How to use this tensile strength of metals information for bending aluminum or stainless steel:
Divide 55 ksi by the tensile strength number associated with the type of aluminum or stainless steel you use (the answer will be >1 for aluminum and <1 for stiainless steel). Multiply the answer by the mild steel capacity of your machine to get the corresponding capacity of the machine. Be sure to adjust the settings of your machine for the actual metal thickness you are bending. Extra room for a radius is required when bending with a hand brakes or hydraulic leaf brake.

• May be slightly magnetic when cold worked
•• Not stocked-typical properties
† 1 ksi = 1000 psi

Tensile Strengths of Aluminum:

Alloy and Temper

Tensile Strength3³ (ksi)

1100-O
1100-H12
1100-H14
1100-H16
1100-H18
1100-H19

2011-T3
2011-T451
2011-T8

2014-O
2014-T4,-T451
2014-T6,-T651

Alclad 2014-O
Alclad 2014-T3
Alclad 2014-T4,-T451
Alclad 2014-T6,-T651

2017-H13
2017-O
2014-T4,-T451

2024-O
2024-T3
2024-T361¹
2024-T4,-T351
2024-T6
2024-T81,-T851
2024-T861 ²

Alclad 2024-O
Alclad 2024-T3
Alclad 2024-T361¹
Alclad 2024- T4,-T351
Alclad 2024- T81,-T85
Alclad 2024-T861 ¹

3003-O
3003-H12
3003-H14
3003-H16
3003-H18
3003-H22

Alclad 3003-O
Alclad 3003-H12
Alclad 3003-H14
Alclad 3003-H16
Alclad 3003-H18

3004-O
3004-H32
3004-H34
3004H36
3004-H38

Alclad 3004-O
Alclad 3004- H32
Alclad 3004- H34
Alclad 3004- H36
Alclad 3004- H38

3105-H14

4032-T86
4032-T651

5005- O
5005- H12
5005- H14
5005- H16
5005- H18
5005- H32
5005- H34
5005- H36
5005- H38

5050- O

5052- O
5052- H32
5052- H320 °
5052- H34
5052- H36
5052- H38

5083- O
5083- H112
5083- H321,-H116
5083- H323
5083-H343

5086-O
5086-H32,H116
5086- H34
5086-H36
5086-H112

5154-O
5154-H112
5154- H32
5154-H34
5154- H36
5154- H38

5454- O
5454- H32
5454- H34
5454- H112

5456- O
5456- H112
5456- H321,-H116

5457- O
5457- H25
5457- H28
5657- H25

6013- T8

6020- T9
6020- T651

6061-O
6061-T4,-T451
6061-T6,-T651,-T6511
6061-T6511P °

Alclad 6061-O
Alclad 6061-T4,-T451
Alclad 6061-T6,-T651

6063-O
6063-T1
6063-T4
6063-T5,-T52
6063-T6
6063-T83
6063-T831
6063-T832

6101-T61

6262-T6511 ²
6262-T8
6262-T9

7075-O
7075-T6,-T651

Alclad 7075-O

Cast Tool And Jig Plates

13.0
16.0
18.0
21.0
24.0
27.0

55.0
40.6
59.0

27.0
62.0
70.0

25.0
63.0
61.0
68.0

35.0
26.0
62.0

27.0
70.0
72.0
68.0
69.0
70.0
75.0

26.0
65.0
67.0
64.0
65.0
70.0

16.0
19.0
22.0
26.0
29.0
23.0

16.0
19.0
22.0
26.0
29.0

26.0
31.0
35.0
38.0
41.0

25.0

54.0
55.0

18.0
20.0
23.0
26.0
29.0
20.0
23.0
26.0
29.0

21.0

28.0
33.0
29.0
38.0
40.0
42.0

42.0
43.0
46.0
47.0
52.0

38.0
42.0
47.0
50.0
39.0

35.0
35.0
39.0
42.0
45.0
48.0

36.0
40.0
44.0
36.0

45.0
45.0
51.0

19.0
26.0
30.0
23.0

64.0

58.0
45.0

18.0
35.0
45.0
42.0

17.0
33.0
42.0

13.0
22.0
25.0
27.0
35.0
37.0
30.0
42.0

32.0

45.0
42.0
58.0

33.0
83.0

32.0

26.0

¹ Tempers T361 T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively.

² For stress-relieved tempers, the characteristics and properties other than
those specified may differ somewhat from the corresponding characteristics
and properties of material in the basic temper.

³ 1 ksi = 1000 psi

° Minimum Properties

Below is a conversion chart that converts sheet metal gauge numbers into metal thickness.

26 gauge

24 ga.

22 ga.

20 ga .

18 ga.

16 ga.

14 ga.

13 ga.

12 ga.

11 ga.

10 ga.

9 ga.

8 ga.

7 ga.

6 ga.

.018 inch

.024"

.030"

.036"

.048"

.060"

.075"

.090"

.105"

.120"

.135"

.150"

.164"

.180"

.194"

.46mm

.61mm

.76mm

.91mm

1.2mm

1.5mm

1.9mm

2.3mm

2.7mm

3mm

3.4mm

3.8mm

4mm

4.6mm

4.9mm

Click for our Metal Bending Tonnage Requirement Chart

Click for Bend Radius Chart for aluminum and stainless steel

Note: Mild steel = 55 ksi = 55,000 psi (some people use 60 ksi for easier calculation)

Tensile Strengths of Stainless Steel:

Tensile Strengths of Aluminum: