What thickness tolerance can I expect?

No rolling mill can make strip that measures exactly the same thickness at every point. Thickness tolerance sets how far the actual thickness is allowed to vary from the nominal thickness — the size you order and the size on the label.

How to read a tolerance

A tolerance is written as a plus-or-minus (±) amount, in inches. Add it to the nominal thickness for the thickest allowable reading, and subtract it for the thinnest.

Example .005″ ±.00025″ = .00475″ to .00525″

Any measurement inside that range is in tolerance. The table below shows the range already worked out for every thickness we stock.

How our standard tolerances are set

Our standard thickness tolerance is generally ±5% of the thickness. For .001″ and thinner, it’s ±10%.

So the thinner the strip, the smaller the tolerance: ±.00025″ on .005″, but just ±.0001″ on .002″.

A few alloy and temper combinations have a different tolerance. For those — such as Full Hard at .031″ and .035″ — the exact tolerance is highlighted in the table below, and the ± Thickness tolerances button on the Stock List always shows the tolerance for that specific alloy, temper and thickness.

Need a tighter tolerance?

Your drawing or specification sets the requirement. If it calls for a tighter thickness tolerance than shown here, include it with your request for quote so we can confirm what’s available before you order.

Standard thickness tolerances

These are the standard tolerances for every thickness on our Stock List. Alloy and temper combinations with a different tolerance are highlighted in orange under their thickness.