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<html><div class="mw-content-ltr" dir="ltr" id="mw-content-text" lang="en"><div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:182px;"><a class="image" href="/index.php?title=File:GaugeChart.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="249" src="/images/thumb/6/63/GaugeChart.jpg/180px-GaugeChart.jpg" width="180"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a class="internal" href="/index.php?title=File:GaugeChart.jpg" title="Enlarge"><img alt="" height="11" src="/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15"/></a></div>Comparative gauge chart</div></div></div>
[[File:GaugeChart.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Comparative gauge chart]]
<p>Body jewelry and needles tend to be identified by their <b>gauge</b>, using the <i>Browne &amp; Sharpe</i> or <i>American wire gauge</i> system, at least in North America (many other regions simply use metric sizing). The larger the gauge, the smaller the diameter.
Body jewelry and needles tend to be identified by their '''gauge''', using the ''Browne & Sharpe'' or ''American wire gauge'' system, at least in North America (many other regions simply use metric sizing). The larger the gauge, the smaller the diameter.
</p>
<table class="toc" id="toc"><tr><td><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Overview"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Overview</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Common_sizes"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Common sizes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Size_equivalents"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Size equivalents</span></a></li>
</ul>
</td></tr></table>
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Overview"> Overview </span></h2>
<p>The diameter of an <i>n</i> gauge wire (commonly written "<i>n</i>ga"), is defined to be:
</p>
<dl><dd><a class="image" href="/index.php?title=File:Gauge.png"><img alt="Gauge.png" height="32" src="/images/9/90/Gauge.png" width="266"/></a>
</dd></dl>
<p>For larger gauges written as <i>m</i> zeros, let <i>n</i> = −(<i>m</i> − 1).  That is, 0ga = 0, 00ga = −1, etc.
</p><p>Body jewelry is measured using <a href="/index.php?title=Caliper" title="Caliper">calipers</a>, <a href="/index.php?title=Vernier_Gauge" title="Vernier Gauge">Vernier Gauge</a>, a <a href="/index.php?title=Micrometer" title="Micrometer">micrometer</a> or a <a class="mw-redirect" href="/index.php?title=Gauge_wheel" title="Gauge wheel">gauge wheel</a> by its outer diameter. <a href="/index.php?title=Needle" title="Needle">Needles</a>, in the medical sense (including <a class="mw-redirect" href="/index.php?title=Play_piercing" title="Play piercing">play piercing</a> needles), are measured by the inner diameter of the tube (so a 16ga needle will actually have an outer diameter of about 14ga), whereas piercing needles are always measured by their outer diameter. The body jewelry industry uses mostly even gauges between 18 and 00ga, although odd gauges are seen from time to time, usually when non-North American jewelry is being imported.  The difference in diameter between gauges two units apart is about 26%.  Larger sizes are usually referred to by their measured size.
</p>
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Common_sizes"> Common sizes </span></h2>
<p>Please note that some of the fractional sizes below have been rounded to their closest match:
</p>
<table style="text-align: center;">
<tr>
<th style="padding: 0 1em">Gauge
</th>
<th style="padding: 0 1em">Fractional size
</th>
<th style="padding: 0 1em">Inches
</th>
<th style="padding: 0 1em">Millimeters
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/32"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.031"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.794mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">18ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.040"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.024mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3/64"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.047"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.191mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">16ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.051"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.291mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">14ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.064"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.628mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">12ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5/64"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.081"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2.053mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3/32"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.094"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2.381mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">10ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/10"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.102"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2.588mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">8ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.128"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3.264mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5/32"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.156"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3.969mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">6ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.162"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4.115mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.178"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4.763mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13/64"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.204"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5.189mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">2ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/4"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.258"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6.544mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">0ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.325"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8.251mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">00ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.365"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9.266mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.375"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9.525mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">000ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.410"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10.41mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.438"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11.11mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">0000ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15/32"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.460"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11.68mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1/2"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.5"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12.7mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">00000ga
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">33/64"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.517"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13.1mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.563"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14.3mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.625"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15.9mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.688"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">17.5mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3/4"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.75"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">19.1mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.813"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">20.6mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.875"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">22.2mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">15/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">0.9375"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">23.8mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.0"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25.4mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 1/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.0625"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">26.9875mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 1/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.125"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28.575mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 3/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.1875"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">30.1625mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 1/4"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.25"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">31.75mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 5/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.3125"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">33.3375mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 3/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.375"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">34.925mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 7/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.4375"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">36.5125mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 1/2"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.5"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">38.1mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 9/16"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.5625"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">39.6875mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 5/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.625"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">41.275mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 3/4"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.75"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">44.45mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 7/8"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1.875"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">47.625mm
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2"
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">50.8mm
</td></tr></table>
<p>Most body piercings are initially performed at between 14ga and 10ga depending on the piercing, but that is far from a hard rule and there are many arguments debating the subject of initial gauge size.
</p><p>Gauge sizes do exist larger, but past 00ga people tend to use fractional imperial sizing (ie. "half inch").
</p>
<h2> <span class="mw-headline" id="Size_equivalents"> Size equivalents </span></h2>
<p>As far as the gauges of common household objects, below is a (vaugely accurate) list started by <a class="mw-redirect" href="/index.php?title=RAB" title="RAB">RAB</a>'s <a href="/index.php?title=Lish" title="Lish">Lish</a>:
</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center; width: 550px;">
<tr>
<th>Gauge
</th>
<th>Objects
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">16ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">thumbtack tip, big safety pin.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">14ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">metal coat hanger, bike spoke, wire from triangular business clamp.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">12ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">wire hanger, spaghetti.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">10ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">round toothpick, q-tip shaft, small bamboo skewer.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">8ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">fire extinguisher pin, #5 crochet hook, lightsaber handles from Star Wars lego sets, small pilot lock, coffee swizzles, ink cartridge.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">6ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">juice box straw, lightbrite peg, mini-glowstick, Rold Gold pretzel stick, heroin-style medical tubing, round boot lace, lollipop stick.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">4ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">pilot stylus, large bamboo skewer, chopstick.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">2ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">drinking straw, power cord for N64, Bic automatic pencil, crayola colored pencil, yellow pipette tip, crossbow bolt, no.2 pencil.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">0ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">Bic round stic, candy cane, round chopsticks, Master Lock shackle, PCR tube, blue pipette tip, plastic clothes hanger.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">00ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">Bic round stic cap, 1/4" male headphone jack, lego person's head, fat crayons, American lock company #5200 shackle, beaded Christmas garland, Papermate Gel Roller pen.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">000ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">Sharpie marker body, wooden spoon handle, 1/4" female headphone jack, A/V adaptor plug head from Sony Playstation.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">0000ga
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top;">Sharpie marker cap, mini one-use hydrating shampoo/conditioner bottle, Eppendorf reaction vial
</td></tr></table>


== Contents ==
* 1 [[#Overview|Overview]]
* 2 [[#Common_sizes|Common sizes]]
* 3 [[#Size_equivalents|Size equivalents]]


</div></html>
== Overview ==
The diameter of an ''n'' gauge wire (commonly written "''n''ga"), is defined to be:
 
[[File:Gauge.png|thumb|right|266px]]
 
For larger gauges written as ''m'' zeros, let ''n'' = −(''m'' − 1).  That is, 0ga = 0, 00ga = −1, etc.
 
Body jewelry is measured using [[Caliper]], [[Vernier Gauge]], a [[Micrometer]] or a [[Gauge wheel]] by its outer diameter. [[Needle]], in the medical sense (including [[Play piercing]] needles), are measured by the inner diameter of the tube (so a 16ga needle will actually have an outer diameter of about 14ga), whereas piercing needles are always measured by their outer diameter. The body jewelry industry uses mostly even gauges between 18 and 00ga, although odd gauges are seen from time to time, usually when non-North American jewelry is being imported.  The difference in diameter between gauges two units apart is about 26%.  Larger sizes are usually referred to by their measured size.
 
== Common sizes ==
Please note that some of the fractional sizes below have been rounded to their closest match:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gauge
! Fractional size
! Inches
! Millimeters
|-
|
| 1/32"
| 0.031"
| 0.794mm
|-
| 18ga
|
| 0.040"
| 1.024mm
|-
|
| 3/64"
| 0.047"
| 1.191mm
|-
| 16ga
|
| 0.051"
| 1.291mm
|-
| 14ga
| 1/16"
| 0.064"
| 1.628mm
|-
...so on until last table row...
|
| 1 7/8"
| 1.875"
| 47.625mm
|-
|
| 2"
| 2
| 50.8mm
|}
 
Most body piercings are initially performed at between 14ga and 10ga depending on the piercing, but that is far from a hard rule and there are many arguments debating the subject of initial gauge size.
 
Gauge sizes do exist larger, but past 00ga people tend to use fractional imperial sizing (ie. "half inch").
 
== Size equivalents ==
As far as the gauges of common household objects, below is a (vaguely accurate) list started by [[RAB]]'s [[Lish]]:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gauge
! Objects
|-
| 16ga
| thumbtack tip, big safety pin.
|-
| 14ga
| metal coat hanger, bike spoke, wire from triangular business clamp.
|-
...so on until last table row...
| 0000ga
| Sharpie marker cap, mini one-use hydrating shampoo/conditioner bottle, Eppendorf reaction vial
|}

Latest revision as of 04:32, 17 September 2023

Comparative gauge chart

Body jewelry and needles tend to be identified by their gauge, using the Browne & Sharpe or American wire gauge system, at least in North America (many other regions simply use metric sizing). The larger the gauge, the smaller the diameter.

Contents

Overview

The diameter of an n gauge wire (commonly written "nga"), is defined to be:

Gauge.png

For larger gauges written as m zeros, let n = −(m − 1). That is, 0ga = 0, 00ga = −1, etc.

Body jewelry is measured using Caliper, Vernier Gauge, a Micrometer or a Gauge wheel by its outer diameter. Needle, in the medical sense (including Play piercing needles), are measured by the inner diameter of the tube (so a 16ga needle will actually have an outer diameter of about 14ga), whereas piercing needles are always measured by their outer diameter. The body jewelry industry uses mostly even gauges between 18 and 00ga, although odd gauges are seen from time to time, usually when non-North American jewelry is being imported. The difference in diameter between gauges two units apart is about 26%. Larger sizes are usually referred to by their measured size.

Common sizes

Please note that some of the fractional sizes below have been rounded to their closest match:

...so on until last table row...
Gauge Fractional size Inches Millimeters
1/32" 0.031" 0.794mm
18ga 0.040" 1.024mm
3/64" 0.047" 1.191mm
16ga 0.051" 1.291mm
14ga 1/16" 0.064" 1.628mm
1 7/8" 1.875" 47.625mm
2" 2 50.8mm

Most body piercings are initially performed at between 14ga and 10ga depending on the piercing, but that is far from a hard rule and there are many arguments debating the subject of initial gauge size.

Gauge sizes do exist larger, but past 00ga people tend to use fractional imperial sizing (ie. "half inch").

Size equivalents

As far as the gauges of common household objects, below is a (vaguely accurate) list started by RAB's Lish:

...so on until last table row...
Gauge Objects
16ga thumbtack tip, big safety pin.
14ga metal coat hanger, bike spoke, wire from triangular business clamp.
0000ga Sharpie marker cap, mini one-use hydrating shampoo/conditioner bottle, Eppendorf reaction vial
Retrieved from "https://wiki.bme.com/index.php?title=Guage&oldid=5747"