Wire Hardness

Wire hardness refers to the malleability or stiffness of a wire and is typically called "Full-Hard" for extremely stiff wire, "Half-Hard" for stiff wire that is malleable, and "Dead-Soft" for wire that is very easy to bend.

Dead-soft is the easiest to manipulate without tools, but it does not hold its shape as well as harder wires. When used with thinner gauges, it is great for bead wrapping.

Half-hard will retain its shape better for jump rings and findings, but it is not as easy to manipulate, especially in the heavier gauges.

Full-hard is very difficult to change shape without the help of the proper tools or processes. See the tables below for common gauge sizes. For more information on wire gauges, click here.

Brown and Sharpe Gauge Chart
Gauge	Inches	Millimeters
0	0.325	8.26
2	0.257	6.54
4	0.204	5.19
6	0.162	4.12
8	0.128	3.26
10	0.102	2.59
12	0.081	2.05
14	0.064	1.63
16	0.051	1.29
18	0.04	1.02
19	0.036	0.912
20	0.032	0.812
21	0.028	0.723
22	0.025	0.644
23	0.023	0.573
24	0.02	0.511
25	0.018	0.455
26	0.016	0.405
27	0.014	0.36
28	0.013	0.321
29	0.011	0.286
30	0.01	0.255
32	0.008	0.2019
34	0.0063	0.16

 

Wire Conversion
Gauge	ft/Toz
14	4.65
16	7.5
18	12
20	19
22	31
24	48
26	77
28	125
30	200