FAQ Friday: Is 16 gauge Stainless Steel better than 18 gauge for sinks?

I received this question from Carol in Alabama the other day.  It's a question I'm asked every once in awhile so I thought I'd post the answer here.

Is 16 gauge Stainless Steel better than 18 gauge for sinks?
The lower the number, the better.  It means it's thicker stainless steel.  Gauge means how many layers of material would stack to make an inch: 14 gauge means 14 layers, 18 gauge 18 layers, etc.
I'm not a sink expert, but I've always been told to go with 18 gauge or lower for stainless steel sinks.
The sinks that we sell and stock here at MGS by Design are 16 gauge.

Photo: Blanco