16 gauge stainless steel thickness
16 gauge stainless steel is 0.0625 in (1.59 mm) thick, per the U.S. Standard Gauge (stainless sheet chart). The same gauge number means a different thickness in other metals: steel 0.0598 in, galvanized steel 0.0635 in, aluminium 0.0508 in.
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| Material | Gauge standard | Thickness (in) | Thickness (mm) | kg/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | Manufacturers' Standard Gauge | 0.0598 | 1.52 | 11.92 |
| Galvanized steel | galvanized sheet gauge | 0.0635 | 1.61 | 12.66 |
| Stainless steel (this page) | U.S. Standard Gauge (stainless sheet chart) | 0.0625 | 1.59 | 12.59 |
| Aluminium | Brown & Sharpe (AWG) gauge | 0.0508 | 1.29 | 3.46 |
| Gauge | Thickness (in) | Thickness (mm) | kg/m² | lb/ft² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 ga | 0.1250 | 3.18 | 25.18 | 5.16 |
| 12 ga | 0.1094 | 2.78 | 22.04 | 4.51 |
| 14 ga | 0.0781 | 1.98 | 15.73 | 3.22 |
| 16 ga (this page) | 0.0625 | 1.59 | 12.59 | 2.58 |
| 18 ga | 0.0500 | 1.27 | 10.07 | 2.06 |
| 20 ga | 0.0375 | 0.95 | 7.55 | 1.55 |
| 22 ga | 0.0312 | 0.79 | 6.28 | 1.29 |
Practical notes
Gauge is a convention, not a unit: a higher gauge number is thinner, and steps are not even. 16 gauge is 0.0625 in for stainless steel sheet (304 / 316), but steel 0.0598 in, galvanized steel 0.0635 in and aluminium 0.0508 in. Put the decimal thickness on drawings and purchase orders to avoid mix-ups.
Mills supply sheet to a thickness tolerance (ASTM A568 / A480 / EN 10131), so a measured sheet can be a few thousandths of an inch off the nominal value. Measure with a micrometer before calculating bend allowances or press-fit clearances.
Weight per area here is thickness × density (304 stainless, 7.93 g/cm³): 1.59 mm × 7.93 = 12.59 kg/m². Multiply by the sheet area for blank weight; a 4 × 8 ft sheet is 2.973 m², so about 37.4 kg (82.5 lb).
Some mills supply stainless to the Manufacturers' Standard Gauge nominal instead of the U.S. Standard Gauge values in this table (e.g. 16 ga as 0.0598 in rather than 0.0625 in), so check the mill certificate.
FAQ
How thick is 16 gauge stainless steel?
0.0625 in, which is 1.59 mm, per the U.S. Standard Gauge (stainless sheet chart).
How thick is 16 gauge in mm?
For stainless steel, 16 gauge is 1.59 mm. In other metals: steel 1.52 mm, galvanized steel 1.61 mm, aluminium 1.29 mm.
How much does 16 gauge stainless steel weigh?
About 12.59 kg per square metre (2.58 lb per square foot), using 304 stainless, 7.93 g/cm³.
Is 16 gauge thicker than 14 gauge?
No. Higher gauge numbers are thinner: 14 ga stainless steel is 0.0781 in, 16 ga is 0.0625 in.
Sources: Stainless steel: U.S. Standard Gauge (stainless sheet chart) · Densities: EN 10025 / ASTM A1008 (steel), ASTM A240 (stainless), Aluminum Association (5052) · 1 in = 25.4 mm (exact)
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