Woven Stainless Steel Wire Mesh
Last reviewed on October 3, 2026
Woven wire mesh is made by interlacing wires in an over‑and‑under pattern to create a flexible yet durable sheet of stainless steel wire cloth. This traditional weaving process produces consistent openings and excellent dimensional stability, making woven stainless mesh ideal for filtration, sieving and screening.
Weave Types
The way the wires are interlaced determines the characteristics of the mesh. The most common weave types are:
- Plain Weave: Each warp wire alternately passes over and under each shute wire, producing a simple, balanced pattern. Plain weave mesh provides excellent strength and flexibility for general use.
- Twill Weave: Each wire passes over two and under two adjacent wires, creating a diagonal pattern. Twill weaving allows a heavier wire to be used at a given mesh count, so it is common for very fine and heavy-duty cloths.
- Dutch Weave: A variation where the warp wires are heavier and spaced farther apart than the finer shute wires. Dutch weave mesh delivers very fine filtration while maintaining strength.
Material Grades
Woven wire mesh is typically manufactured from 304 or 316 stainless steel. Grade 304 is widely used for its balance of corrosion resistance, affordability and strength. Grade 316 contains molybdenum, making it highly resistant to chlorides and acids – ideal for marine and chemical environments.
Common Applications
Thanks to its precision openings and uniformity, woven stainless mesh serves a broad range of industries:
- Filtration: Removing particles from liquids and gases in food processing, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and water treatment.
- Sieving and Screening: Sorting and grading powders, aggregates, grains and minerals in agriculture, mining and construction.
- Protective Barriers: Offering shielding in machine guards, vent screens, radiator grilles and insect screens.
- Decoration: Creating elegant textures in cabinetry, lighting fixtures and architectural features.
Typical Specifications
Mesh count is the number of wires per linear inch. The opening (aperture) depends on both the count and the wire diameter: aperture (mm) = 25.4 ÷ mesh − wire diameter (mm). The combinations below are common market specifications for square plain or twill weave; other wire diameters are available for most counts, so always confirm on the supplier's data sheet.
| Mesh Count | Wire Diameter, mm (in) | Opening, mm (µm) | Open Area | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 | 1.194 (0.0470″) | 5.156 (5156 µm) | 66% | Coarse screening, guards, vent covers |
| 8 × 8 | 0.711 (0.0280″) | 2.464 (2464 µm) | 60% | Gravel and aggregate screening, guards |
| 10 × 10 | 0.635 (0.0250″) | 1.905 (1905 µm) | 56% | General sieving and guarding |
| 16 × 16 | 0.457 (0.0180″) | 1.130 (1130 µm) | 51% | Heavier screens, small-animal guards |
| 18 × 18 | 0.279 (0.0110″) | 1.132 (1132 µm) | 64% | Insect screening (rectangular 18 × 16 is also common) |
| 20 × 20 | 0.406 (0.0160″) | 0.864 (864 µm) | 46% | Coarse strainers, vent screens |
| 30 × 30 | 0.305 (0.0120″) | 0.542 (542 µm) | 41% | Strainers, sifting |
| 40 × 40 | 0.254 (0.0100″) | 0.381 (381 µm) | 36% | Strainer liners, coarse filtration |
| 60 × 60 | 0.190 (0.0075″) | 0.233 (233 µm) | 30% | Paint and coarse liquid strainers |
| 80 × 80 | 0.140 (0.0055″) | 0.178 (178 µm) | 31% | Food sieving, suction screens |
| 100 × 100 | 0.114 (0.0045″) | 0.140 (140 µm) | 30% | Water and oil pre-filters, cold brew |
| 150 × 150 | 0.066 (0.0026″) | 0.103 (103 µm) | 37% | Fine liquid filtration |
| 200 × 200 | 0.053 (0.0021″) | 0.074 (74 µm) | 34% | Fine filtration, powder sieving |
| 325 × 325 | 0.036 (0.0014″) | 0.043 (43 µm) | 30% | Fine filtration |
| 400 × 400 | 0.025 (0.0010″) | 0.038 (38 µm) | 36% | Very fine filtration, lab screens |
The complete chart from 2 to 635 mesh, with a calculator for any wire diameter, is on the mesh size chart page.
Plain vs Twill vs Dutch Weave at a Glance
| Weave | Structure | Opening | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain (square) | Each wire passes over one, under one | Square, easy to calculate | Most screening, sieving, insect screens and general filtration |
| Twill (square) | Each wire passes over two, under two | Square; allows heavier wire at a given count | Fine meshes (roughly 200 mesh and finer) and heavier-duty cloths |
| Plain Dutch | Heavy, spaced warp wires; fine shute wires packed tightly | No straight-through square opening; tested rating | Strong, fine liquid filtration |
| Twilled Dutch | Dutch construction with twill interlacing; shute wires overlap | Very fine; tested rating | Fine hydraulic, fuel and process filter elements |
Dutch weaves are specified by two counts (warp × shute), for example 24 × 110 or 200 × 1400, and their micron ratings come from the manufacturer's test data rather than a formula. See filter mesh for how those ratings are used.
Example Specifications
Example woven mesh specifications you can use when requesting quotes (not endorsements of a particular seller):
304 Stainless Woven Wire Cloth – 100 Mesh
100 × 100 mesh with 0.0045″ (0.114 mm) wire, giving about 140 µm openings. Suits DIY filters, strainers and craft work (too fine for insect screens, which use roughly 18–20 mesh).
See Buying Guide316 Stainless Woven Wire Cloth – 50 Mesh
50 × 50 mesh with 0.009″ (0.229 mm) wire, giving about 0.28 mm openings. 316 suits salt-water and chloride-bearing liquids.
See Buying Guide304/316 Fine Wire Cloth – 200 Mesh
200 × 200 mesh with 0.0021″ (0.053 mm) wire, giving about 74 µm openings, for fine filtration and powder sieving.
See Buying GuideWant to learn more? Read our article Understanding Stainless Steel Mesh for an in‑depth look at types, grades and applications.