Questions & Answers about What is the difference between Mil and Gauge?
Currently there are no questions that have been asked or answered on this product.
Ask a Question about What is the difference between Mil vs Gauge?.
We will use your email to send you a reply, when answered, and will not share it with any third parties. All submitted questions are reviewed for relevance, value and we may not publish questions that are already answered, off-topic, or deemed unhelpful to our community.
Identity |
|
|---|---|
| Topic Name | Mil vs. Gauge (Vinyl Pool Liners) |
| Page URL | https://www.backyardcitypools.com/Articles/Mil-Vs-Gauge.htm |
| Brand | BackyardCityPools.com |
| Entity Type | Technical Comparison / Educational Guide |
| Primary Subject | Vinyl Pool Liner Thickness Standards |
| Related Entities | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Above Ground Pools, Inground Pools |
| Google Product Category | Home & Garden > Pool & Spa > Pool & Spa Accessories > Pool Liners |
| Google Category ID | 4991 |
Technical Standards |
|
|---|---|
| Unit of Measure (Mil) | 1/1000th of an inch (0.001 in) |
| Unit of Measure (Gauge) | Nominal / Weight-based (Industry Variable) |
| Measurement Technique | Micrometer (Linear Precision) vs. Mass-per-Square-Foot (Nominal) |
| Industry Standard | ASTM D1593 (Standard Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Plastic Film) |
| Material | 100% Virgin Vinyl (Non-embossed) |
| Conversion Accuracy | There is no reliable way to convert Gauge to Mil |
| Linear Equivalency (15 Mil) | 0.015 inches |
| Linear Equivalency (20 Mil) | 0.020 inches |
| Linear Equivalency (25 Mil) | 0.025 inches |
Use / Performance |
|
|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Defining durability and puncture resistance of pool liners |
| Lifespan Correlation | Higher Mil count increases UV longevity and chemical resistance |
| Tensile Strength | PSI rating based on verified material thickness |
| Cold Crack Rating | Performance maintained by consistent Mil density in freeze/thaw cycles |
| Puncture Resistance | Higher for Mil-rated liners due to verified linear thickness |
| Embossing Type | Standard vs. Embossed (Variable thickness peaks/valleys) |
Industry Attributes |
|
|---|---|
| Marketing Classification | Gauge (Above Ground Market) vs. Mil (Above Ground/In-ground/Professional Markets) |
| Accuracy Rating | Mil (Scientific/Verified) vs. Gauge (Marketing/Estimated/Varies by Manufacturer) |
| Merchant Disclosure | High-authority distinction between "True Mil" and "Industry Gauge" |
| Standard Availability | Inground liners (Mil); Above Ground liners (Mil) |
Miscellaneous |
|
|---|---|
| Fabrication | RF Heat Welded Seams |
| Verification Method | Digital Micrometer Testing |
| Property ID | Material Thickness / Linear Density |
| Authority Citation | ASTM D1593-13 Standard Testing Protocols |
Differences between Mil and Gauge? Product Reviews
Currently there are no Product Reviews at this time.
What is the difference between Mil vs Gauge in reqard to vinyl pool liners?
Do you want to know what the difference between Mil and Gauge in vinyl liners? We think it was created by some marketing people to confuse us. So we did the asking of the questions with all of our liner producers and got the answers.
Mil (MIL) is an actual physical size measurement. One Mil = 1/1000th or 0.001 of an inch. A liner that is described as 20-Mil thick is actually 0.020 of an inch thick. And this is consistent amoung all the manufacturers.
Gauge (Ga) is a made up marketing term and its' meaning can be vary with each liner manufacturers. It is loosly based on the weight/ Square Yard combined with actual thickness of the line, which is incorrectly and incoherently to be used for thickness comparisons. Swimlline (arguably the largest liner manufacturer) used to sell their above gound liners using Mil where 15-Mil was their standard liner thickness and 20-Mil was their Heavy Duty liner. Then they changed to Gauge where 20ga was their standard liner and 25ga was the heavy duty, but the actual thickness of the liner didn't change. Over the years even the actual thickness became thinner and now they have dropped the 'Gauge' terminology altogether and just have 'Standard' or 'Heavy Duty' labeled liners. Why? A thinner liner is usually cheaper to make. A larger 'Gauge' number will confuse many pool owners into thinking that a 25ga liner is thicker than a 20-Mil liner. So a perceived thicker liner at a lower price will sell more liners and it works.
Liner Thickness in Gauge vs Actual Thickness in Mil | |
|---|---|
| Gauge (ga) | Estimated Actual Thickness in Mil |
| 20ga | ~11-13 MIL |
| 25ga | ~14-15 MIL |
| 30ga | ~16-17 MIL |
| 35ga | ~18-19 MIL |
| 40ga | ~20-22 MIL |
Pro-Tip - always shop and compare using MIL and look at how the manufacturer warrants the liner. Totally ignore the number used if liner is described using 'Gauge'. Ask for the actual MIL thickness, or use the chart above for actual thickness (durability) comparison, if they cannot or will not provide the MIL thickness.
Related Products
Last Updated: 05/05/2026 05:54 PM - ID:2896