Expanded metal standard designations: 1/2-#13, 3/4-#9, 1-1/2-#9 — SWD, LWD, strand width, strand thickness, standard (raised) vs flattened — dimension sheet Source: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/expanded-metal-standard-designations-swd-lwd/ (sheet CC BY 4.0) Basis: Coyote Steel's raised-type table (16 styles), Russel Metals' selected styles for steel, aluminum and stainless, AMICO's flattened carbon steel table and two Continental Steel items; numbers only, shown side by side Catalog version: 2026-10-20 Sizes: see table below - Designation: the first number is the nominal diamond size in inches (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1-1/2), the second is the approximate gauge of the sheet before it is expanded (No. 20, 18, 16, 13, 10, 9, 6); Coyote Steel adds that No. 9 and No. 10 are exceptions to the pattern, and Continental Steel's footnote says the first number is the width measured centre to centre of bonds. A third number (3/4-No. 9-11) is the gauge after flattening. Aluminum and stainless styles use a thickness in inches instead (1/2-.081, 3/4-.125, 1/2-.050). - SWD is the short way of the diamond (across the sheet width in the usual orientation), LWD the long way (along the sheet length); SWO and LWO are the openings; strand width is the face of each strand; strand thickness is the gauge of the metal expanded; overall thickness is the height of the finished mesh. The sources define SWD / LWD differently and the numbers are not interchangeable: Coyote Steel prints 'diamond size' (3/4 No. 9: 0.86 × 2.0), Russel Metals prints 'bridge centre to centre' (3/4-9: 0.923 × 2) and AMICO prints 0.923 × 2.10 for the same nominal size. Read the column 'what SWD / LWD are' for each row; compare only like with like. - Standard (raised) mesh keeps the strands angled out of the plane, so overall thickness is about twice the strand thickness or more (Coyote 3/4 No. 9: 0.290 against strand thickness 0.134); flattened mesh is rolled flat, which lengthens the diamond, thins it and raises its open area (McNichols: flattened has a smooth surface; standard 'greater rigidity and traction'). Continental Steel's two items illustrate it: 3/4-No. 13 standard is 0.185 in thick, 3/4-No. 9-11 flattened is 0.110 in. - Where sources overlap they agree: 3/4 No. 13 standard is 0.88 × 2.0 in diamond, 0.185 in thick and 0.80 lb per sq ft at Coyote and Continental; 3/4 No. 9 standard is 180 lb per 100 sq ft at Russel Metals and 1.80 lb per sq ft at Coyote. AMICO's table is headed flattened and prints 157 lb per 100 sq ft for 3/4-#9 with strand width 0.165, thickness 0.108 and 64% open; it does not agree with the Continental flattened 3/4-9-11 item (171 lb; SWD 0.857), so treat AMICO's rows as one maker's listing. Russel Metals marks its values approximate and states weight and dimension tolerances elsewhere (not copied). - Aluminum 'grating' expanded mesh (2.0 lb to 7.0 lb styles) and expanded steel grating (3 lb to 6.25 lb) exist in the Russel Metals and other tables but are left out here. Open area is as printed; it is not recomputed because the strands' exact geometry is not published. No file: the strand twist and bond shape of an expanded sheet are not published as numbers, so a drawn mesh would be invented. Perforated alternative: perforated-metal-round-hole-standard-patterns; woven alternative: woven-wire-mesh-sizes-opening-open-area; walkway grating: bar-grating-designations-19-w-4-naamm. - McNichols publishes a spec sheet and CAD drawing PDF per expanded metal item; its category page is linked, nothing is copied. source type designation SWD (in) LWD (in) what SWD / LWD are (source's wording) SWO (in) LWO (in) strand width (in) strand thickness (in) overall thickness (in) open area % weight / gauge as printed SWD × LWD (mm, computed) Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/4 No. 20 0.26 1.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.13 0.69 0.076 0.036 0.125 40 0.86 lb per sq ft; gauge 20 6.6 × 25.4 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/4 No. 18 0.26 1.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.13 0.69 0.076 0.047 0.125 40 1.14 lb per sq ft; gauge 18 6.6 × 25.4 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/2 No. 20 0.46 1.2 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.38 0.88 0.066 0.036 0.134 71 0.43 lb per sq ft; gauge 20 11.7 × 30.5 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/2 No. 18 0.51 1.2 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.38 0.95 0.089 0.047 0.161 65 0.7 lb per sq ft; gauge 18 13.0 × 30.5 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/2 No. 16 0.51 1.2 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.38 0.89 0.089 0.059 0.159 65 0.86 lb per sq ft; gauge 16 13.0 × 30.5 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1/2 No. 13 0.5 1.2 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.35 0.9 0.098 0.089 0.199 61 1.47 lb per sq ft; gauge 13 12.7 × 30.5 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 3/4 No. 16 0.88 2.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.7 1.64 0.095 0.059 0.183 76 0.54 lb per sq ft; gauge 16 22.4 × 50.8 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 3/4 No. 13 0.88 2.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.76 1.64 0.095 0.089 0.185 76 0.8 lb per sq ft; gauge 13 22.4 × 50.8 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 3/4 No. 10 0.89 2.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.68 1.56 0.141 0.089 0.277 69 1.2 lb per sq ft; gauge 10 22.6 × 50.8 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 3/4 No. 9 0.86 2.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.6 1.45 0.137 0.134 0.29 68 1.8 lb per sq ft; gauge 9 21.8 × 50.8 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1 No. 16 1.01 2.38 diamond size SWD × LWD 0.88 1.94 0.095 0.059 0.21 82 0.47 lb per sq ft; gauge 16 25.7 × 60.5 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1-1/2 No. 16 1.35 3.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 1.18 2.6 0.112 0.059 0.21 85 0.4 lb per sq ft; gauge 16 34.3 × 76.2 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1-1/2 No. 13 1.35 3.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 1.2 2.6 0.112 0.089 0.213 85 0.6 lb per sq ft; gauge 13 34.3 × 76.2 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1-1/2 No. 10 1.35 3.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 1.16 2.52 0.14 0.089 0.248 81 0.79 lb per sq ft; gauge 10 34.3 × 76.2 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1-1/2 No. 9 1.33 3.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 1.14 2.43 0.141 0.134 0.289 76 1.19 lb per sq ft; gauge 9 33.8 × 76.2 Coyote Steel raised (standard) 1-1/2 No. 6 1.33 3.0 diamond size SWD × LWD 1.0 2.31 0.203 0.198 0.41 70 2.5 lb per sq ft; gauge 6 33.8 × 76.2 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 3/16-22 0.203 0.5 bridge centre to centre 0.11 0.313 0.047 0.03 — — 56 lb per 100 sq ft 5.2 × 12.7 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 1/4-18 0.25 1 bridge centre to centre 0.11 0.718 0.072 0.048 — — 114 lb per 100 sq ft 6.3 × 25.4 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 1/2-13 0.5 1.2 bridge centre to centre 0.312 0.938 0.096 0.09 — — 147 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 30.5 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 3/4-9 (10 ga.) 0.923 2 bridge centre to centre 0.688 1.56 0.15 0.135 — — 180 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 50.8 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 1-10H 1 2.3 bridge centre to centre 0.75 1.56 0.18 0.135 — — 200 lb per 100 sq ft 25.4 × 58.4 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard steel 1-1/2-9 (10 ga.) 1.33 3 bridge centre to centre 1.16 2.45 0.142 0.135 — — 120 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 76.2 Russel Metals (approximate values) flattened steel 3/16-22F 0.218 0.5 bridge centre to centre 0.094 0.343 0.063 0.027 — — 72 lb per 100 sq ft 5.5 × 12.7 Russel Metals (approximate values) flattened steel 1/2-16F 0.5 1.25 bridge centre to centre 0.312 1 0.096 0.056 — — 82 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 31.8 Russel Metals (approximate values) flattened steel 1-1/2-9F (10 ga.) 1.33 3.2 bridge centre to centre 1 2.56 0.158 0.11 — — 114 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 81.3 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard aluminum 3/16-.032 0.203 0.5 bridge centre to centre 0.08 0.313 0.06 0.032 — — 28 lb per 100 sq ft 5.2 × 12.7 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard aluminum 1/2-.081 0.5 1.2 bridge centre to centre 0.375 0.937 0.08 0.081 — — 41 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 30.5 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard aluminum 3/4-.125 0.923 2 bridge centre to centre 0.687 1.68 0.169 0.125 — — 65 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 50.8 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard stainless 5/16-20ST 0.333 1.0 bridge centre to centre 0.219 0.75 0.078 0.037 — — 86 lb per 100 sq ft 8.5 × 25.4 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard stainless 1/2-16ST 0.5 1.2 bridge centre to centre 0.437 0.94 0.08 0.062 — — 84 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 30.5 Russel Metals (approximate values) standard stainless 1-1/2-9ST 1.33 3.0 bridge centre to centre 1.13 2.5 0.155 0.14 — — 137 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 76.2 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/4" - #20 0.25 1.05 as printed — — 0.079 — 0.029 (called 'Thickness') 37 74 lb per 100 sq ft 6.3 × 26.7 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/4" - #18 0.25 1.05 as printed — — 0.08 — 0.038 (called 'Thickness') 36 100 lb per 100 sq ft 6.3 × 26.7 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/2" - #20 0.5 1.26 as printed — — 0.079 — 0.029 (called 'Thickness') 68 37 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 32.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/2" - #18 0.5 1.26 as printed — — 0.097 — 0.038 (called 'Thickness') 61 61 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 32.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/2" - #16 0.5 1.26 as printed — — 0.098 — 0.048 (called 'Thickness') 61 77 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 32.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1/2" - #13 0.5 1.26 as printed — — 0.107 — 0.072 (called 'Thickness') 57 126 lb per 100 sq ft 12.7 × 32.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 3/4" - #16 0.923 2.1 as printed — — 0.111 — 0.048 (called 'Thickness') 76 47 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 53.3 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 3/4" - #14 0.923 2.1 as printed — — 0.105 — 0.06 (called 'Thickness') 77 56 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 53.3 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 3/4" - #13 0.923 2.1 as printed — — 0.106 — 0.072 (called 'Thickness') 77 67 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 53.3 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 3/4" - #10 0.923 2.1 as printed — — 0.16 — 0.072 (called 'Thickness') 65 102 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 53.3 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 3/4" - #9 0.923 2.1 as printed — — 0.165 — 0.108 (called 'Thickness') 64 157 lb per 100 sq ft 23.4 × 53.3 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1" - #16 1.0 2.52 as printed — — 0.098 — 0.048 (called 'Thickness') 80 38 lb per 100 sq ft 25.4 × 64.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1-1/2" - #16 1.33 3.15 as printed — — 0.119 — 0.048 (called 'Thickness') 82 35 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 80.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1-1/2" - #14 1.33 3.15 as printed — — 0.116 — 0.06 (called 'Thickness') 83 43 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 80.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1-1/2" - #13 1.33 3.15 as printed — — 0.116 — 0.072 (called 'Thickness') 83 51 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 80.0 AMICO (page headed flattened, carbon steel A1011) flattened 1-1/2" - #9 1.33 3.15 as printed — — 0.158 — 0.108 (called 'Thickness') 76 105 lb per 100 sq ft 33.8 × 80.0 Continental Steel FEM-750-171 flattened 3/4"-No. 9-11 .857 2.10 SWD / LWD — — — — .110 — 171 lb per 100 sq ft; gauge 9 before expanding, 11 after flattening 21.8 × 53.3 (page prints mm) Continental Steel SEM-750-80 standard 3/4"-No. 13 .880 2.0 diamond size — — — — .185 — 80 lb per 100 sq ft 22.4 × 50.8 Files elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher): - Coyote Steel: Expanded Metal, Raised Type: style designation, % open area, gauge, weight per sq ft, diamond size SWD × LWD, opening SWO × LWO, strand width × thickness, overall thickness — web — Distributor page; numbers only — https://coyotesteel.com/products_expanded_raised.shtml - Russel Metals: Expanded mesh terminology and types: standard steel, flattened steel, aluminum and stainless styles with weight, SWD / LWD bridge centre to centre, openings, strand thickness and width (approximate values) — web — Distributor page; numbers only — https://www.russelmetals.com/en/product/grating-mesh-and-perforated/expanded-metal/ - AMICO: Flattened expanded metal, carbon steel (ASTM A1011): designation, SWD, LWD, strand width, thickness, open area %, weight lb per 100 sq ft — web — Maker page; numbers only — https://amicoglobal.com/flattened-expanded-metal/ - Continental Steel: Flattened expanded metal 3/4"-No. 9-11 (FEM-750-171): SWD, LWD, thickness, weight, gauge before and after flattening — web — Distributor page; numbers only — https://continentalsteel.com/item/expanded-metal-and-gratings/flattened-expanded-metal/fem-750-171 - Continental Steel: Standard expanded metal 3/4"-No. 13 (SEM-750-80): diamond size 0.880 × 2.0 in, thickness 0.185 in, weight 80 lb per 100 sq ft — web — Distributor page; numbers only — https://titanium-stainless-steel.continentalsteel.com/printitem/expanded-metal-and-gratings/standard-expanded-metal/sem-750-80?plpver=10 - McNichols: Expanded metal: standard, flattened, grating and designer items with per-item spec sheet and CAD drawing PDFs — PDF, DWG — Maker site terms (drawings per item; DWG may need a login) [verify license at link] — https://www.mcnichols.com/expanded-metal/standard No true-size file yet: the published figures do not fix the whole shape; a measured scan is planned. API: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=expanded-metal-standard-designations-swd-lwd