17 gauge steel thickness calculator
In the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for steel, 17 gauge is 0.0538 in (1.367 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
- 0.053 80
- Weight of the sheet
- 21.454
- Weight per square metre
- 10.727 kg/m2
- Weight per square foot
- 0.9966 kg/ft2
- Minimum inside bend radius One thickness is a safe general rule for mild steel; check the alloy.
- 1.367
- Bend allowance
- 3.048
- Bend deduction
- 2.418
- Suggested V-die opening Eight times thickness is the usual air-bending starting point.
- 10.93
Show the working
- Sheet length = 2000
- Sheet width = 1000
- Steel density = 7850
- Bend angle = 90
- K-factor = 0.42
- Thickness = 1.36652 = 1.366 52
- Thickness in inches = 1.366 52 / 25.4 = 0.0538
- area_m2 = 2000 * 1000 / 1e6 = 2
- volume_m3 = 2 * 1.366 52 / 1000 = 0.002 733 04
- Weight of the sheet = 0.002 733 04 * 7850 = 21.4544
- Weight per square metre = 1.366 52 / 1000 * 7850 = 10.7272
- Weight per square foot = 10.7272 * 0.09290304 = 0.996 588
- Minimum inside bend radius = 1.366 52 * 1 = 1.366 52
- Bend allowance = rad(90) * (1.366 52 + 0.42 * 1.366 52) = 3.048 06
- Bend deduction = 2 * (1.366 52 + 1.366 52) * tan(rad(90)/2) - 3.048 06 = 2.418 02
- Suggested V-die opening = 1.366 52 * 8 = 10.9322
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 17 gauge steel?
0.0538 inches, or 1.367 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.