Enter the thickness value and select the conversion direction into the calculator to determine the equivalent thickness in mils or gauge for plastic film.

Mils to Gauge Converter

Mils → Gauge
Gauge → Mils

Enter plastic film thickness in mils, or pick a common value.

Please enter a positive number.

Enter film thickness in gauge, or pick a common value.

Please enter a positive number.
Result
—
▸ How this is calculated
Copy result

For plastic films and flexible packaging, thickness is often expressed in mils or gauge. A mil is one-thousandth of an inch, and the common industry convention is:

  • 1 mil = 100 gauge
  • 0.5 mil = 50 gauge
  • 1.5 mil = 150 gauge
  • 2.0 mil = 200 gauge

The calculator applies this linear relationship automatically in either direction so you can quickly convert packaging film thickness values.

Mils to Gauge Formula

The following formulas are used to convert film thickness between mils and gauge.

G = M \times 100 \qquad M = G / 100

Variables:

  • G is the thickness in gauge
  • M is the thickness in mils

To calculate gauge, multiply the thickness in mils by 100. To calculate mils, divide the gauge value by 100.

What is Mils to Gauge Conversion?

Mils to gauge conversion is a standard way to express the thickness of thin plastic films used in packaging and manufacturing. A mil is a direct measurement equal to 0.001 inch, while gauge is a shorthand thickness number commonly used in the plastic film industry. Because the relationship is linear, converting between the two units is simple and consistent.

For example, if a film is 1.0 mil thick, it is 100 gauge. If a film is 2.5 mil thick, it is 250 gauge. In reverse, a 75 gauge film has a thickness of 0.75 mil.

How to Convert Mils to Gauge?

The following steps outline how to convert between mils and gauge.

  1. First, determine whether your thickness is given in mils or in gauge.
  2. If the value is in mils, multiply it by 100 to find the gauge.
  3. If the value is in gauge, divide it by 100 to find the thickness in mils.
  4. After inserting the value, verify the result with the calculator above.

Mils to Gauge Conversion Table

The table below shows common plastic film thickness conversions using the standard relationship of 1 mil = 100 gauge.

Thickness in Mils Equivalent in Gauge
0.5 mil 50 gauge
0.75 mil 75 gauge
1.0 mil 100 gauge
1.5 mil 150 gauge
2.0 mil 200 gauge
3.0 mil 300 gauge

Example Problem:

Use the following values as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Thickness (M) = 1.5 mil

Gauge (G) = 150

In reverse, if the thickness is 250 gauge, the equivalent thickness is 2.5 mil.