28 gauge steel thickness calculator
In the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for steel, 28 gauge is 0.0149 in (0.378 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
- 0.014 90
- Weight of the sheet
- 5.942
- Weight per square metre
- 2.971 kg/m2
- Weight per square foot
- 0.2760 kg/ft2
- Minimum inside bend radius One thickness is a safe general rule for mild steel; check the alloy.
- 0.378
- Bend allowance
- 0.844
- Bend deduction
- 0.670
- Suggested V-die opening Eight times thickness is the usual air-bending starting point.
- 3.03
Show the working
- Sheet length = 2000
- Sheet width = 1000
- Steel density = 7850
- Bend angle = 90
- K-factor = 0.42
- Thickness = 0.37845999999999996 = 0.378 46
- Thickness in inches = 0.378 46 / 25.4 = 0.0149
- area_m2 = 2000 * 1000 / 1e6 = 2
- volume_m3 = 2 * 0.378 46 / 1000 = 0.000 756 92
- Weight of the sheet = 0.000 756 92 * 7850 = 5.941 82
- Weight per square metre = 0.378 46 / 1000 * 7850 = 2.970 91
- Weight per square foot = 2.970 91 * 0.09290304 = 0.276 007
- Minimum inside bend radius = 0.378 46 * 1 = 0.378 46
- Bend allowance = rad(90) * (0.378 46 + 0.42 * 0.378 46) = 0.844 167
- Bend deduction = 2 * (0.378 46 + 0.378 46) * tan(rad(90)/2) - 0.844 167 = 0.669 673
- Suggested V-die opening = 0.378 46 * 8 = 3.027 68
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 28 gauge steel?
0.0149 inches, or 0.378 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.