Gauge Measurement Overview
Gauge is a commonly used system for measuring the thickness of metal sheets, which is necessary in manufacturing, fabrication, and building. The gauge number indicates the thickness of the sheet and impacts its strength.
For example, 14 gauge steel has a thickness of 0.0747 inches (1.9 mm).
Key Details:
14 Gauge Steel Thickness:
Inches: 0.0747 in
Millimeters: 1.9 mm
Measurement Units:
Millimeters (mm): Common in many countries and industries.
Inches (in): Preferred in the US, especially for compliance and application purposes.
Terminology:
Gauge vs. Gage: Both names are used interchangeably, and “gage” is an alternate spelling.
Applications:
Gauge measures aid in the selection of the appropriate material thickness for diverse purposes, guaranteeing conformity with industry norms and specifications.
Thickness of 14 gauge stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminum sheet in millimeters and inches.
| Material | Thickness (mm) | Thickness (inch) |
| 14 Gauge Stainless Steel | 1.90 | 0.0747 |
| 14 Gauge Mild Steel | 1.90 | 0.0747 |
| 14 Gauge Aluminum | 1.90 | 0.0747 |
14 Gauge Sheet Metal Thickness
Steel:
Stainless Steel: 0.0781 inches (2.0 mm)
Mild Steel: 0.0747 inches (1.9 mm)
Aluminum:
Thickness: 0.0641 inches (1.6 mm)
Notes:
Variations: The thickness varies slightly based on the material, grade, and any additional processing, such as coatings.
Regional Differences: Thickness measures may vary slightly between local suppliers and manufacturers.
14 Gauge Sheet Metal Thickness in Inch & Mm
| Material | Inch | mm |
| 14 gauge stainless steel sheet thickness | 0.0781 | 1.984 |
| 14 ga aluminium sheet thickness | 0.0641 | 1.628 |
| 14 gauge carbon steel sheet thickness | 0.0747 | 1.897 |
| 14 ga galvanized sheet thickness | 0.0785 | 1.994 |
| 14 gauge copper sheet thickness | 0.083 | 2.108 |
| 14 ga brass sheet thickness | 0.06408 | 1.628 |
14 Gauge Steel Thickness Tolerance
| Grade | Inch | Tolerance |
| 14 gauge stainless steel sheet tolerance | 0.0781 | 0.004 |
| 5052 H32 14 gauge aluminium sheet tolerance | 0.0641 | ± 0.0040″0.10mm |
| 14 gauge carbon steel sheet tolerance | 0.0747 | 0.08170.0677 |
14 Gauge Sheet Weight Chart
| Weight Per Area | ||||
| Material | Inch | mm | Ib/ft² | kg/m² |
| 14 gauge stainless steel sheet thickness | 0.0781 | 1.984 | 3.250 | 15.869 |
| 14 ga aluminium sheet thickness | 0.0641 | 1.628 | 0.905 | 4.417 |
| 14 gauge carbon steel sheet thickness | 0.0747 | 1.897 | 3.047 | 14.879 |
| 14 ga galvanized sheet thickness | 0.0785 | 1.994 | 3.202 | 15.636 |
14 Gauge Vs 16 Gauge Sheet Metal
| Gauge (ga) | Steel Thickness (in.) | Steel Thickness (mm) | Aluminum Thickness (in.) | Aluminum Thickness (mm) |
| 3 | 0.2391 | 6.07 | 0.2294 | 5.83 |
| 4 | 0.2242 | 5.69 | 0.2043 | 5.19 |
| 5 | 0.2092 | 531 | 0.1819 | 4.62 |
| 6 | 0.1943 | 4.94 | 0.162 | 4.11 |
| 7 | 0.1793 | 4.55 | 0.1443 | 3.67 |
| 8 | 0.1644 | 4.18 | 0.1285 | 3.26 |
| 9 | 0.1495 | 3.80 | 0.1144 | 2.91 |
| 10 | 0.1345 | 3.42 | 0.1019 | 2.59 |
| 11 | 0.1196 | 3.04 | 0.0907 | 2.30 |
| 12 | 0.1046 | 2,66 | 0.0808 | 2.05 |
| 13 | 0.0897 | 2.28 | 0.072 | 1.83 |
| 16 | 0.0598 | 1.52 | 0.0508 | 1.29 |
| 17 | 0.0538 | 1.37 | 0.0453 | 1.15 |
| 18 | 0.0478 | 1.21 | 0.0403 | 1.02 |
| 19 | 0.0418 | 1.06 | 0.0359 | 0.91 |
| 20 | 0.0359 | 0.91 | 0.032 | 0.81 |
| 21 | 0.0329 | 0.84 | 0.0285 | 0.72 |
| 22 | 0.0299 | 0.76 | 0.0253 | 0.64 |
| 23 | 0.0269 | 0.68 | 0.0226 | 0.57 |
| 24 | 0.0239 | 0.61 | 0.0201 | 0.51 |
| 25 | 0.0209 | 0.53 | 0.0179 | 0.45 |
| 26 | 0.0179 | 0.45 | 0.0159 | 0.40 |
| 27 | 0.0164 | 0.42 | 0.0142 | 0.36 |
| 28 | 0.0149 | 0.38 | 0.0126 | 0.32 |
| 29 | 0.0135 | 0.34 | 0.0113 | 0.29 |
| 30 | 0.012 | 0.30 | 0.01 | 0.25 |
| 31 | 0.0105 | 0.27 | 0.0089 | 0.23 |
| 32 | 0.0097 | 0.25 | 0.008 | 0.20 |
| 33 | 0.009 | 0.23 | 0.0071 | 0,18 |
| 34 | 0.0082 | 0.21 | 0.0063 | 0.16 |
| 35 | 0.0075 | 0.19 | 0.0056 | 0.14 |
| 36 | 0.0067 | 0.17 |
14 Gauge Vs 16 Gauge Sheet Metal
| Designation | Type of Steel |
| A53 / A53M – 20 | Pipe, steel, black and hot-dipped, zinc-coated, welded and seamless |
| A106 / A106M – 19a | Seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service |
| A134 / A134M – 19 | Electric-fusion (arc)-welded steel pipe (sizes NPS 16 and over) |
| A135 / A135M – 20 | Electric-resistance-welded steel pipe |
| A139 / A139M – 16 | Electric-fusion (arc)-welded steel pipe (NPS 4 and over) |
| A178 / A178M – 19 | Electric-resistance-welded carbon steel and carbon-manganese steel boiler and superheater tubes |
| A179 / A179M – 19 | Seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel heat-exchanger and condenser tubes |
| A192 / A192M – 17 | Seamless carbon steel boiler tubes for high-pressure service |
| A210 / A210M – 19 | Seamless medium-carbon steel boiler and superheater tubes |
| A214 / A214M – 19 | Electric-resistance-welded carbon steel heat-exchanger and condenser tubes |
| A252 / A252M – 19 | Welded and seamless steel pipe piles |
| A254 / A254M – 12(2019) | Copper-brazed steel tubing |
| A381 / A381M – 18 | Metal-arc-welded carbon or high-strength low-alloy steel pipe for high-pressure transmission systems |
| A423 / A423M – 19 | Seamless and electric-welded low-alloy steel tubes |
| A450 / A450M – 18a | General requirements for carbon and low alloy steel tubes |
| A498 / A498M – 17 | Seamless and welded carbon steel heat-exchanger tubes with integral fins |
| A500 / A500M – 20 | Cold-formed welded and seamless carbon steel structural tubing in rounds and shapes |
| A501 / A501M – 14 | Hot-formed welded and seamless carbon steel structural tubing |
| A512 – 18 | Cold-drawn buttweld carbon steel mechanical tubing |
| A513 / A513M – 20a | Electric-resistance-welded carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing |
| A519 / A519M – 17 | Seamless carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing |
| A523 / A523M – 20 | Plain end seamless and electric-resistance-welded steel pipe for high-pressure pipe-type cable circuits |
| A524 – 17 | Seamless carbon steel pipe for atmospheric and lower temperatures |
| A530 / A530M – 18 | General requirements for specialized carbon and alloy steel pipe |
| A556 / A556M – 18 | Seamless cold-drawn carbon steel feedwater heater tubes |
| A587 – 96(2019) | Electric-resistance-welded low-carbon steel pipe for the chemical industry |
| A589 / A589M – 06(2018) | Seamless and welded carbon steel water-well pipe |
| A595 / A595M – 18 | Steel tubes, low-carbon or high-strength low-alloy, tapered for structural use |
| A618 / A618M – 04(2015) | Hot-formed welded and seamless high-strength low-alloy structural tubing |
| A671 / A671M – 20 | Electric-fusion-welded steel pipe for atmospheric and lower temperatures |
| A672 / A672M – 19 | Electric-fusion-welded steel pipe for high-pressure service at moderate temperatures |
| A691 / A691M – 19 | Carbon and alloy steel pipe, electric-fusion-welded for high-pressure service at high temperatures |
| A733 – 16 | Welded and seamless carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel pipe nipples |
| A787 / A787M – 20a | Electric-resistance-welded metallic-coated carbon steel mechanical tubing |
| A795 / A795M – 13(2020) | Black and hot-dipped zinc-coated (galvanized) welded and seamless steel pipe for fire protection use |
| A822 / A822M – 20 | Seamless cold-drawn carbon steel tubing for hydraulic system service |
| A847 / A847M – 20 | Cold-formed welded and seamless high-strength low-alloy structural tubing with improved atmospheric corrosion resistance |
| A865 / A865M – 06(2017) | Threaded couplings, steel, black or zinc-coated (galvanized) welded or seamless, for use in steel pipe joints |
| A972 / A972M – 00(2015) | Fusion bonded epoxy-coated pipe piles |
| A1024 / A1024M – 18 | Steel line pipe, black, plain-end, seamless |
| A1065 / A1065M – 18 | Cold-formed electric-fusion (arc) welded high-strength low-alloy structural tubing in shapes, with 50 ksi [345 MPa] minimum yield point |
| A1076 / A1076M – 20 | Cold-formed carbon structural steel tubing made from metallic precoated sheet steel |
| A1085 / A1085M – 15 | Cold-formed welded carbon steel hollow structural sections (HSS) |
| A1097 – 16 | Steel casing pipe, electric-fusion (arc)-welded (outside diameter of 10 in. and larger) |
| A1103 / A1103M – 16 | Seamless cold-finished carbon steel structural frame tubing for automotive racing applications |
| A1110 / A1110M – 18 | Cold-formed welded and seamless carbon steel structural tubing in rounds and shapes with 52 ksi [360 MPa] minimum yield strength and impact requirements |
| A1112 / A1112M – 18 | Cold-formed welded high-strength carbon steel or high-strength low-alloy steel hollow structural sections (HSS) in rounds and shapes |
How do you calculate the weight of 14 gauge sheet metal?
To calculate the weight of 14 gauge sheet metal, we must apply the specified formula and specific densities for each type of material.
Formula:
W=Length×Width×Thickness×Specific density of materialW = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \times \text{Thickness} \times \text{Specific density of material}W=Length×Width×Thickness×Specific density of material
Weight per unit area for different materials:
Sheet Steel:
Thickness for 14 gauge: 0.0747 inches (1.9 mm)
Weight: 3.125 lb/ft² or 15.1 kg/m²
14 gauge 304 Stainless Steel (SS):
Higher thickness: 3.15 lb/ft²
Galvanized Steel Sheets:
Heavier due to coating: 3.281 lb/ft²
Aluminum:
Specific Density: 2,750 kg/m³
Weight: 0.905 lb/ft² or 4.38 kg/m²
Example Calculation:
To calculate the weight of 14 gauge sheet metal, we must apply the specified formula and specific densities for each type of material.
1. 14 Gauge Steel Sheet:
Dimensions:
Length = 1 meter
Width = 1 meter
Thickness = 1.9 mm = 0.0019 meters
Specific Density:
Steel: Approximately 7,850 kg/m³
Wsteel=Length× Width× Thickness× Specific density of materialW_{steel} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \times \text{Thickness} \times \text{Specific density of material}Wsteel=Length× Width× Thickness× Specific density of material
Wsteel=1 m× 1 m× 0.0019 m× 7850 kg/m3W_{steel} = 1 \, \text{m} \times 1 \, \text{m} \times 0.0019 \, \text{m} \times 7850 \, \text{kg/m}^3Wsteel=1m× 1m× 0.0019m× 7850kg/m3
Wsteel=14.915 kgW_{steel} = 14.915 \, \text{kg}Wsteel=14.915kg
2. 14 Gauge Aluminum Sheet:
Dimensions:
Length = 1 meter
Width = 1 meter
Thickness = 1.63 mm = 0.00163 meters
Specific Density:
Aluminum: 2,750 kg/m³
Waluminum=Length× Width× Thickness× Specific density of materialW_{aluminum} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \times \text{Thickness} \times \text{Specific density of material}Waluminum=Length× Width× Thickness× Specific density of material
Waluminum=1 m× 1 m× 0.00163 m× 2750 kg/m3W_{aluminum} = 1 \, \text{m} \times 1 \, \text{m} \times 0.00163 \, \text{m} \times 2750 \, \text{kg/m}^3Waluminum=1m× 1m×0.00163m×2750kg/m3
Waluminum=4.48225 kgW_{aluminum} = 4.48225 \, \text{kg}Waluminum=4.48225kg
Checking 14-gauge sheet metal for projects
When working on projects utilizing 14 gauge sheet metal, it is critical to understand the material and its qualities. For example, a 14 gauge stainless steel sheet with a thickness of roughly 0.0781 inches (2.0 mm) is ideal for applications that require endurance and tolerance to extreme weather conditions. It is widely utilized in metal frame for structures, lighting fixtures, and industrial applications.
In contrast, 14 gauge mild steel, with a thickness of approximately 0.0747 inches (1.9 mm), is adaptable and suited for general-purpose applications such as auto maintenance and shop work. For precision cutting, instruments such as shear cutting machines and metal snips are ideal.
If you’re working with aluminum, the thickness of the 14 gauge sheet is 0.0641 inches (1.6 mm). This material is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it suitable for non-load-bearing applications such as signage, electrical enclosures, and architectural cladding. Aluminum can be cut with metal shears or a circular saw with an aluminum cutting blade. Regardless of the material, ensure that the sheet metal fulfills local standards and project specifications. Inspecting the metal for faults and selecting the suitable tools for cutting and handling will help assure the project’s success.
How to Prevent Rust on 14 Gauge Steel?
Rust can substantially reduce the durability and functionality of 14 gauge steel. To prevent corrosion and increase the life of your steel sheets, apply the proper protection procedures. For example, selecting a grade of stainless steel, such as 14 gauge 304 stainless steel, can be a cost-effective option because it is more resistant to oxidizing acids and general corrosion. 14 gauge carbon steel, on the other hand, has a higher carbon content and is more susceptible to rusting when exposed to moisture and severe circumstances.
Here are a few practical ways to preserve 14 gauge steel from rust.
Galvanizing: Galvanizing a zinc coating creates a protective layer that helps guard the steel from rusting. This approach is excellent at preventing corrosion.
Electroplating and Powder Coating: Electroplating is the process of coating steel with a thin layer of another metal to make it more rust resistant. Powder coating, which deposits a layer of epoxy, acrylic, or polyurethane, provides a durable protective finish.
Priming and Painting: Applying a red oxide primer followed by metal paint on 14 gauge mild steel can provide a rust-resistant barrier. Pickling, which involves treating the steel with an acid solution to remove impurities, is another way to prepare the surface for painting. Mechanical grinding can also assist eliminate existing rust before applying protective coatings.
Regular Inspection and Cleaning: Keeping the steel clean is critical for preventing rust. To remove dirt and grime that can trap moisture, examine the surface on a regular basis and clean it with soap and water.
Proper Storage: To reduce moisture exposure, store 14 gauge steel sheets in a dry atmosphere. Avoid storing them in regions with harsh weather or variable temperatures, which can hasten rust production.
Implementing these preventative measures will considerably improve the longevity and performance of your 14 gauge steel projects.
