Which gauge is thicker: 20 gauge or 16 gauge?

In the context of gauges, particularly when discussing materials such as metal, a lower gauge number indicates a thicker material. This is a standard measurement system where the gauge number inversely relates to the thickness: as the gauge number decreases, the thickness increases.

Therefore, a 16 gauge material is thicker than a 20 gauge material. The 20 gauge is thinner compared to the 16 gauge, meaning it is less robust and may be used for different applications where lighter weight or lower strength is acceptable. This measurement convention is crucial in various fields, including construction, manufacturing, and arts and crafts, as it influences the material's durability and usability.

In contrast, the other options either refer to gauges that are either irrelevant to the comparison at hand or are not equal in thickness to the correct answer, reinforcing that the 16 gauge is indeed the thicker option in this case.