If a material's thickness is less than 1/8 inch, how is it most commonly measured?

When measuring materials that are less than 1/8 inch thick, it is common practice to use decimal inches. This approach provides a more precise representation of thickness compared to fractional measurements, which can become cumbersome and less accurate at smaller dimensions. Decimal inches allow for easier calculations and interpretations, particularly in contexts such as engineering or manufacturing where precision is crucial.

For example, instead of measuring a thickness as 3/32 inch, which can be less intuitive to work with for some calculations, it can be more conveniently expressed as 0.09375 inches in decimal format. This facilitates better communication and understanding of specifications, especially when detailed dimensions are needed for fitting or assembly.

While other methods of measurement, like standard gauge and millimeters, have their applications, decimal inches are typically favored for such fine measurements due to their clarity and ease of use in calculations.