Convert US standard sieve mesh sizes to microns, millimeters, and inches. Full 25-row mesh chart with interpolation for non-standard sizes.
Mesh size and microns are two ways to describe how fine a powder, granule, or filtration opening is. Mesh refers to the number of openings per linear inch in a US Standard Sieve, while microns (µm) measure the actual opening width. A higher mesh number means smaller openings and finer particles — for example, 200 mesh corresponds to 74 µm in typical industrial specifications and quality-control reports used by process engineers in production environments every day.
This mesh-to-micron converter provides instant bidirectional conversion between US Standard mesh numbers and microns, plus outputs in millimeters, centimeters, inches, and nanometers. It uses the official ASTM E11 sieve values and interpolates intelligently for non-standard mesh sizes.
Whether you work in powder metallurgy, ceramic processing, food manufacturing, mineral processing, 3D printing materials, or pharmaceutical grinding, this tool gives you the exact opening size you need — and a complete 25-row mesh chart for quick reference.
Looking up mesh-to-micron conversions in printed charts is slow; mentally interpolating between standard sizes is error-prone. This calculator gives you instant, accurate results for any mesh or micron value — including non-standard sizes — and shows the full ASTM chart for context.
The visual log-scale bar helps you intuitively grasp whether a powder is coarse (sand-like) or ultrafine (talc-like). The multiple unit outputs (mm, cm, inches, nm) eliminate the need for secondary conversions when reading specifications from different sources.
Mesh-micron relationship (approximate): microns ≈ 25,400 / mesh. This is an approximation; actual ASTM E11 sieve openings differ because wire diameter varies. The calculator uses official ASTM values and interpolates between standard sizes.
Result: 74 µm (0.074 mm)
A 200-mesh sieve has openings of 74 microns (0.074 mm or 0.0029 inches). This is a common benchmark in mineral processing and is often called "200 mesh powder."
A sieve is a frame holding a woven wire cloth. The mesh number counts "openings per linear inch." Because wires have finite thickness, the actual opening size depends on both the number of wires and the wire diameter. The ASTM E11 standard specifies both, producing a series where each step reduces the opening by approximately √2 (a factor of about 1.414).
**Mining & mineral processing:** Ores are crushed and screened through sieves to sort particle sizes for downstream flotation or leaching. Knowing the micron cutoff for each mesh is critical for process control. **Pharmaceuticals:** Active ingredients must be ground to specific micron ranges for consistent dissolution rates. **Food processing:** Flour grades, sugar crystal sizes, and spice powders are all classified by sieve analysis. **Ceramics & glass:** Raw materials are sieved to ensure uniform particle distribution in the slip or batch.
For particles below about 40 µm, sieving becomes impractical due to clogging and electrostatic effects. Modern techniques include laser diffraction (measuring scattering patterns), dynamic light scattering (for sub-micron particles), and Coulter counters (for counting individual particles). However, mesh/sieve analysis remains the cheapest and most widespread method for coarser materials.
Mesh size refers to the number of openings per linear inch in a wire sieve. Higher mesh numbers mean more wires per inch and therefore smaller openings.
200 mesh corresponds to 74 microns (0.074 mm) per the US Standard (ASTM E11) sieve series.
Finer. A 400-mesh sieve has much smaller openings (37 µm) than a 20-mesh sieve (841 µm).
ASTM E11 (Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves) defines the US Standard sieve series used in laboratory and industrial sieving. It specifies opening sizes and tolerances for standard test sieves.
Tyler mesh sizes differ slightly from US Standard. This calculator uses ASTM E11 / US Standard values. Tyler equivalents are close but not identical — check your sieve documentation.
The finest commonly used standard sieve is 400 mesh (37 µm). Below that, other methods like laser diffraction or air classification are used.