Craft Wire Gauge Guide
|
GAUGE |
DIAMETER (IN) |
DIAMETER (MM) |
COMMON USES |
|
0.1019 in. |
2.588mm |
Very Thick Wire. Used by silver smiths using forging or welding techniques. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets, rings. |
|
|
0.0808 in. |
2.052mm |
Very Thick Wire. Hard to bend intricately by hand. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets, even wire-sculpted rings. |
|
|
0.064” |
1.63mm |
Heavier Wire. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets, even wire-sculpted rings. |
|
|
0.051” |
1.30mm |
Med-Heavy Wire. Good for chokers, heavy-duty clasps and heavy jump rings. |
|
|
0.040” |
1.02mm |
Med-Heavy Wire. Good for making clasps, chokers, wire sculptures. |
|
|
0.032” |
0.81mm |
Medium Wire. Easy to work with but strong as well. Good for wire sculpturing techniques, making ear wires & lightweight clasps, head pins, jump rings. Dead soft is best. |
|
|
0.025” |
0.63mm |
Medium-Fine Wire. Versatile size, most beads like crystals & stones can fit on it. Good for making ear wires, jump rings, headpins, and rosary style wrapped links. Dead soft is good way to go with this wire. |
|
|
0.020” |
0.50mm |
Fine Wire. Good for beads that have small holes in like pearls. Half-hard is good in this size as it adds a little bit of body and strength to a slender wire. Good for making rosary-style beaded links. |
|
|
0.016” |
0.40mm |
Very Fine Wire. Easy to manipulate. Good for beads that have small holes. Used for rosary-style beaded links, wire crocheting, bead weaving, wire knitting, and fine coils. Good for delicate jewelry. Half-hard is good in this size as it adds a little bit of body and strength to a very slender wire. |
|
|
0.013” |
0.32mm |
Very Fine Wire. Easy to manipulate. Good for beads that have small holes. Used for rosary-style beaded links, wire crocheting, bead weaving, wire knitting, and fine coils. Good for delicate jewelry. Half-hard is good in this size as it adds a little bit of body and strength to a very slender wire. |
|
|
30 Gauge |
0.010” |
0.25mm |
Extremely fine wire, not much wider than a human hair. Mostly used for wire crocheting, bead weaving, wire knitting, and fine coils. Good for delicate jewelry. |
