---
title: What is Sheet Metal Gauge?
description: Learn more about Sheet Metal gauge, or more formally, Manufacturer’s Standard Gage for Sheet Steel.
image: https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hubfs/Mestek%20Machinery/2021/Lockformer-Vulcan-Laser-Max-1-5-Coil-Fed-Sheet-Metal-Laser-Cutting-System-v2-min.jpg
---

[![Formtek Group](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/MestekM.png?width=219&height=553&name=MestekM.png "Formtek Group")](https://mestekmachinery.com/)

- [About Mestek Machinery](https://mestekmachinery.com/about-mestek-machinery/) 
    - [Brands](https://mestekmachinery.com/brands/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/industries-served/)
    - [Service and Support](https://mestekmachinery.com/service-and-support/)
    - [Pre-Owned Machinery](https://mestekmachinery.com/service-and-support/pre-owned-machinery/)
    - [Dealer Network](https://mestekmachinery.com/dealer-network/)
- [Products](https://mestekmachinery.com/machinery-and-equipment/) 
    - [Machinery and Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/machinery-and-equipment/)
- [Resources](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/) 
    - [Videos](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/#videos)
    - [E-Books & White Papers](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/#ebooks)
    - [Catalogs & Brochures](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/#brochures)
    - [The Mestek Machinery Blog](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/#brochures)
- [News](https://mestekmachinery.com/subscribe-for-updates/) 
    - [The Latest News & Updates](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/news-and-updates)
    - [The Mestek Machinery Blog](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/)
    - [Subscribe for Updates](https://mestekmachinery.com/subscribe-for-updates/)
- [Contact Us](https://mestekmachinery.com/contact-us/)

- <https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/> 
    - [Engel Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/)
    - [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/engel)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/industries-served/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/video/)
    - [About Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/about-engel/)
    - [Contact Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/contact-us/)

- <https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/> 
    - [Lockformer Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/)
    - [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/lockformer)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/industries-served/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Videos](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/videos/)
    - [About Lockformer](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/about-lockformer/)
    - [Contact Lockformer](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/contact-us/)
- <https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/> 
    - [Iowa Precision Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/)
    - [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/iowa-precision/)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/industries-served/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/video/)
    - [About Iowa Precision](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/about-iowa-precision/)
    - [Contact Iowa Precision](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/contact-us/)
- <https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/> 
    - [Engel Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/)
    - [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/engel)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/industries-served/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/video/)
    - [About Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/about-engel/)
    - [Contact Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/contact-us/)
- <https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/> 
    - [Roto-Die Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/)
    - [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/roto-die)
    - [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/industries-served/)
    - [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
    - [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/videos/)
    - [About Roto-Die](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/about-roto-die/)
    - [Contact Roto-Die](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/contact-us/)

[![get a quote](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hubfs/getaquote.png)](https://mestekmachinery.com/about-mestek-machinery/#)

#### [Get a Quote](https://mestekmachinery.com/about-mestek-machinery/#)

![Contact us icon](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hubfs/Contact-us-icon-black.png)

#### Contact Us

# What is Sheet Metal Gauge?

Dec 12, 2016 | by Jack Pennuto

Sheet Metal gauge, or more formally, Manufacturer’s Standard Gage for Sheet Steel, is derived from the United States Standard Gage established by Congress in 1893. *(Machinery’s Handbook, 29th Ed., Industrial Press 2012, p.2608)*

For the Roto-Die machinery specifications, any reference to gauge or material thickness capacity, in decimal inches, is based on Galvanized Sheet or its equivalent Steel Gage, in 40,000 psi (275 N/mm2) maximum material yield. For consideration of annealed, low carbon Stainless Steel, the maximum capacity should be reduced by 2 gauges. For example, a machine that has a stated maximum capacity of 16 gauge in mild steel, would be an equivalent stainless steel capacity of 18 gauge. If there are questions about specific applications, please [contact us](https://www.formtektemp.com/mestekmachinery/contact).

[![sheet-metal-gauges](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Sheet-Metal-Gauges-1.jpg?width=549&height=528&name=Sheet-Metal-Gauges-1.jpg)](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Sheet-Metal-Gauges-1.jpg)

[![Mestek Machinery](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/logo.png?width=296&name=logo.png "Mestek Machinery")](https://mestekmachinery.com/)

- [Mestek Machinery](https://mestekmachinery.com/)
- [About Mestek Machinery](https://mestekmachinery.com/about-mestek-machinery/)
- [Brands](https://mestekmachinery.com/brands/)
- [Metal Forming and Fabrication Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
- [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/industries-served/)
- [Service & Support](https://mestekmachinery.com/service-and-support/)
- [Dealer Network](https://mestekmachinery.com/dealer-network/)
- [Pre-Owned Machinery](https://mestekmachinery.com/service-and-support/pre-owned-machinery/)
- [Products](https://mestekmachinery.com/machinery-and-equipment/)
- [Download Catalog PDF](https://mestekmachinery.com/project/catalog-mestek-machinery-hvac-product-catalog-2021/)
- [Resources](https://mestekmachinery.com/resources/)
- [News](https://mestekmachinery.com/subscribe-for-updates/)
- [The Mestek Machinery Blog](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/)
- [Contact Us](https://mestekmachinery.com/contact-us/)

![Lockformer](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/Lockformer_WH.png?width=97&name=Lockformer_WH.png "Lockformer")

- Lockformer
- [Lockformer Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/)
- [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/lockformer/)
- [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/industries-served/)
- [Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
- [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/video/)
- [About Lockformer](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/about-lockformer/)
- [Contact Lockformer](https://mestekmachinery.com/lockformer/contact-us/)

![Enagel](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/White-Engel.png?width=97&name=White-Engel.png "Enagel")

- Engel
- [Engel Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/)
- [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/engel/)
- [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/industries-served/)
- [Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions//)
- [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/video/)
- [About Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/about-engel/)
- [Contact Engel](https://mestekmachinery.com/engel/contact-us)

![Iowa Precision](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/Iowa-Precision_WH-3.png?width=97&name=Iowa-Precision_WH-3.png "Iowa Precision")

- Iowa Precision
- [Iowa Precision Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/)
- [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/iowa-precision/)
- [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/industries-served/)
- [Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions/)
- [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/video/)
- [About Iowa Precision](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/about-iowa-precision/)
- [Contact Iowa Precision](https://mestekmachinery.com/iowa-precision/contact-us/)

![Roto Die](https://blog.mestekmachinery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Mestek_Machinery_January_2022/images/Roto-Die_WH.png?width=97&name=Roto-Die_WH.png "Roto Die")

- Roto-Die
- [Roto-Die Home](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/)
- [Machinery & Equipment](https://mestekmachinery.com/brand/roto-die/)
- [Industries](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/industries-served/)
- [Solutions](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/metal-forming-and-fabrication-solutions)
- [Video](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/video/)
- [About Roto-Die](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/about-roto-die/)
- [Contact Roto-Die](https://mestekmachinery.com/roto-die/contact-us/)

[Terms & Conditions](https://mestekmachinery.com/terms-conditions/)    [Warranty](https://mestekmachinery.com/service-and-support/warranty/)