MYLAR 101: What does "Mil" Mean? January 23 2017

As some of you may have noticed, Mylar and Dura-Lar are measured by thickness.
The thickness of Mylar and Dura-Lar are measured in "mil" ... But, what's a mil?

A Mil is equal to 1/1,000th of an inch, and is written either as "1 mil" or 0.001"

 

MEASURING MYLAR

Mylar comes in two thicknesses. There is 2 mil Mylar or 0.002" Mylar, a specialty thickness to be used with thick paper or photographs. This 2 mil Mylar is slightly thinner than the standard Mylar ringing in at 2/1,000ths of an inch thick.

0.003" Mylar, 3 mil Mylar, Button Making Parts & Supplies, Mylar 101

The standard thickness is 3mil Mylar or 0.003" Mylar. This is the standard thickness, and is best paired with standard 20lb printer paper. Three mil Mylar is what comes in all of our button making kits, and is the industry standard thickness. It is 3/1,000ths of an inch in thickness.

 

MEASURING DURA-LAR

Dura-Lar Film, a Mylar alternative that can go through a laser printer, is also measure in mil.

The Silver/Gold double sided Mattalised Dura-Lar Film is the thinnest Dura-Lar product with a thickness of 2 mil (0.002"). The Glossy Dura-Lar Film is slightly thicker than regular Mylar, at 4 mil (0.004") thick, and the thickest is Matte Dura-Lar at 5 mil (0.005").

 

So now when you're shopping around for Mylar or other specialty finishes and see the word Mil kicking about, you know exactly what it means! Knowledge is Power!