Craft Wire Guide

GAUGE

DIAMETER

(INCHES)

DIAMETER 

(MM)

 COMMON USES
28 .0126 .32 Extremely-Fine Wire. Not much wider than a human hair. Typically used for wire knitting. Hard to handle, tends to tangle.
26 .0159 .40 Very-Fine Wire. Good for small hole beads like pearls. Half-hard is good in this size as it adds a bit of body and strength to a very thin wire. 
24  .0201 .51 Fine Wire. Good for small hold beads like pearls. Half-hard is good in this size as it adds a bit of body and strength to a thin wire.
22 .0253 .64 Medium-Fine Wire. Very versatile size due it's thickness, most beads like crystals and gemstones will fit on it. Good for making ear wires, headpins and wrapped links. Dead soft is a good way to go with this wire.
20 .0320 .81 Medium Wire. Easy to work with but strong. Good for making heavy-duty ear wires and lightweight clasps. Also good for creating wire-jewelry using wire jigs and other wire sculpturing techniques. Dead soft is best.
18 .0403 1.024 Medium-Heavy Wire. Good for making clasps, chokers and wire sculptures.
16 .0508 1.290 Heavy Wire. Commonly used for chokers and heavy-duty clasps.
14 .0641 1.628 Heavier Wire. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets and wire-sculpted rings.
12 .0808 2.052 Very-Thick Wire. Hard to bend intricately by hand. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets and wire-sculpted rings.
10 .1019 2.588 Very-Thick Wire. Good for chokers, stiff bracelets and rings. Commonly used by silver smiths using forging or welding techniques.