Standard Sheet Metal Sizes

The full-sheet sizes U.S. mills and service centers stock, which materials come in which sizes, and the thickness range you can buy off the shelf. Designing parts and nests around a stock sheet keeps material cost and lead time down.

Stock sheet sizes

Standard sheet sizes in inches, feet and millimeters, with area
Size (in)	Feet	Metric (mm)	Area (sq ft)	Area (m²)	Where you see it
36 x 96	3 x 8	914 x 2,438	24	2.23	Light-gauge steel, stainless and aluminum; fits small shears and brakes
36 x 120	3 x 10	914 x 3,048	30	2.79	Light-gauge steel and stainless
48 x 96	4 x 8	1,219 x 2,438	32	2.97	The most widely stocked size in every material
48 x 120	4 x 10	1,219 x 3,048	40	3.72	Steel, galvanized, stainless, aluminum
48 x 144	4 x 12	1,219 x 3,658	48	4.46	Aluminum (especially 6061 and 5052), stainless, steel
60 x 120	5 x 10	1,524 x 3,048	50	4.65	Matches a 5 x 10 ft laser, plasma or waterjet table
60 x 144	5 x 12	1,524 x 3,658	60	5.57	Steel, stainless, aluminum for larger nests
72 x 144	6 x 12	1,829 x 3,658	72	6.69	Heavier-gauge hot rolled and aluminum; needs a 6 x 12 ft table

Width x length. Metric values are exact conversions (1 in = 25.4 mm), rounded to the millimeter.

Sizes and thicknesses by material

Commonly stocked sheet sizes and thickness ranges by material
Material	Usually sold as	Common sizes (in)	Typical thickness	Inches	mm
Cold rolled steel	Commercial steel (ASTM A1008), oiled or dry	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	26 ga to 10 ga	0.0179 to 0.1345	0.45 to 3.42
Hot rolled steel / HRPO	ASTM A1011, black or pickled and oiled	48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120, 60 x 144, 72 x 144	16 ga to 7 ga	0.0598 to 0.1793	1.52 to 4.55
Galvanized steel	ASTM A653, G60 or G90 coating	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120	28 ga to 10 ga	0.0187 to 0.1382	0.47 to 3.51
304 / 304L stainless	2B mill finish or #4 brushed	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	26 ga to 10 ga	0.0188 to 0.1406	0.48 to 3.57
316 / 316L stainless	2B mill finish or #4 brushed	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120	24 ga to 10 ga	0.0250 to 0.1406	0.64 to 3.57
3003 aluminum	H14	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83
5052 aluminum	H32	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83
6061 aluminum	T6	48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83

Gauge thicknesses follow the sheet metal gauge chart (galvanized and stainless have their own gauge tables). Stocking varies by region and service center; confirm before you design around a size.

Aluminum sheet thicknesses

Ordered by decimal inch. The usual stock steps:

Common aluminum sheet thicknesses in inches and millimeters
Inches	mm
0.020	0.51
0.025	0.64
0.032	0.81
0.040	1.02
0.050	1.27
0.063	1.60
0.080	2.03
0.090	2.29
0.100	2.54
0.125	3.18
0.160	4.06
0.190	4.83

Metric sheet formats

The common European stock formats and the U.S. size closest to each.

Metric sheet formats with inch equivalents
mm	Inches	Closest U.S. size
1000 x 2000	39.4 x 78.7	No close U.S. equivalent
1250 x 2500	49.2 x 98.4	4 x 8 ft (48 x 96 in)
1500 x 3000	59.1 x 118.1	5 x 10 ft (60 x 120 in)

Need sheet parts cut, formed and finished? , or browse sheet metal shops.

Cutting tables, shears and nesting

Match the sheet to the table. Laser, plasma and waterjet beds are most often 5 x 10 ft or 6 x 12 ft, with 4 x 8 ft on smaller machines. A sheet that fits the bed loads whole; a bigger one has to be sheared first, which costs a setup and leaves a drop.
Shears and brakes have a length limit. A 10 ft shear or press brake handles 120 in sheet but not 144 in. Their thickness ratings are for mild steel; stainless and high-strength steel take a lower maximum.
Nest with margins. Leave a border at the sheet edge and a gap between parts (about one material thickness is a common starting point on a laser). The skeleton that is left is scrap, so part count per sheet is what drives material cost. Estimate it with the sheet nesting calculator.
Mind the grain. Brushed (#4) stainless and aluminum show the rolling direction. Nest cosmetic parts all the same way, and on alloys that crack easily orient tight bends across the grain.
Pick the alloy for the bend. 5052-H32 bends tight without cracking; 6061-T6 needs a generous inside radius. Check the flat pattern with the bend allowance calculator.

Related charts, tools and guides

Sheet metal gauge chart Standard plate thickness Sheet nesting calculator Bend allowance calculator Metal weight calculator Sheet metal fabrication Laser cutting Press brake forming 5052 aluminum 6061 aluminum 304 stainless

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common sheet metal size?: 48 x 96 in (4 x 8 ft) is stocked in every material by nearly every service center. 48 x 120 in and 60 x 120 in come next. A shop with a 5 x 10 ft laser or plasma table usually buys 60 x 120 in sheet so a full sheet fits the bed without trimming.
Is a 4 x 8 sheet exactly 48 x 96 inches?: Nominally. Mill tolerances on width and length are generally plus-side, so a sheet can run a little over, and a sheared edge may not be perfectly square. Leave a margin at the sheet edges when you nest parts instead of counting on the full nominal size.
When does sheet become plate?: For steel, the U.S. trade generally treats 3/16 in (0.1875 in) and thicker as plate, although ASTM A6 defines the split by width as well as thickness. For aluminum, the Aluminum Association calls 0.006 to 0.249 in sheet and 0.250 in and thicker plate.
Can a part nested for a 1250 x 2500 mm sheet be cut from a 4 x 8 sheet?: Not always. 1250 x 2500 mm is about 49.2 x 98.4 in, slightly larger than 48 x 96 in. A nest laid out to the metric sheet can overhang a U.S. 4 x 8 by more than an inch in each direction.
Why does aluminum sheet come in decimals instead of gauges?: U.S. aluminum sheet is ordered by decimal thickness (0.040, 0.063, 0.090, 0.125 in and so on). Aluminum does have a gauge system (Brown and Sharpe), but a gauge number on an aluminum drawing is easy to misread as a steel gauge. Call out the decimal thickness.

Stock sheet sizes

Standard sheet sizes in inches, feet and millimeters, with area
Size (in)	Feet	Metric (mm)	Area (sq ft)	Area (m²)	Where you see it
36 x 96	3 x 8	914 x 2,438	24	2.23	Light-gauge steel, stainless and aluminum; fits small shears and brakes
36 x 120	3 x 10	914 x 3,048	30	2.79	Light-gauge steel and stainless
48 x 96	4 x 8	1,219 x 2,438	32	2.97	The most widely stocked size in every material
48 x 120	4 x 10	1,219 x 3,048	40	3.72	Steel, galvanized, stainless, aluminum
48 x 144	4 x 12	1,219 x 3,658	48	4.46	Aluminum (especially 6061 and 5052), stainless, steel
60 x 120	5 x 10	1,524 x 3,048	50	4.65	Matches a 5 x 10 ft laser, plasma or waterjet table
60 x 144	5 x 12	1,524 x 3,658	60	5.57	Steel, stainless, aluminum for larger nests
72 x 144	6 x 12	1,829 x 3,658	72	6.69	Heavier-gauge hot rolled and aluminum; needs a 6 x 12 ft table

Width x length. Metric values are exact conversions (1 in = 25.4 mm), rounded to the millimeter.

Sizes and thicknesses by material

Commonly stocked sheet sizes and thickness ranges by material
Material	Usually sold as	Common sizes (in)	Typical thickness	Inches	mm
Cold rolled steel	Commercial steel (ASTM A1008), oiled or dry	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	26 ga to 10 ga	0.0179 to 0.1345	0.45 to 3.42
Hot rolled steel / HRPO	ASTM A1011, black or pickled and oiled	48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120, 60 x 144, 72 x 144	16 ga to 7 ga	0.0598 to 0.1793	1.52 to 4.55
Galvanized steel	ASTM A653, G60 or G90 coating	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120	28 ga to 10 ga	0.0187 to 0.1382	0.47 to 3.51
304 / 304L stainless	2B mill finish or #4 brushed	36 x 96, 36 x 120, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	26 ga to 10 ga	0.0188 to 0.1406	0.48 to 3.57
316 / 316L stainless	2B mill finish or #4 brushed	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120	24 ga to 10 ga	0.0250 to 0.1406	0.64 to 3.57
3003 aluminum	H14	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83
5052 aluminum	H32	36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 120, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83
6061 aluminum	T6	48 x 96, 48 x 120, 48 x 144, 60 x 144	0.020 to 0.190 in	0.0200 to 0.1900	0.51 to 4.83

Gauge thicknesses follow the sheet metal gauge chart (galvanized and stainless have their own gauge tables). Stocking varies by region and service center; confirm before you design around a size.

Aluminum sheet thicknesses

Ordered by decimal inch. The usual stock steps:

Common aluminum sheet thicknesses in inches and millimeters
Inches	mm
0.020	0.51
0.025	0.64
0.032	0.81
0.040	1.02
0.050	1.27
0.063	1.60
0.080	2.03
0.090	2.29
0.100	2.54
0.125	3.18
0.160	4.06
0.190	4.83

Metric sheet formats

The common European stock formats and the U.S. size closest to each.

Metric sheet formats with inch equivalents
mm	Inches	Closest U.S. size
1000 x 2000	39.4 x 78.7	No close U.S. equivalent
1250 x 2500	49.2 x 98.4	4 x 8 ft (48 x 96 in)
1500 x 3000	59.1 x 118.1	5 x 10 ft (60 x 120 in)

Need sheet parts cut, formed and finished? , or browse sheet metal shops.

Cutting tables, shears and nesting

Match the sheet to the table. Laser, plasma and waterjet beds are most often 5 x 10 ft or 6 x 12 ft, with 4 x 8 ft on smaller machines. A sheet that fits the bed loads whole; a bigger one has to be sheared first, which costs a setup and leaves a drop.

Shears and brakes have a length limit. A 10 ft shear or press brake handles 120 in sheet but not 144 in. Their thickness ratings are for mild steel; stainless and high-strength steel take a lower maximum.

Nest with margins. Leave a border at the sheet edge and a gap between parts (about one material thickness is a common starting point on a laser). The skeleton that is left is scrap, so part count per sheet is what drives material cost. Estimate it with the sheet nesting calculator.

Mind the grain. Brushed (#4) stainless and aluminum show the rolling direction. Nest cosmetic parts all the same way, and on alloys that crack easily orient tight bends across the grain.

Pick the alloy for the bend. 5052-H32 bends tight without cracking; 6061-T6 needs a generous inside radius. Check the flat pattern with the bend allowance calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common sheet metal size?

48 x 96 in (4 x 8 ft) is stocked in every material by nearly every service center. 48 x 120 in and 60 x 120 in come next. A shop with a 5 x 10 ft laser or plasma table usually buys 60 x 120 in sheet so a full sheet fits the bed without trimming.

Is a 4 x 8 sheet exactly 48 x 96 inches?

Nominally. Mill tolerances on width and length are generally plus-side, so a sheet can run a little over, and a sheared edge may not be perfectly square. Leave a margin at the sheet edges when you nest parts instead of counting on the full nominal size.

When does sheet become plate?

For steel, the U.S. trade generally treats 3/16 in (0.1875 in) and thicker as plate, although ASTM A6 defines the split by width as well as thickness. For aluminum, the Aluminum Association calls 0.006 to 0.249 in sheet and 0.250 in and thicker plate.

Can a part nested for a 1250 x 2500 mm sheet be cut from a 4 x 8 sheet?

Not always. 1250 x 2500 mm is about 49.2 x 98.4 in, slightly larger than 48 x 96 in. A nest laid out to the metric sheet can overhang a U.S. 4 x 8 by more than an inch in each direction.

Why does aluminum sheet come in decimals instead of gauges?

U.S. aluminum sheet is ordered by decimal thickness (0.040, 0.063, 0.090, 0.125 in and so on). Aluminum does have a gauge system (Brown and Sharpe), but a gauge number on an aluminum drawing is easy to misread as a steel gauge. Call out the decimal thickness.