Filtration & fluidsMaker spec
Airless paint sprayer gun filters
60 mesh latex · 100 mesh stain/lacquer
Use 60 mesh for primer and latex paint, 100 mesh for thinner materials such as stain and lacquer.
Mesh count60 · 100 mesh
01 — StandardWhat is 60 mesh in microns?
A US standard No. 60 test sieve (ASTM E11) has a nominal opening of 250 µm.
02 — Specifications60 mesh specifications
| Opening (microns) | 250 µm |
| Opening (millimeters) | 0.25 mm |
| Opening (inches) | 0.0098 in |
| US standard sieve | No. 60 |
| Tyler equivalent | 60 mesh |
| Pitch (wire center to center) | 410 µm |
| Typical wire diameter | 0.16 mm |
| Approx. open area | 37% |
03 — ApplicationsWhat is 60 mesh used for?
A 250 µm opening sits exactly on the Wentworth boundary between fine sand and medium sand. Comparing grain size with the nominal opening only: grains up to and including 250 µm would pass; grains larger than 250 µm would be retained. Real sieving also depends on particle shape, sieving time and the opening tolerance of the cloth.
These applications commonly use a 60 mesh count or an opening near 250 µm:
Filtration & fluidsMaker spec
Paint strainers
Medium 260 µm · fine 190 µm · extra-fine 125 µm
Cone paint strainers are sold as medium (260 µm) and fine (190 µm); extra-fine 125 µm strainers are also available.
Opening125 µm · 190 µm · 260 µm
Filtration & fluidsIndustry guide
Hydraulic pump suction strainers
100 mesh (≈ 150 µm); 60 mesh (≈ 240 µm) suggested
Pump inlet strainers are commonly 100 mesh (≈ 150 µm); one engineering recommendation is 60 mesh (≈ 240 µm) where a suction strainer is used, to lower cavitation risk.
Mesh count60 · 100 mesh
Opening150 µm · 240 µm
Filtration & fluidsMaker spec
Whole-house spin-down sediment filters
60 mesh (254 µm) · 100 (152 µm) · 140 (104 µm)
Replacement screens are offered at 60 mesh (254 µm) and finer options such as 100 mesh (152 µm) and 140 mesh (104 µm); pick the coarsest screen that catches your sediment, since finer screens clog faster.
Mesh count60 · 100 · 140 mesh
Opening104 µm · 152 µm · 254 µm
Filtration & fluidsIndustry guide
Pipeline Y-strainers
Water 20–40 mesh · steam 40–60 mesh
A common recommendation: 20–40 mesh for chilled and city water lines, 40–60 mesh for steam (very fine mesh is eroded by high-velocity steam). Follow the equipment maker for your service.
Mesh count range20–60 mesh
Food, drink & pharmaMaker spec
Coffee grind sifting
Sieves from 200 to 1600 µm
Coffee sifters stack interchangeable sieves between 200 and 1600 µm to isolate a target grind range.
Opening range200 µm – 1.6 mm
Ranges show common practice with sources on the mesh size by application page — always check your equipment maker's recommendation.
04 — CalculationHow the 60 mesh value is calculated
The name "60 mesh" suggests 60 openings per inch, i.e. a pitch of 25,400 ÷ 60 = 423.3 µm. Standard test sieves, however, are defined by their opening, not by the count: a 250 µm opening woven with the typical 0.16 mm wire gives a real pitch of 250 + 160 = 410 µm, which is about 62 wires per inch. That is why mesh numbers and micron values never line up perfectly — and why this site uses the ASTM E11 opening as the answer.
05 — CompareNearby mesh sizes
| Mesh | Microns (µm) | Millimeters | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 mesh | 425 | 0.425 | 0.0167 |
| 45 mesh | 355 | 0.355 | 0.014 |
| 50 mesh | 300 | 0.3 | 0.0118 |
| 60 mesh | 250 | 0.25 | 0.0098 |
| 70 mesh | 212 | 0.212 | 0.0083 |
| 80 mesh | 180 | 0.18 | 0.0071 |
| 100 mesh | 150 | 0.15 | 0.0059 |
Values are ASTM E11 nominal openings (Tyler equivalents for 150 and 250 mesh). Italic ≈ values are estimates for non-standard mesh counts, calculated from the mesh count and an assumed wire diameter (interpolated between ASTM E11 sieves, or extrapolated beyond No. 635). Wire values are ASTM E11 typical wire for standard sizes.
06 — FAQFrequently asked questions
How many microns is 60 mesh?
60 mesh is 250 µm, which is 0.25 mm or 0.0098 inches.
What size particles pass through a 60 mesh screen?
In a simplified comparison with the nominal opening, particles smaller than about 250 µm can pass a 60 mesh screen. A 250 µm opening sits exactly on the Wentworth boundary between fine sand and medium sand. Comparing grain size with the nominal opening only: grains up to and including 250 µm would pass; grains larger than 250 µm would be retained. Real sieving also depends on particle shape, sieving time and the opening tolerance of the cloth.
What is the open area of 60 mesh?
With a typical 0.16 mm wire, 60 mesh has roughly 37% open area. Thicker wire lowers the open area and the opening size.