13 gauge steel thickness calculator
In the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for steel, 13 gauge is 0.0897 in (2.278 mm). The gauge number counts down as the sheet gets thicker.
Where the neutral axis sits, as a fraction of thickness. 0.33 for tight bends, 0.5 for generous ones.
- Thickness in inches
- 0.089 70
- Weight of the sheet
- 35.771
- Weight per square metre
- 17.885 kg/m2
- Weight per square foot
- 1.6616 kg/ft2
- Minimum inside bend radius One thickness is a safe general rule for mild steel; check the alloy.
- 2.278
- Bend allowance
- 5.082
- Bend deduction
- 4.032
- Suggested V-die opening Eight times thickness is the usual air-bending starting point.
- 18.23
Show the working
- Sheet length = 2000
- Sheet width = 1000
- Steel density = 7850
- Bend angle = 90
- K-factor = 0.42
- Thickness = 2.27838 = 2.278 38
- Thickness in inches = 2.278 38 / 25.4 = 0.0897
- area_m2 = 2000 * 1000 / 1e6 = 2
- volume_m3 = 2 * 2.278 38 / 1000 = 0.004 556 76
- Weight of the sheet = 0.004 556 76 * 7850 = 35.7706
- Weight per square metre = 2.278 38 / 1000 * 7850 = 17.8853
- Weight per square foot = 17.8853 * 0.09290304 = 1.6616
- Minimum inside bend radius = 2.278 38 * 1 = 2.278 38
- Bend allowance = rad(90) * (2.278 38 + 0.42 * 2.278 38) = 5.082
- Bend deduction = 2 * (2.278 38 + 2.278 38) * tan(rad(90)/2) - 5.082 = 4.031 52
- Suggested V-die opening = 2.278 38 * 8 = 18.227
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- weight = length x width x thickness x density
- bend allowance = angle in radians x (inside radius + K x thickness)
- bend deduction = 2 x (inside radius + thickness) x tan(angle/2) - bend allowance
Gauge numbers are not a single standard. Steel, aluminium, stainless and zinc all use different gauge tables for the same number, so always state the material.
The Manufacturers Standard Gauge descends from a weight-per-square-foot table, which is why the thicknesses are not a neat progression.
Frequently asked
How thick is 13 gauge steel?
0.0897 inches, or 2.278 mm, for uncoated sheet steel.
Is a higher gauge number thicker?
No. The gauge number counts down as thickness goes up, so 16 gauge is thicker than 20 gauge.
Where the numbers come from
- Thicknesses are the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for uncoated hot- and cold-rolled sheet steel.