Wire Conversion Chart and Choosing the Right Gauge
| American Wire Gauge Conversion Chart |
||
| Gauge |
Inches |
Miillimetres |
| 0 |
0.325 |
8.26 |
| 2 |
0.257 |
6.54 |
| 4 |
0.204 |
5.19 |
| 6 |
0.162 |
4.12 |
| 8 |
0.128 |
3.26 |
| 10 |
0.102 |
2.59 |
| 12 |
0.081 |
2.05 |
| 14 |
0.064 |
1.63 |
| 16 |
0.051 |
1.29 |
| 18 |
0.040 |
1.02 |
| 20 |
0.036 |
0.812 |
| 22 |
0.025 |
0.723 |
| 24 |
0.020 |
0.573 |
| 26 |
0.016 |
0.405 |
| 28 |
0.013 |
0.321 |
| 30 |
0.010 |
0.255 |
14 to 16 gauge
Very heavy and thick wire. Use with
heavy duty tools.
Project uses: Bracelet bases,
unsupported shapes, neck wires,
lampshade forms, napkin rings.
Very heavy and thick wire. Use with
heavy duty tools.
Project uses: Bracelet bases,
unsupported shapes, neck wires,
lampshade forms, napkin rings.
20 gauge
Medium thick wire. Use with regular
jewelry tools.
Most base metal headpins and ear wires
are made from 20 gauge wire.
Project uses: A good general purpose
wire for making ear wires, headpins and
small wire clasps.
Medium thick wire. Use with regular
jewelry tools.
Most base metal headpins and ear wires
are made from 20 gauge wire.
Project uses: A good general purpose
wire for making ear wires, headpins and
small wire clasps.
18 gauge
Thick wire. Use with regular jewelry tools.
Thick wire. Use with regular jewelry tools.
22 gauge
Medium wire. Use with regular jewelry
tools. This gauge is ideal to use when
20-gauge is just a bit too thick.
Project uses: Wire wrapping large-holed
beads like glass, bone and wood.
Medium wire. Use with regular jewelry
tools. This gauge is ideal to use when
20-gauge is just a bit too thick.
Project uses: Wire wrapping large-holed
beads like glass, bone and wood.
24 gauge
Medium thin wire. Use with regular jewelry
tools. The wire straightening plier is
recommended for use with this wire when
it gets kinks, which it has a tendency to
do.
Project uses: Wire wrapping most beads.
Not recommended for fine gemstones,
smaller briolettes or very fragile beads.
Medium thin wire. Use with regular jewelry
tools. The wire straightening plier is
recommended for use with this wire when
it gets kinks, which it has a tendency to
do.
Project uses: Wire wrapping most beads.
Not recommended for fine gemstones,
smaller briolettes or very fragile beads.
26 gauge
Thin wire. In order for this wire to maintain
a loop, loops must be wire wrapped
closed. Tools with very fine tips should be
used with this wire. Because this wire
kinks, a wire straightening plier is
recommended for use with this wire.
Project uses: Wire wrapping beads to
tiaras, wire-wrapping small gemstones
and briolettes, and any project where 24
is a little too heavy.
Thin wire. In order for this wire to maintain
a loop, loops must be wire wrapped
closed. Tools with very fine tips should be
used with this wire. Because this wire
kinks, a wire straightening plier is
recommended for use with this wire.
Project uses: Wire wrapping beads to
tiaras, wire-wrapping small gemstones
and briolettes, and any project where 24
is a little too heavy.
28, 30 gauge
Very fine wire. Tools with very fine tips
should be used with this wire. This wire
kinks quite a bit and a wire straightening
plier is essential for use with this size wire.
Project uses: This wire is perfect for wire
weaving, crocheting and free form wire
wrapping using small beads, or for
wire-wrapping very small, fine gemstones.
Very fine wire. Tools with very fine tips
should be used with this wire. This wire
kinks quite a bit and a wire straightening
plier is essential for use with this size wire.
Project uses: This wire is perfect for wire
weaving, crocheting and free form wire
wrapping using small beads, or for
wire-wrapping very small, fine gemstones.
There are two ways the word gauge is generally used in jewelry. The thickness of a piece of wire or sheet metal is
referred to as its gauge. For example "My chain is made out of 18 gauge wire." You can also use a gauge (which
is a metal tool) to determine the gauge (thickness) of a piece of wire.
What does the gauge tool look like? The most common gauges are flat disks with slots around the edges. The
slots progress from very small (barely get your fingernail into one) to large (lose your pencil in it). To measure the
thickness of a piece of wire, you find which slot it "sticks" in.
Tricky, tricky! The higher the number the thinner the wire. Quiz question: which is thicker, an earring wire that is 24
gauge or 22 gauge? Answer: 22 gauge.
referred to as its gauge. For example "My chain is made out of 18 gauge wire." You can also use a gauge (which
is a metal tool) to determine the gauge (thickness) of a piece of wire.
What does the gauge tool look like? The most common gauges are flat disks with slots around the edges. The
slots progress from very small (barely get your fingernail into one) to large (lose your pencil in it). To measure the
thickness of a piece of wire, you find which slot it "sticks" in.
Tricky, tricky! The higher the number the thinner the wire. Quiz question: which is thicker, an earring wire that is 24
gauge or 22 gauge? Answer: 22 gauge.
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