5 gauge steel thickness calculator
In the Manufacturers Standard Gauge for steel, 5 gauge is 0.2092 in (5.314 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
- 0.209 20
- Weight of the sheet
- 83.425
- Weight per square metre
- 41.712 kg/m2
- Weight per square foot
- 3.8752 kg/ft2
- Minimum inside bend radius One thickness is a safe general rule for mild steel; check the alloy.
- 5.314
- Bend allowance
- 11.852
- Bend deduction
- 9.402
- Suggested V-die opening Eight times thickness is the usual air-bending starting point.
- 42.51
Show the working
- Sheet length = 2000
- Sheet width = 1000
- Steel density = 7850
- Bend angle = 90
- K-factor = 0.42
- Thickness = 5.31368 = 5.313 68
- Thickness in inches = 5.313 68 / 25.4 = 0.2092
- area_m2 = 2000 * 1000 / 1e6 = 2
- volume_m3 = 2 * 5.313 68 / 1000 = 0.010 627 4
- Weight of the sheet = 0.010 627 4 * 7850 = 83.4248
- Weight per square metre = 5.313 68 / 1000 * 7850 = 41.7124
- Weight per square foot = 41.7124 * 0.09290304 = 3.875 21
- Minimum inside bend radius = 5.313 68 * 1 = 5.313 68
- Bend allowance = rad(90) * (5.313 68 + 0.42 * 5.313 68) = 11.8523
- Bend deduction = 2 * (5.313 68 + 5.313 68) * tan(rad(90)/2) - 11.8523 = 9.402 39
- Suggested V-die opening = 5.313 68 * 8 = 42.5094
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 5 gauge steel?
0.2092 inches, or 5.314 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.