Stainless Steel Sink Gauge 16 Vs 18 | Pros And Cons

Do you consider buying a stainless steel sink?

If you are determined to buy a stainless steel sink, you need to understand stainless steel sink gauge 16 vs 18 with some basic facts.

All over the world, there are some best stainless steel farmhouse sinks. You need to choose the right one.

There are various materials in the sink, but stainless steel is the most popular material for many reasons. Among the best stainless steel sink, there are some variations that can be seen in the gauge.

Stainless Steel Sink Gauge 16 Vs 18 | Merits And Demerits

This article will allow you to know about stainless steel sink gauge 16 vs 18. 

Stainless steel has a clean and attractive finish, matches other stainless pieces of stuff, it is highly corrosion and bacteria-resistant, durable, and long-lasting. To complement the beautiful granite or other surfaces, 18 gauge and 16 gauge both are very fine.

What is the gauge?

Gauge is the most important thing to consider before buying a stainless steel sink. The gauge represents the thickness of the stainless steel sink. How thick or thin your steel will depend on the gauge.

If the steel gauge is lower then it would be thin. That means the lower the number, the thicker is the gauge. Most of the stainless steel sink has 16 and 18 which are very heavy.

These are rust-resistant, soundproof, and easy to clean. A higher number shows a low-quality sink, for example, 22 and above is the thinner. 

16 Gauge Vs 18 Gauge | Difference

Both 16 and 18 gauge stainless steel sinks are best for your kitchen. Though they are best they have some similarities and dissimilarities. 

They both are thicker than other higher number gauges. These gauges are the best material because they are durable and easy to clean.

A good quality stainless steel kitchen sink is the 18 gauge, which is 0.0500 inches.

As the stainless steel sink gauge 16 vs 18 is thicker, no noise can create and you can work without any disturbance. They handle daily usage of the kitchen sink and no problems can be found.

These gauges are recommended for household sinks. These stainless steel are affordable and perfect for home use. These sinks are very standard with the perfect size.

18 gauge is also known as 304 which means the percentage of chromium and nickel in the steel. As the lower the number the thicker the steel, 18 gauge is thinner than 16 gauge.

Due to the thickness, the 16 gauge is quieter than the 18 gauge. No sound can be produced from the 16 gauge stainless steel sink. 16 gauge steel is more rigid than 18 gauge steel. 16 gauge steel has also low pitch than 18 gauge. 

The thickness of 16 gauge has 0.0625 and 18 gauge has 0.05.

The following table shows you the thickness, density of 16 and 18 gauge sinks

GaugeDecimal inchMillimetersIB% Decrease in thickness
160.0625”1.58752.52
180.05”1.272.01620%
Pros
  • They have less prone to denting and bowing
  • They are durable and long-lasting
  • Due to the exterior sound depending pads they are noise-free
  • They have a protective spray coating
  • You do not need to work hard to keep it clean
Cons
  • 16 and 18 gauge both are thicker than other gauges. For this reason, these sinks are more expensive than thin gauge

Conclusion

The stainless steel sink gauge 16 vs 18 gave you a sense of the thickness and also explain the similarities and dissimilarities. Both 18 and 16 stainless steel look very attractive and classy.

Though the lower the number the higher the thickness, you have to consider the brand of the sink.

Because some brands use 16 and 18 gauge steel but they are thin like other higher number gauges. So before buying a sink, you need to consider the brand of the sink.

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