Sheet metal and metal plates may seem like similar products at first glance. After all, each are sections of metal formed into large, flat pieces. However, distinguishing between plate vs. sheet metal is important, as while use cases for these products do sometimes overlap, there are many more cases where sheet metal makes more sense than metal plates, and vice versa.
Polished Metals is a global leader when it comes to professionally finished sheet and plate metal products. We work with a wide range of metals across many industries, and in some cases we may even advise clients when deciding between plate vs. sheet metal.
Let’s take a look at how these products differ and their distinct use cases.
Plate vs. Sheet Metal: Key Differences
The essential difference between plate vs. sheet metal is the thickness; sheet metal is thinner, while plate metal is thicker and more sturdy. The typical range of sizes for each looks something like the following:
- Sheet metal: around 0.5 mm to 6 mm
- Plate metal: more than 6 mm thick
Plate and sheet metal often differ in how they are measured, as well. While we’ve simplified the above distinction to use the same units—millimeters—plate metal is often measured in inches, particularly here in the US.
On the other hand, sheet metal sizes are frequently given as “gauges,” which refer to specific thicknesses (in mm or inches). To make things even more complex, these gauges will often vary depending on the metal you’re talking about. For example, a given gauge of stainless steel sheet metal will be thicker than the same gauge of aluminum sheet metal.
As a result of all this, metal finishing companies will typically provide full charts translating the gauges they offer into decimal units, both millimeters and inches.
Attributes of Plate vs. Sheet Metal
Despite being similar in appearance, plate and sheet metal each provide a distinct set of characteristics that give each product its own set of use cases worldwide.
- Sheet Metal: Highly adaptable. Readily cut into various shapes and sizes, and much more malleable and ductile compared to metal plates. Cost-effective across many use cases. Significantly lighter per unit of surface area.
- Plate Metal: Extremely sturdy and strong. Able to be cut into shapes as needed. Provide excellent protection against the elements across many use cases.
Common Use Cases for Each
Metal sheets and plates have numerous uses worldwide, and these are some of the most commonly seen metal products across many industries.
The uses for sheet metal are nearly limitless. In fact, we’ve previously covered the many sheet metal products you may see in everyday use. Some of the most common industries where sheet metal is used include the automotive industry, roofing, manufacturing, architecture, and more.
Metal plates, on the other hand, typically see a narrower set of uses. Because metal plates are so much thicker and stronger, but also more expensive, these products are most often used in instances where strength is paramount. This often includes construction and engineering, as metal plates will frequently be used to construct buildings, build bridges, and generally reinforce, add support, or distribute weight across various structures.
All that said, sheet metal and plate metal do have overlapping functions in certain cases. Most commonly, the times where our team is making a recommendation on plate vs. sheet metal is when a customer is considering thicknesses right around 6 mm, which may fall into either category.
In these cases, it’s crucial to weigh the added strength of plate metal compared to the cost-effectiveness and workability of metal sheets.
Polished Metals: Your Trusted Source for Sheet & Plate Metal
Both of these products play key roles in industries around the world, and as a result, many companies depend on high-quality metal finishing to bring their projects to fruition.
Here at Polished Metals, we’re dedicated to best-in-class quality, and between our decades of experience and large in-house facility, we’re prepared to process high-volume orders of sheet metal and plates for use across a range of industries.
No matter your needs, Polished Metals is here to be your one-stop shop for finished metal products of all varieties. Reach out today for a quote!