INTRODUCTION
Leather thickness and weight are important factors to consider when working with leather. Whether you are a professional leather crafter or a hobbyist, understanding the weight and thickness of different types of leather can help you make informed decisions about which leather to use for a particular project. In this article, we will provide a leather thickness/weight conversion chart to help you easily convert between different units of measurement.
WHAT ARE THE METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE THICKNESS OF LEATHER?
The thickness of leather is typically measured in ounces or millimeters.
To measure the thickness of leather in ounces, a special tool called a leather gauge or caliper is used. This tool consists of a pair of jaws that are placed on either side of the leather and then squeezed together to measure the thickness. The thickness is then read on a scale, usually in increments of 1/64 inch (1 ounce equals 1/64 inch).
To measure the thickness of leather in millimeters, a ruler or digital caliper can be used. The leather is placed on a flat surface and the ruler or caliper is placed on top of it, with the zero mark on the instrument lined up with the edge of the leather. The thickness is then read in millimeters.
It is important to note that the thickness of leather can vary based on factors such as the type of leather, the part of the animal it came from, and the tanning process used. As a result, it is important to measure the thickness of the specific piece of leather you are working with to ensure accurate measurements.
HOW THICK IS 1 OUNCE OF LEATHER?
One ounce of leather is equivalent to 0.4 millimeters or 1/64 of an inch. Using this conversion factor, we can determine that 7 ounces of leather is equal to 2.8 millimeters or 7/64 of an inch. To make it easier to convert between different units of measurement, we have provided a leather thickness conversion chart below. Please keep in mind that the thickness of a piece of leather may vary slightly across the hide, and the chart reflects this variability.
LEATHER THICKNESS/WEIGHT CONVERSION CHART
| MILLIMETER THICKNESS | INCH THICKNESS | OUNCE THICKNESS | MM THICKNESS | COMMON PROJECTS/LEATHER TYPES |
| 0.8 – 1.2 mm | 1/32" – 3/64" | 2 – 3 oz | 0.8 – 1.2mm | lining, embossing |
| 1.2 – 1.6 mm | 3/64" – 1/16" | 3 – 4 oz | 1.2 – 1.6mm | lining, embossing, light bags, light wallets |
| 1.6 – 2.0 mm | 1/16" – 5/64" | 4 – 5 oz | 1.6 – 2.0mm | wallets, bags, chaps |
| 2.0 – 2.4 mm | 5/64" – 3/32" | 5 – 6 oz | 2.0 – 2.4mm | phone and tablet cases, book covers, light moccasins, chaps |
| 2.4 – 2.8 mm | 3/32" – 7/64" | 6 – 7 oz | 2.4 – 2.8mm | heavy cases, covers, chaps, moccasins |
| 2.8 – 3.2 mm | 7/64" – 1/8" | 7 – 8 oz | 2.8 – 3.2mm | moccasins, light sheaths, light holsters, belts |
| 3.2 – 3.6 mm | 1/8" – 9/64" | 8 – 9 oz | 3.2 – 3.6mm | standard belts, standard sheaths, straps, medium holsters |
| 3.6 – 4.0 mm | 9/64"– 5/32" | 9 – 10 oz | 3.6 – 4.0mm | bridle sides, bridle backs, heavy holsters, heavy belts, light armor, swell cover sides |
| 4.0 – 4.4 mm | 5/32" – 11/64" | 10 – 11 oz | 4.0 – 4.4mm | bridle sides, bridle backs, heavy straps, medium armor, stirrup backs |
| 4.5 - 5.4mm | 1/4" - 14/64" | 12- 13 oz | 4.5 – 5.4mm | girth point rumps, latigo sides, men's sole bends, saddlery skirting sides, rein backs |
| 5.5 - 6.4mm | 15/64" - 19/64" | 14 - 15 oz | 5.5 – 6.4mm | girth point rumps, harness sides, harness backs, heavy men's sole bends |
| 6.5 - 7.4mm | 20/64" - 5/8" | 16 - 17 oz | 6.5 – 7.4mm | super heavy men's sole bends, super heavy harness sides |