26 gauge steel thickness calculator
In the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for steel, 26 gauge is 0.0179 in (0.455 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
- 0.017 90
- Weight of the sheet
- 7.138
- Weight per square metre
- 3.569 kg/m2
- Weight per square foot
- 0.3316 kg/ft2
- Minimum inside bend radius One thickness is a safe general rule for mild steel; check the alloy.
- 0.455
- Bend allowance
- 1.014
- Bend deduction
- 0.805
- Suggested V-die opening Eight times thickness is the usual air-bending starting point.
- 3.64
Show the working
- Sheet length = 2000
- Sheet width = 1000
- Steel density = 7850
- Bend angle = 90
- K-factor = 0.42
- Thickness = 0.45465999999999995 = 0.454 66
- Thickness in inches = 0.454 66 / 25.4 = 0.0179
- area_m2 = 2000 * 1000 / 1e6 = 2
- volume_m3 = 2 * 0.454 66 / 1000 = 0.000 909 32
- Weight of the sheet = 0.000 909 32 * 7850 = 7.138 16
- Weight per square metre = 0.454 66 / 1000 * 7850 = 3.569 08
- Weight per square foot = 3.569 08 * 0.09290304 = 0.331 578
- Minimum inside bend radius = 0.454 66 * 1 = 0.454 66
- Bend allowance = rad(90) * (0.454 66 + 0.42 * 0.454 66) = 1.014 13
- Bend deduction = 2 * (0.454 66 + 0.454 66) * tan(rad(90)/2) - 1.014 13 = 0.804 507
- Suggested V-die opening = 0.454 66 * 8 = 3.637 28
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 26 gauge steel?
0.0179 inches, or 0.455 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.