Mil to Inch Converter
Created by: Ethan Brooks
Last updated:
A mil is one thousandth of an inch, so to convert mils to inches, divide by 1,000. For example, 6 mil plastic is 0.006 inches thick, a 22 mil wear layer is 0.022 inches and 60 mil roofing is 0.060 inches (about 1/16 inch). A mil is not a millimeter: 1 mil is only 0.0254 mm.
Mil to Inch Converter
Divide mils by 1,000 to get inches. 1 mil = 0.001 inch = 0.0254 mm.
Mils to inches chart
Inches = mils ÷ 1,000. Millimeters = mils × 0.0254.
| Mils | Inches | mm | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mil | 0.001 | 0.025 | Plastic wrap, thin trash bags |
| 2 mil | 0.002 | 0.051 | Kitchen trash bags |
| 3 mil | 0.003 | 0.076 | Contractor bags (light) |
| 4 mil | 0.004 | 0.102 | Painter’s drop sheeting |
| 6 mil | 0.006 | 0.152 | Vapor barrier, heavy plastic sheeting |
| 10 mil | 0.010 | 0.254 | Crawl space liner (light) |
| 12 mil | 0.012 | 0.305 | Vinyl plank wear layer (residential) |
| 20 mil | 0.020 | 0.508 | Vinyl plank wear layer (heavy use), crawl space liner |
| 22 mil | 0.022 | 0.559 | Vinyl plank wear layer (light commercial) |
| 30 mil | 0.030 | 0.762 | Pond liner (PVC) |
| 40 mil | 0.040 | 1.016 | Truck bed liner sheet |
| 45 mil | 0.045 | 1.143 | EPDM pond liner, TPO roofing |
| 60 mil | 0.060 | 1.524 | EPDM and TPO roofing membrane |
| 80 mil | 0.080 | 2.032 | Heavy roofing membrane |
| 100 mil | 0.100 | 2.54 | |
| 125 mil | 0.125 | 3.18 | One eighth of an inch |
| 250 mil | 0.250 | 6.35 | One quarter of an inch |
| 500 mil | 0.500 | 12.70 | Half an inch |
| 1,000 mil | 1.000 | 25.40 | One inch |
How to convert mils to inches
Inches = Mils ÷ 1,000
Mils = Inches × 1,000
Because an inch is exactly 25.4 mm, one mil is exactly 0.0254 mm, or 25.4 micrometers. Moving the decimal point three places is all it takes: 45 mil is 0.045 inch, and 0.125 inch is 125 mil.
Mil vs. millimeter vs. gauge
Mils and millimeters are often confused because of the similar names, but a millimeter is almost 40 times thicker. Plastic film is sometimes sold by gauge instead, where 100 gauge equals 1 mil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mil?
A mil is one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in), also called a thou. It is not a millimeter: 1 mil is 0.0254 mm, and 1 mm is about 39.37 mils. Mils are used for the thickness of plastic sheeting, coatings, liners, roofing membranes and flooring wear layers.
How do you convert mils to inches?
Divide mils by 1,000. 22 mils ÷ 1,000 = 0.022 inches and 60 mils ÷ 1,000 = 0.060 inches. To convert inches to mils, multiply by 1,000.
How thick is 6 mil plastic?
6 mil plastic is 0.006 inches, or 0.15 mm, thick. It is the usual minimum for a vapor barrier under concrete slabs and in crawl spaces.
How thick is a 20 mil or 22 mil wear layer?
A 20 mil wear layer is 0.020 inches (0.51 mm) and a 22 mil wear layer is 0.022 inches (0.56 mm). The wear layer is only the clear top coat of a vinyl plank, not the plank’s total thickness, which is usually given in millimeters.
How thick is 60 mil roofing?
60 mil EPDM or TPO roofing membrane is 0.060 inches, or 1.52 mm, about one sixteenth of an inch.
How many mils are in a millimeter?
One millimeter is 39.37 mils. To convert millimeters to mils, multiply by 39.37. To convert mils to millimeters, multiply by 0.0254.
Sources and References
- NIST: Unit conversion. The inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters.
- NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units. Appendix B lists the mil as 2.54 × 10⁻⁵ m.