Paint Thickness Gauge

Readings are given in micrometres (microns). Factory paint is usually fairly even across the car, so one panel with much thicker paint stands out. It is a common tool for used car inspections. A sudden jump in readings at the edge of a panel often shows where blending ended. Very low readings can mean the paint was polished too heavily.

The gauge uses magnetic induction on steel panels and eddy currents on aluminium to measure the distance to the metal.

Readings differ between manufacturers and models, so compare panels on the same car rather than with fixed numbers. Plastic bumpers and carbon panels cannot be measured with a standard gauge.