A standardized number indicating the thickness of sheet metal or the diameter of electrical wire. The scale runs in reverse to physical size, meaning a smaller number represents a thicker, heavier material. Mechanics and fabricators rely on these numbers to select the correct material for structural integrity or electrical load capacity.
Heard on the job
We need a piece of 16 gauge to patch that floor pan, the 22 gauge is just going to burn through when you weld it.
Insider tip
Rookies often assume a higher number means thicker metal and end up ordering foil-thin material for a structural repair.
Also heard as
- AWG
- SWG