Perforated Metal Sheet

A versatile product, a perforated metal sheet is a go-to product for distributors, contractors, fabricators, and manufacturers when they need perforated metal. Depending on the pattern type you are looking for, these sheets can be used to cut multiple smaller parts out of them, or used in full to form beautiful architectural structures such as sunshades or HVAC diffusers. Because of the endless possibilities a perforated metal sheet gives you, most will keep them in their warehouse, ready to pull off the shelf when they need to fabricate a specific item or part.

Perforated Metal Sheet Capabilities

  • 11 Gauge up to 26 Gauge
  • Aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, brass, Iron, nickel alloys, plastics, composites
  • Min width: 1”; Max width: 72”
  • Min length: 12”; Max Length: 240”

How Do You Make a Perforated Sheet?

Perforated metal sheets start as a large coil. Further, these coils can be bought from various mills across the country and weigh up to 50,000 lbs, and be 72” wide! The master coil is wound up at the mill after going through the “rolling” process – a series of stands that flattens out the slab and reduces it to the specified thickness of the material being produced.

From here, the coil is shipped to a distributor who, depending on the application, may slit the material into a smaller coil. Then, Accurate Perforating orders material from the service center. After it is delivered and inspected for accuracy, we load it into one of our 18 perforating presses. With 14 gauge and lighter (and any stainless steel), the material is perforated and then cut to length all at one time to form perforated metal sheets. This cut-to-length process can also be referred to as “blanking”. If the material is heavier than 14 gauge, we can perforate the material, recoil it, and then cut it to length based on your desired shipping schedule.

Learn More About Perforated Metal Coils

How is a Perforated Metal Sheet Measured?

Typically, any metal that is less than 3/16” thick is considered a “sheet”. Heavier than that, you’ll be looking at a “plate”. Sheet metal is often measured (or specified) by the customer in terms of a “gauge”. So if your application calls for galvanized steel, and someone orders “16 Gauge”, the thickness, in inches, of that product, is 0.0635”. From there, the sheet will be measured by the width of the material and then the length. Most individuals refer to them in inches. Using the example above, of 16-gauge galvanized steel, this could be ordered as a 48” x 96” sheet. The first number is the width (48”, or 4’ wide) and the second number is the length (96”, or 8’ long).

Custom Sheet Sizes

At Accurate Perforating, one of our specialties is sizes. Since we are a perforated manufacturer, we aren’t limited to just sheet sizes that come off the shelf. Instead, we can cut to length custom sheets to your needs. Custom sheet size can often minimize your scrap, ensuring you utilize more of the material than a standardized blank. Send us a quote for your custom sheet needs!

What Sizes Do Perforated Metal Sheets come in?

From a stocking perspective, perforated metal sheets are often cut to standard sizes depending on the application. 48” x 96” is one of the most popular sheet sizes. 60” x 120” is another. Other sizes include but are not limited to:

  • 36” x 96”
  • 36” x 120”
  • 48” x 120”
  • 48” x 144”

Standard Material Types for Perforated Metal Sheet

Perforated metal sheets are available in a wide variety of substrates to fit the needs of the specific end use for a particular application.

Applications For Perforated Metal Sheets

Perforated metal is incredibly versatile. While its weight-bearing capacity might be more limited than standard sheet metal, perforated metal sheets can be used for essentially any design application. This includes:

Lighting and Acoustics

Perforated metal is a perfect solution for controlling light and sound. You'll find perforated metal used to limit (but not fully eliminate) bright light to create a more pleasant, naturally lit environment. You'll also find it in auditoriums and other areas where effective acoustics are needed.

Drainage

Perforated metal is commonly used for outdoor furniture where you don't want moisture to pool.

Mechanics

The ventilation properties of perforated metal make it ideal for keeping engines and machine parts cool.

Aesthetics

Don't forget appearance — perforated metal can be shaped and formed to create stunning visuals for virtually any design.