Guitar Pick Sizes Explained
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Guitar pick sizes are given as thickness in millimetres, grouped as thin, medium and heavy. Thin picks measure around 0.46mm to 0.5mm, medium picks around 0.71mm to 0.75mm, and heavy picks around 0.96mm to 1.0mm. The thickness sets how much the pick bends against the string, so the right size follows the way you play.
What the thickness numbers mean
A pick size is its thickness, printed in millimetres on the pick or on the pack. Makers group thicknesses under the labels thin, medium and heavy, and the packs listed here put thin at 0.46mm to 0.5mm, medium at 0.71mm to 0.75mm and heavy at 0.96mm to 1.0mm. A lower number bends more when it meets the string, while a higher number bends less, so the number tells you how the pick behaves before you play a note.
Thin picks for light strumming
Thin picks sit at 0.46mm and 0.5mm in the packs listed here. The Fender sampler pairs thin picks with light strumming and acoustic rhythm, where the pick bends across the strings and returns. If your playing is mainly open chords and rhythm parts, start with a thin pick and notice how much it gives under your hand.
Medium picks for all-around playing
Medium picks sit at 0.71mm and 0.75mm in the packs listed here. The Fender sampler describes medium as versatile all-around playing, between the give of a thin pick and the firmness of a heavy pick. A medium pick suits a player who moves between strumming and single-note lines and wants 1 thickness for both.
Heavy picks for lead work
The Fender sampler pairs heavy picks with precise lead work and articulate picking, where the pick holds its shape against the string. If you play single-note lines and want the pick to stay firm, start with a heavy pick and compare it with a medium.
Pick shape and the 351 design
Thickness is only 1 part of the size. The Fender 351 shape is a wider body with a rounded tip, and the Fender sampler uses that shape across its thin, medium and heavy picks. A sampler pack that holds thin, medium and heavy picks in 1 pack lets you compare the 3 thicknesses side by side and keep the 1 that fits your playing.
How to pick a starting thickness
Start from the playing you do most. Choose thin for light strumming and acoustic rhythm, medium for a mix of strumming and single-note lines, and heavy for precise lead work. A pack with all 3 thicknesses gives you each size to try against the same guitar and the same parts, so you can feel the difference before you settle on 1 size.
What you need
Fender Premium Picks Sampler
A 12-pack sampler with thin, medium and heavy celluloid picks in the 351 shape, for comparing all 3 gauges in 1 set.
- Picks in pack: 12
- Thickness: Heavy
- Material: Celluloid
ROTOPATA 15 Pack Guitar Picks Variety Pack
A 15-pack of celluloid picks in thin 0.5mm, medium 0.75mm and heavy 1.0mm, in an organizer box, for acoustic or electric guitar, bass and ukulele.
- Picks in pack: 15
- Thickness: 0.5Mm
- Material: Celluloid
DUGYGA 21 Pack Guitar Picks with Organizer Storage
A 21-pack with 7 picks in each of thin 0.46mm, medium 0.71mm and heavy 0.96mm, in an organizer box, for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass and ukulele.
- Picks in pack: 21, the most here
- Thickness: 0.46Mm
- Material: Celluloid
Fender Guitar Picks 351 Shape
A 12-pack of medium thickness celluloid picks in the 351 shape, with 1 pick in each of 12 colors.
- Picks in pack: 12
- Material: Celluloid
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Guitar Picks, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What thickness is a medium guitar pick?
Medium picks in the packs listed here measure 0.71mm and 0.75mm. A medium pick sits between thin and heavy, so it suits a mix of strumming and single-note lines.
Are thin or heavy picks better for a beginner?
Start with a sampler pack that holds thin, medium and heavy picks, and try each thickness on the parts you play most. The thickness that lets you strum and pick single notes with control is the 1 to keep.
Do all guitar picks have the same shape?
No. The Fender 351 shape has a wider body and a rounded tip, and other makers use their own shapes. Thickness and shape are separate, so check both when you choose a pick.
Ranked guitar picks lists
More how-to guides
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