{ "version": "2026-10-20", "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.", "slug": "birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table", "name": "Birmingham wire gauge (BWG) table: 5/0 to 36 in inches and mm; BWG 14 / 16 / 18 tube wall", "kind": "standard", "category": "Hardware", "group": "Materials & stock", "year": null, "question": "What is the thickness or diameter of BWG (Birmingham wire gauge) 10, 14, 16 and 18, in inches and mm?", "tags": [ "bwg", "birmingham wire gauge", "gauge", "wire", "tube", "stubs", "standard" ], "aliases": [ "bwg gauge chart", "bwg 14 thickness", "bwg 16", "bwg 18 thickness mm", "birmingham gauge table", "bwg to mm", "bwg 10 inches", "bwg vs swg", "bwg tube wall thickness", "stubs iron wire gauge", "bwg 12" ], "overall_mm": { "length": null, "width": null, "height": null }, "official_cad": false, "xem_status": "not-scanned", "les": false, "free_files": 0, "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table/", "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table/sheet.txt", "sheet": { "basis": "The Engineering ToolBox and Wermac BWG tables (inches agree on all 41 gauges; mm = inches x 25.4)", "overall_mm": { "length": null, "width": null, "height": null }, "notes": [ "BWG (Birmingham Wire Gauge, also Stubs' Iron Wire Gauge, B.W.G.): gauge number to thickness. For wire and fine tube the number is the outside diameter; for mechanical and boiler tubing it is the wall thickness whatever the tube's OD. Used for tube wall (BWG 14 = 0.083 in, BWG 16 = 0.065 in, BWG 18 = 0.049 in), hypodermic needle outer diameters (gauge numbers are the same series) and drill rod.", "Inches are from The Engineering ToolBox and Wermac, which agree on every gauge from 5/0 (0.500 in) to 36 (0.004 in). The mm column is inches x 25.4; Wermac's printed mm agree to 0.001 mm (7.214 vs 7.213 for gauge 2 and 0.889 vs 0.888 for gauge 20 are rounding of 0.284 x 25.4 and 0.035 x 25.4).", "BWG is not SWG (British Standard) and not AWG: BWG 10 is 0.134 in, SWG 10 is 0.128 in and AWG 10 is 0.1019 in. See the SWG and AWG pages.", "No standard document was read; the sources name the system, not a BS or ASTM number for the values." ], "table": { "columns": [ "BWG", "inches", "mm" ], "rows": [ [ "5/0", "0.500", "12.700" ], [ "4/0", "0.454", "11.532" ], [ "3/0", "0.425", "10.795" ], [ "2/0", "0.380", "9.652" ], [ "0", "0.340", "8.636" ], [ "1", "0.300", "7.620" ], [ "2", "0.284", "7.214" ], [ "3", "0.259", "6.579" ], [ "4", "0.238", "6.045" ], [ "5", "0.220", "5.588" ], [ "6", "0.203", "5.156" ], [ "7", "0.180", "4.572" ], [ "8", "0.165", "4.191" ], [ "9", "0.148", "3.759" ], [ "10", "0.134", "3.404" ], [ "11", "0.120", "3.048" ], [ "12", "0.109", "2.769" ], [ "13", "0.095", "2.413" ], [ "14", "0.083", "2.108" ], [ "15", "0.072", "1.829" ], [ "16", "0.065", "1.651" ], [ "17", "0.058", "1.473" ], [ "18", "0.049", "1.245" ], [ "19", "0.042", "1.067" ], [ "20", "0.035", "0.889" ], [ "21", "0.032", "0.813" ], [ "22", "0.028", "0.711" ], [ "23", "0.025", "0.635" ], [ "24", "0.022", "0.559" ], [ "25", "0.020", "0.508" ], [ "26", "0.018", "0.457" ], [ "27", "0.016", "0.406" ], [ "28", "0.014", "0.356" ], [ "29", "0.013", "0.330" ], [ "30", "0.012", "0.305" ], [ "31", "0.010", "0.254" ], [ "32", "0.009", "0.229" ], [ "33", "0.008", "0.203" ], [ "34", "0.007", "0.178" ], [ "35", "0.005", "0.127" ], [ "36", "0.004", "0.102" ] ] } }, "sheet_text": "Birmingham wire gauge (BWG) table: 5/0 to 36 in inches and mm; BWG 14 / 16 / 18 tube wall — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table/ (sheet CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: The Engineering ToolBox and Wermac BWG tables (inches agree on all 41 gauges; mm = inches x 25.4)\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- BWG (Birmingham Wire Gauge, also Stubs' Iron Wire Gauge, B.W.G.): gauge number to thickness. For wire and fine tube the number is the outside diameter; for mechanical and boiler tubing it is the wall thickness whatever the tube's OD. Used for tube wall (BWG 14 = 0.083 in, BWG 16 = 0.065 in, BWG 18 = 0.049 in), hypodermic needle outer diameters (gauge numbers are the same series) and drill rod.\n- Inches are from The Engineering ToolBox and Wermac, which agree on every gauge from 5/0 (0.500 in) to 36 (0.004 in). The mm column is inches x 25.4; Wermac's printed mm agree to 0.001 mm (7.214 vs 7.213 for gauge 2 and 0.889 vs 0.888 for gauge 20 are rounding of 0.284 x 25.4 and 0.035 x 25.4).\n- BWG is not SWG (British Standard) and not AWG: BWG 10 is 0.134 in, SWG 10 is 0.128 in and AWG 10 is 0.1019 in. See the SWG and AWG pages.\n- No standard document was read; the sources name the system, not a BS or ASTM number for the values.\n\nBWG inches mm\n5/0 0.500 12.700\n4/0 0.454 11.532\n3/0 0.425 10.795\n2/0 0.380 9.652\n0 0.340 8.636\n1 0.300 7.620\n2 0.284 7.214\n3 0.259 6.579\n4 0.238 6.045\n5 0.220 5.588\n6 0.203 5.156\n7 0.180 4.572\n8 0.165 4.191\n9 0.148 3.759\n10 0.134 3.404\n11 0.120 3.048\n12 0.109 2.769\n13 0.095 2.413\n14 0.083 2.108\n15 0.072 1.829\n16 0.065 1.651\n17 0.058 1.473\n18 0.049 1.245\n19 0.042 1.067\n20 0.035 0.889\n21 0.032 0.813\n22 0.028 0.711\n23 0.025 0.635\n24 0.022 0.559\n25 0.020 0.508\n26 0.018 0.457\n27 0.016 0.406\n28 0.014 0.356\n29 0.013 0.330\n30 0.012 0.305\n31 0.010 0.254\n32 0.009 0.229\n33 0.008 0.203\n34 0.007 0.178\n35 0.005 0.127\n36 0.004 0.102\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- The Engineering ToolBox: BWG (Birmingham Wire Gauge): gauge, inches — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/BWG-wire-gage-d_508.html\n- Wermac: Birmingham wire gauge table: inches and mm — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://www.wermac.org/pipes/birmingham_wire_gauge.html\n\nNo true-size file yet: the published figures do not fix the whole shape; a measured scan is planned.\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table\n", "sources": [ { "publisher": "The Engineering ToolBox", "title": "BWG (Birmingham Wire Gauge): gauge, inches", "url": "https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/BWG-wire-gage-d_508.html", "formats": [ "web" ], "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts", "license_verified": true, "hosted": false }, { "publisher": "Wermac", "title": "Birmingham wire gauge table: inches and mm", "url": "https://www.wermac.org/pipes/birmingham_wire_gauge.html", "formats": [ "web" ], "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts", "license_verified": true, "hosted": false } ], "xem": { "status": "not-scanned", "sheet_free": true, "mesh_price_usd": null, "step_price_usd": null, "tolerance_mm": null }, "related": [ "swg-standard-wire-gauge-table", "awg-wire-gauge-table-astm-b258", "metric-wire-sizes-iec-60228-mm2-awg", "sheet-metal-gauge-chart-steel-galvanized-stainless-aluminum", "music-wire-sizes" ], "fits": [], "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no tolerance added)", "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no tolerance added. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn. Typical accuracy by process and ISO 286 fits: https://xemstudio.com/tolerances/", "mating": [], "faq": [ { "q": "What is BWG 16 in mm?", "a": "0.065 in = 1.651 mm." }, { "q": "What is BWG 14 in inches?", "a": "0.083 in (2.108 mm)." }, { "q": "Is BWG the same as SWG?", "a": "No: BWG 10 is 0.134 in, SWG 10 is 0.128 in." } ], "files_license": null, "offers": [], "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/birmingham-wire-gauge-bwg-table/index.md" }