In sheet metal practice, which statement about gauge numbers is correct?

• A. A higher gauge is thicker
• B. Gauge does not indicate thickness
• C. A lower gauge is thinner
• D. A lower gauge is thicker and a higher gauge is thinner

Answer: (D)

Gauge numbers tell you thickness in an inverse way: the smaller the gauge number, the thicker the metal. So a lower gauge is thicker and a higher gauge is thinner. For example, 16 gauge is thicker than 20 gauge, which is thicker than 22 gauge. The gauge system is standardized, but the key point is this inverse relationship. That’s why the statement describing a lower gauge as thicker and a higher gauge as thinner is the correct one.