Common jewelry gauges
American wire gauge (AWG), also called the Brown & Sharpe gauge, is the usual scale for jewelry and craft wire in the US.
| Gauge (AWG) | Diameter |
|---|---|
| 14 | 1.63 mm |
| 16 | 1.29 mm |
| 18 | 1.02 mm |
| 20 | 0.81 mm |
| 22 | 0.64 mm |
| 24 | 0.51 mm |
| 26 | 0.40 mm |
How the scale works
AWG is defined by two fixed sizes, 0.46 inch for gauge 0000 and 0.005 inch for gauge 36, with even ratio steps in between. Each step down in thickness is about 11% thinner, and every 6 gauges halves or doubles the diameter: 24 gauge is half as thick as 18 gauge.
Watch the scale
Some UK sellers use the standard wire gauge (SWG), a different scale, so the same number can mean a different thickness. When in doubt, buy by the millimetre size. How stiff the wire is, is a separate choice; see wire temper. Knitting and crochet use “gauge” differently; see gauge.