What is perforated sheet?
Perforated sheet is flat metal punched with a regular pattern of holes on a wide press or a rotary punch. The designation follows ISO 7806 / DIN 24041: R = round, Q = square, LR = slotted (long round), H = hexagonal, followed by hole size, pitch and arrangement — R5 T8 U60 means 5 mm round holes on 8 mm staggered pitch at 60°, giving 35% open area. Because we punch to order rather than sell from a fixed catalogue, hole size, pitch, sheet size, margins and material follow the drawing. Uses: façade and balcony screens, sun-shading, acoustic ceilings, machine guards, ventilation grilles, filters and sieves, vibrating screens, silo and dryer floors, shelving, speaker grilles and decorative panels.
Patterns, hole sizes and open area
| Designation | Hole | Pitch | Open area | Min. thickness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 T2 | Ø1 | 2 mm | 23% | 0.5 | Fine filters, speaker grilles |
| R2 T3.5 | Ø2 | 3.5 mm | 30% | 0.5–1.0 | Sieves, acoustic panels |
| R3 T5 | Ø3 | 5 mm | 33% | 0.7–1.5 | Ceilings, ventilation |
| R5 T8 | Ø5 | 8 mm | 35% | 1.0–2.0 | Guards, screens, most ordered |
| R8 T12 | Ø8 | 12 mm | 40% | 1.5–3.0 | Façades, dryer floors |
| R10 T15 | Ø10 | 15 mm | 40% | 2.0–4.0 | Silo floors, screens |
| R20 T28 | Ø20 | 28 mm | 46% | 3.0–6.0 | Vibrating screens, quarry |
| Q10 U15 (straight) | □10 | 15 mm | 44% | 1.5–3.0 | Architectural, shelving |
| LR 3×20 T6×25 | 3 × 20 slot | 6 × 25 | 40% | 1.0–2.0 | Sieves, grading |
| H6 T7 | hex 6 | 7 mm | 64% | 1.0–2.0 | Max open area, ventilation |
Open area = 90.7 × (d/t)² for round staggered; hole diameter ≥ sheet thickness (≥ 1.5× for stainless) for clean punching.
Materials and thicknesses
| Material | Grade | Thickness | Finish | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-rolled steel | DC01 | 0.5–3.0 mm | Bare (to paint) or powder coated | Indoor, painted panels, guards |
| Hot-rolled / HRPO | S235JR | 2.0–6.0 mm | Bare, primed, galvanized after | Screens, floors, heavy sieves |
| Galvanized | DX51D+Z140–Z275 | 0.5–3.0 mm | Pre-galvanized | Outdoor, ventilation, agriculture |
| Stainless | 304 / 316L 2B | 0.5–4.0 mm | 2B, brushed | Food, marine, chemical, architecture |
| Aluminium | 1050 / 5754 | 0.8–5.0 mm | Mill, anodised, powder | Façades, light screens |
Sheet sizes, margins and tolerances
Standard sheets 1 000 × 2 000, 1 250 × 2 500 and 1 500 × 3 000 mm; coils to 1 500 mm wide for continuous perforation. Margins (unperforated borders) 10–50 mm on any side to your drawing, blank areas for fixings and cut-outs, and the perforated field can be laser-cut afterwards to any outline. Flatness after punching is restored by levelling; hole tolerance ±0.1 mm, pitch ±0.2 mm, sheet ±1 mm.
Expanded metal mesh
Expanded metal is slit and stretched from one sheet without waste, so it is cheaper per m² than perforated sheet at the same open area and stiffer because of the raised strands; it cannot give round holes or a flat decorative face unless flattened.
| Mesh | Opening SWD × LWD (mm) | Strand (mm) | Thickness | kg/m² (steel) | Open area | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 | 10 × 20 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 50% | Guards, fencing, plaster lath |
| 16 × 30 | 16 × 30 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 5.9 | 58% | Screens, walkways (flattened) |
| 22 × 50 | 22 × 50 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 7.3 | 62% | Fencing, security |
| 30 × 60 | 30 × 60 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 10.5 | 65% | Walkways, platforms |
| 43 × 100 | 43 × 100 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 13.8 | 68% | Heavy walkways, catwalks |
| 62 × 150 | 62 × 150 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 17.0 | 70% | Industrial flooring |
Raised (standard) or flattened; steel, galvanized, stainless, aluminium; sheets 1 000–1 500 × 2 000–3 000 mm.
Perforated sheet vs expanded metal vs woven mesh
| Perforated sheet | Expanded metal | Woven wire mesh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hole shape | Any (round, square, slot, hex, custom) | Diamond | Square |
| Open area | 10–65% | 40–80% | 30–80% |
| Flat face | Yes | Only if flattened | No |
| Stiffness | Medium | High (raised) | Low |
| Price per m² | 1.0 | 0.6–0.8 | 0.7–1.5 |
| Best for | Architecture, filters, guards, sieves | Walkways, fences, lath | Sieving, insect screens |
Finishing: cutting, folding, coating
Perforated panels are laser-cut to outline, folded into cassettes and returns (press brake to 6 m), welded into frames, powder coated in any RAL, hot-dip galvanized after punching (S235JR sheet) or anodised (aluminium). Façade cassettes ship ready to hang.
Price of perforated sheet
Perforated sheet is priced per sheet: substrate cost plus punching (by hole count and thickness) plus margins and cutting. As a guide, an R5 T8 1.5 mm galvanized 1 250 × 2 500 sheet costs 1.8–2.4× the plain sheet; stainless R3 T5 1 mm about 1.6–2×. Quantities from 50 sheets bring the punching cost down sharply. Send the pattern and quantity for a firm price within one working day.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
Sheets in packs of 0.5–2 t on skids with paper interleaving (stainless, aluminium) or film, corner protectors; cassettes crated. HS code 7314.20 / 7314.31 (expanded), 7326.90 / 7219 (perforated by material).
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 50 sheets or 1 t to order; stock patterns from 10 sheets |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days from drawing approval; powder coating +5 |
| Packing | Packs 0.5–2 t on skids, interleaved, wrapped, corner protectors; cassettes crated |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 15–20 t · 40' HC ≈ 20–24 t (volume-limited for thin sheet) |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1 (substrate), pattern drawing, certificate of origin |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy |
Certificates
EN 10204 3.1 for the substrate, dimensional report per pattern, certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP on request.
How to order
Send hole shape and size, pitch, arrangement, open area or a drawing, sheet size, margins, material, thickness and quantity. We confirm the pattern drawing, then quote per sheet with weight and lead time (7–15 working days).
Standards
- ISO 7806 / DIN 24041 (perforated plate designations R, Q, LR, H)
- EN 10130 DC01 / EN 10025 S235JR / EN 10346 DX51D substrates
- EN 10088-2 stainless 304 / 316L
- DIN 791 / EN 13030 (expanded metal)
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: DC01 · DX51D · 304 (1.4301) · 316L (1.4404)
Frequently asked questions
What is perforated sheet metal?
Flat metal sheet punched with a regular pattern of round, square, slotted or hexagonal holes; specified by hole size, pitch and arrangement (e.g. R5 T8) and by open area. Used for screens, guards, filters, ceilings, façades and sieves.
What is another name for perforated sheet metal?
Perforated plate, punched sheet, perforated panel, or by pattern — round-hole sheet, slotted sheet. Expanded metal is a different product made by slitting and stretching.
Do you make perforated sheet to order?
Yes — every sheet is punched in our Dilovası plant to your hole size, pitch, margins and sheet size, in steel, galvanized, stainless or aluminium; standard patterns such as R5 T8 are also held in stock.
What is the minimum hole size?
1 mm in 0.5 mm sheet; as a rule the hole must be at least the sheet thickness (1.5× for stainless). Fine patterns below 1 mm are done by laser at a higher price.
How is open area calculated?
For round holes on a staggered 60° pitch: open area = 90.7 × (hole ÷ pitch)². R5 T8 gives 35%, R8 T12 40%, R3 T5 33%. Straight (square) pitch: 78.5 × (d/t)².
Can you supply perforated sheet in stainless steel?
Yes — 304 and 316L, 0.5–4 mm, 2B or brushed, punched with lubricant-free tooling and delivered with paper interleaving; used for food, marine and architectural work.
How much does perforated sheet cost?
Priced per sheet: plain sheet cost plus punching by hole count. Typically 1.6–2.4× the plain sheet for common patterns; large orders and coarse patterns are cheaper. Send the pattern for a firm quote.
Can perforated panels be cut, folded and powder coated?
Yes — laser-cut outlines, folded cassettes and returns, welded frames, powder coating in any RAL or hot-dip galvanizing after punching, ready to install.