Hair foil sizes chart
The most common hair foil sheets are 5 × 11 in (127 × 279 mm), 6 × 10.75 in (152 × 273 mm) and 8 × 16 in (203 × 406 mm); the common roll widths are 100 mm (3.94 in) and 120 mm (4.72 in). Narrow sheets suit fine weaves. Wide, long sheets suit balayage and long hair.
Size chart, to scale
Every outline below is drawn to one scale, with all sheets sharing the bottom-left corner. Select an outline or a size to see its dimensions in inches and millimetres, the techniques it suits and the markets where it is common. Rolls are drawn at their true width and continue beyond the dashed edge, because a roll is cut to length at the chair.
Sheet
8 × 16 in203 × 406 mm
- Imperial
- 8 × 16 in
- Metric
- 203 × 406 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pre-cut, Wide
- Best for
- Balayage, foilyage, colour blocking
- Hair length
- Long to extra-long
- Common market
- USA, Australia & New Zealand
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
6 × 16 in152 × 406 mm
- Imperial
- 6 × 16 in
- Metric
- 152 × 406 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pre-cut, Wide
- Best for
- Full highlights, balayage
- Hair length
- Long to extra-long
- Common market
- USA
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
8 × 11 in203 × 279 mm
- Imperial
- 8 × 11 in
- Metric
- 203 × 279 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pop-up, Pre-cut, Wide
- Best for
- Balayage, foilyage
- Hair length
- Medium to long
- Common market
- USA, Canada
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
6 × 10.75 in152 × 273 mm
- Imperial
- 6 × 10.75 in
- Metric
- 152 × 273 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pop-up, Pre-cut
- Best for
- Balayage, full highlights
- Hair length
- Medium to long
- Common market
- USA, Australia & New Zealand
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
5 × 11 in127 × 279 mm
- Imperial
- 5 × 11 in
- Metric
- 127 × 279 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pop-up
- Best for
- Full highlights, partial highlights, babylights
- Hair length
- Short to medium
- Common market
- USA, Canada
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
5 × 10.75 in127 × 273 mm
- Imperial
- 5 × 10.75 in
- Metric
- 127 × 273 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pop-up
- Best for
- Full highlights, partial highlights
- Hair length
- Short to medium
- Common market
- USA, Australia & New Zealand
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
4.72 × 10.63 in120 × 270 mm
- Imperial
- 4.72 × 10.63 in
- Metric
- 120 × 270 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pre-cut
- Best for
- Full highlights, partial highlights
- Hair length
- Short to medium
- Common market
- Availability
- Available
Sheet
3.94 × 8.86 in100 × 225 mm
- Imperial
- 3.94 × 8.86 in
- Metric
- 100 × 225 mm
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Pre-cut
- Best for
- Full highlights, balayage
- Hair length
- Medium to long
- Common market
- UK
- Availability
- Available
Roll width
4.72 in roll120 mm roll
- Imperial
- 4.72 in wide
- Metric
- 120 mm wide
- Lengths
- 50 m, 100 m
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Roll
- Best for
- Full highlights, balayage
- Hair length
- Medium to long
- Common market
- UK, EU
- Availability
- Available
Roll width
3.94 in roll100 mm roll
- Imperial
- 3.94 in wide
- Metric
- 100 mm wide
- Lengths
- 100 m, 225 m, 250 m, 1,000 m
- Thickness
- 12–20 µm
- Format
- Roll
- Best for
- Full highlights, partial highlights, balayage
- Hair length
- Short to long
- Common market
- UK, EU
- Availability
- Available
The table carries the same data as the diagram. Each size is listed in the unit it is sold in, with the conversion beside it; inch sizes convert to whole millimetres. The Availability column shows whether a size is in our current production.
| Size | mm | inch | Format | Best for (technique) | Hair length | Common market | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 10.75 in | 127 × 273 | 5 × 10.75 | Pop-up | Full highlights, partial highlights | Short to medium | USA, Australia & New Zealand | Available |
| 5 × 11 in | 127 × 279 | 5 × 11 | Pop-up | Full highlights, partial highlights, babylights | Short to medium | USA, Canada | Available |
| 6 × 10.75 in | 152 × 273 | 6 × 10.75 | Pop-up, Pre-cut | Balayage, full highlights | Medium to long | USA, Australia & New Zealand | Available |
| 6 × 16 in | 152 × 406 | 6 × 16 | Pre-cut, Wide | Full highlights, balayage | Long to extra-long | USA | Available |
| 8 × 11 in | 203 × 279 | 8 × 11 | Pop-up, Pre-cut, Wide | Balayage, foilyage | Medium to long | USA, Canada | Available |
| 8 × 16 in | 203 × 406 | 8 × 16 | Pre-cut, Wide | Balayage, foilyage, colour blocking | Long to extra-long | USA, Australia & New Zealand | Available |
| 100 × 225 mm | 100 × 225 | 3.94 × 8.86 | Pre-cut | Full highlights, balayage | Medium to long | UK | Available |
| 120 × 270 mm | 120 × 270 | 4.72 × 10.63 | Pre-cut | Full highlights, partial highlights | Short to medium | Available | |
| 100 mm roll | 100 | 3.94 | Roll | Full highlights, partial highlights, balayage | Short to long | UK, EU | Available |
| 120 mm roll | 120 | 4.72 | Roll | Full highlights, balayage | Medium to long | UK, EU | Available |
Which size for which technique
The sheet has to be wider than the section it wraps and long enough to fold closed. Fine work takes narrow sections, so weaves and babylights use the narrow sheets. Painted techniques spread product across a broad panel, so balayage and foilyage use the wide sheets and the wider roll.
| Technique | Sheet sizes | Roll widths |
|---|---|---|
| Full highlights | 5 × 10.75 in, 5 × 11 in, 6 × 10.75 in, 6 × 16 in, 100 × 225 mm, 120 × 270 mm | 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll |
| Partial highlights | 5 × 10.75 in, 5 × 11 in, 120 × 270 mm | 100 mm roll |
| Babylights | 5 × 11 in | — |
| Balayage | 6 × 10.75 in, 6 × 16 in, 8 × 11 in, 8 × 16 in, 100 × 225 mm | 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll |
| Foilyage | 8 × 11 in, 8 × 16 in | — |
| Colour blocking | 8 × 16 in | — |
A technique is rarely tied to one size. Colourists keep two or three sizes at the station and choose by the width of the section in front of them, which is why most ranges launch with more than one size. The guide to which hair foil SKUs to launch first covers that choice for a new brand.
Which size for which hair length
Sheet length should exceed the length of the section by enough to fold the end closed. A sheet that is too short leaves the ends exposed; a sheet that is too long is folded twice and wastes foil.
| Hair length | Sheet sizes | Roll widths |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 5 × 10.75 in, 5 × 11 in, 120 × 270 mm | 100 mm roll |
| Medium | 5 × 10.75 in, 5 × 11 in, 6 × 10.75 in, 8 × 11 in, 100 × 225 mm, 120 × 270 mm | 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll |
| Long | 6 × 10.75 in, 6 × 16 in, 8 × 11 in, 8 × 16 in, 100 × 225 mm | 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll |
| Extra-long | 6 × 16 in, 8 × 16 in | — |
A roll removes the question of length, because each piece is cut to the hair in front of the colourist. That is the main reason rolls stay in use in salons that also stock pre-cut sheets. The trade-off is covered in pop-up vs pre-cut vs roll hair foil.
Wide, long sheets carry more product and hang further from the root, so they are usually made in a heavier gauge. Hair foil thickness and alloy gives the thickness we use for each format.
US vs UK vs Australia sizing
Markets differ in format before they differ in size. The US and Canada buy hair foil mainly as sheets, sized in inches. The UK and the EU buy mainly rolls, sized in millimetres of width and metres of length, with pre-cut strips alongside. Australia and New Zealand use inch-sized sheets and metric labelling together.
| Market | Units on the box | Common sizes | Roll lengths (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | inch | 5 × 10.75 in, 5 × 11 in, 6 × 10.75 in, 6 × 16 in, 8 × 11 in, 8 × 16 in | — |
| UK | mm | 100 × 225 mm, 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll | 50, 100, 225, 250, 1,000 |
| EU | mm | 100 mm roll, 120 mm roll | 50, 100, 225, 250, 1,000 |
| Australia & New Zealand | inch and mm | 5 × 10.75 in, 6 × 10.75 in, 8 × 16 in | — |
| Canada | inch | 5 × 11 in, 8 × 11 in | — |
When you replace an existing supplier, match the width and length your customers already buy before you change anything else. Each market page lists the local sizes with the import notes that apply: USA, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand and Canada.
Custom sizes
Width is set when the foil is slit and length when it is cut. A size we do not run now needs a new cutting die or the machine re-set, at no charge once the order quantity is confirmed. Custom widths are possible in the range 50–700 mm, and roll lengths in 30–1,000 m. A custom sheet length is cut to order and confirmed with the quote.
A custom size changes two other things: the box, which is drawn to the sheet, and the minimum order, which follows the set-up. MOQ and lead time by format gives the minimums, and custom and private label hair foil lists what else can be changed.
Download the data
The size chart is part of the specification table, which is rebuilt from our data every time this site is published.
Size FAQ
What is the standard size of hair foil?
There is no single standard size of hair foil. A common sheet in the US is 5 × 11 in (127 × 279 mm), alongside 5 × 10.75 in (127 × 273 mm); in the UK the usual format is a 100 mm roll, cut to length at the chair. Wider and longer sheets, up to 8 × 16 in (203 × 406 mm), are used for balayage and long hair.
What size foil is used for balayage?
Balayage and foilyage use wide, long hair foil: 8 × 11 in (203 × 279 mm) for medium hair, 6 × 16 in (152 × 406 mm) or 8 × 16 in (203 × 406 mm) for long hair, or a 120 mm roll cut to length. The extra width holds a painted panel flat, and the extra length covers the section with enough left to fold the end closed.
What size are UK hair foil rolls?
UK hair foil rolls are usually 100 mm (3.94 in) wide, with a 120 mm width for wider sections. Common lengths for a 100 mm roll are 100, 225, 250, 1,000 m. UK salons also buy pre-cut strips of 100 × 225 mm (3.94 × 8.86 in).
Is 5 × 11 or 5 × 10.75 more common?
Both 5 × 11 in and 5 × 10.75 in hair foil are common in the US, and the two do the same work. The difference in length is small; a brand chooses one, and its box and dispenser are sized to match. When replacing an existing supplier, match the size your customers already buy.
Can you make a custom hair foil size?
Custom hair foil sizes are quoted case by case. Send the width, length, thickness and quantity you need; we confirm what the size needs: a new cutting die or a machine re-set, free once the order quantity is confirmed. Custom widths are possible in the range 50–700 mm.