"Gauge" is a unit used to express the thickness of metallic materials, especially aluminum and steel materials. A smaller gauge value indicates a thicker material, conversely, a larger gauge value indicates a thinner material. This representation originates from the historical standardization of manufacturing processes. Gauges are commonly used in North America, such as the United States and Canada, particularly in construction, automotive, and manufacturing industries.
Common aluminum coil gauges range from 14 gauge to 30 gauge. Below are some common aluminum coil gauge values and their corresponding thicknesses (in inches and millimeters):
- 14 gauge aluminum coil:
Thickness is 0.0641 inches (1.62814 mm), a relatively thick aluminum coil specification suitable for applications requiring high strength and rigidity.
- 16 gauge aluminum coil:
Thickness is 0.0508 inches (1.29032 mm), one of the common aluminum coil thicknesses, widely used in construction, packaging, and electronics.
- 18 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0403 inches (1.02362 mm) thick, suitable for applications requiring a certain strength and lightweight, such as building curtain walls and interior decoration.
- 20 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0320 inches (0.8128 mm) thick, a commonly used thin aluminum coil specification, suitable for applications requiring high barrier properties and flexibility, such as food packaging and cigarette packaging.
- 22 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0253 inches (0.64262 mm) thick, a relatively thin aluminum coil specification, suitable for applications requiring high flexibility, such as packaging materials and decorative strips.
- 24 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0201 inches (0.51054 mm) thick, one of the common thin aluminum coil specifications, widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and other fields.
- 26 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0159 inches (0.40386 mm) thick, this is a thinner aluminum coil specification, suitable for applications requiring extremely low weight and high flexibility.
- 28 gauge aluminum coil:
0.0126 inches (0.32004 mm) thick, this is one of the thinnest aluminum coil specifications, suitable for high-end packaging materials, electronic component films, etc.
- 30 gauge aluminum coil:
Approximately 0.0100 inches (0.25400 mm, estimated based on gauge base; actual values may vary slightly), this is one of the thinnest aluminum coil specifications, suitable for special applications with extremely high weight and thickness requirements.
Industry application scope of aluminum coil gauges:
- Construction and decoration
Exterior walls and curtain walls commonly use 2.0-3.0 mm (approximately size 14-8), requiring consideration of wind pressure resistance and weather resistance;
Ceilings and interior decorations mostly use 0.8-2.0 mm (approximately size 20-12), emphasizing lightweight and aesthetics;
Signage uses 1.5-2 mm (size 16-12) for small areas and 2.5-3.5 mm (size 12-8) for large areas.
- Industry and machinery
Radiators commonly use 0.5-1.5 mm (size 24-18), requiring consideration of both thermal conductivity and formability.
- Electronics & packaging
Circuit board shielding layer thickness: 0.05-0.1 mm (corresponding to gauges 30-28), classified as ultra-thin foil;
- Transportation sector
Automotive body panels: 0.6-1.2 mm (gauges 22-16); Chassis components require 2-3 mm (gauges 12-10);
Marine interiors commonly use 2 mm (gauge 12), balancing lightweight and corrosion resistance.
Aluminum coil gauges are primarily based on North American standards, with common thicknesses ranging from 0.254-3.26 mm (gauges 30-8), covering mainstream fields such as construction, industry, and electronics. In practical applications, attention must be paid to material differences (e.g., aluminum vs. steel) and standard tolerances, and the appropriate thickness should be selected based on the specific scenario.
