape and resists denting |
| Residential sink | 18 ga (16 ga for premium) | Thicker means quieter and fewer dents. Avoid 22 ga sinks. |
| Commercial sink / prep table | 16–14 ga | Takes daily heavy pots and impacts |
| Countertop (laminated to plywood/MDF) | 16–14 ga | Flat, durable surface that won’t “oil-can” (pop in and out when pressed) |
| Appliance and machine panels | 20–16 ga | Balances stiffness and cost |
| Exhaust heat shields | 22–18 ga | Light, easy to form around pipes |
| Brackets, gussets, mounting plates | 12–11 ga (1/8″) | Carries real loads |
| Structural or base plates | 3/16″–1/2″ plate | Bolted and welded load-bearing parts |
Thicker isn’t always better. Each step down in gauge adds weight and cost, and makes cutting and bending harder. Thin sheet also gets much stiffer when you fold the edges, add a hem, or bond it to a backer. That’s how backsplashes and countertops get away with 22 or 16 gauge. For grade, finish and size choices, see the main guide: stainless steel sheet metal: grades, gauge chart, finishes & sizes.
16 vs 18 gauge: the most common question
16 gauge (1.59 mm) is 25% thicker and about 25% heavier than 18 gauge (1.27 mm). For sinks and worktops, 16 gauge dents less and sounds less “tinny”. For wall panels, hoods and equipment covers, 18 gauge is usually enough and noticeably easier to cut and bend. See stainless steel sinks for more on sink gauges.
Wire gauge is a different system
Stainless wire (tie wire, lockwire, mesh wire) is sized by wire gauge, not sheet gauge, and the US and UK systems differ too:
| Wire gauge | AWG (US) | SWG (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.1019″ / 2.59 mm | 0.128″ / 3.25 mm |
| 16 | 0.0508″ / 1.29 mm | 0.064″ / 1.63 mm |
| 18 | 0.0403″ / 1.02 mm | 0.048″ / 1.22 mm |
| 20 | 0.0320″ / 0.81 mm | 0.036″ / 0.91 mm |
| 22 | 0.0253″ / 0.64 mm | 0.028″ / 0.71 mm |
When buying wire, check which system the seller uses, or buy by diameter. More in our stainless steel wire guide.
How to measure stainless sheet thickness
- Use a digital caliper or micrometer. A caliper (accurate to about ±0.02 mm) is fine for choosing a gauge, and a micrometer is better for close tolerances.
- Measure away from the edge. Sheared or laser-cut edges can be rolled or burred, so measure at least 10 mm (3/8″) in.
- Remove the protective film first. PVC film adds roughly 0.05–0.1 mm and can push the reading up a gauge.
- Take three readings in different places and use the average.
- Convert with the stainless chart above, not a generic sheet-metal gauge wheel. Most gauge wheels are made for carbon steel.
Expect the reading to vary a little from the nominal size. Flat-rolled stainless is made to the thickness tolerances in ASTM A480 (or EN 10259 / EN ISO 9445 for metric sheet). Tolerances depend on thickness and width, so ask your supplier for the exact range if it matters for your part.
Frequently asked questions
Which is thicker, 16 or 18 gauge?
16 gauge. Gauge numbers run backwards, so the lower the number, the thicker the sheet: 16 gauge stainless is 1.59 mm and 18 gauge is 1.27 mm.
Is 1/8″ the same as 11 gauge?
For stainless, yes: 11 gauge is 0.125″ (3.18 mm). For carbon steel, 11 gauge is 0.1196″, slightly under 1/8″.
What gauge is 1 mm stainless?
1.0 mm sits between 20 gauge (0.95 mm) and 19 gauge (1.11 mm). It’s usually treated as 20 gauge.
What gauge is 2 mm stainless steel?
About 14 gauge, which is 1.98 mm.
What’s the thinnest stainless sheet you can buy?
Standard sheet goes down to about 30 gauge (0.32 mm). Below that it’s sold as shim stock or foil, down to around 0.025 mm (0.001″), usually in rolls.
Why does my 16-gauge stainless measure 1.55 mm instead of 1.59?
That’s normal mill tolerance. Sheet is allowed to vary slightly from the nominal thickness. If you need a guaranteed minimum, ask for it on your order.
Last updated: October 2026. Stainless gauges follow the U.S. Standard Gauge as published by stainless producers and service centers. Carbon, galvanized and aluminum values follow the Manufacturers’ Standard, galvanized and Brown & Sharpe gauges. Weights are nominal, for estimating only.
