What is hot-rolled steel?
Hot-rolled steel is rolled above its recrystallisation temperature (about 900 °C) into strip 1.5–25 mm thick and coiled; it carries a dark mill scale, is cheaper than cold-rolled and is the material for anything welded and painted — frames, tanks, trailers, machinery, structural profiles, pipe and hollow sections. Pickling in hydrochloric acid removes the scale and a light oil prevents rust: that is HRPO (pickled and oiled), used where the surface will be painted, galvanized, pressed or laser-cut without descaling. Hot vs cold rolled is a question of surface and tolerance, not strength: for tolerances under ±0.10 mm, bright surface or thicknesses below 1.5 mm, see cold-rolled DC01–DC04.
Surface and grade pages
The same hot-rolled coil is sold black or pickled and oiled (HRPO), and in structural or forming grades. Structural: S235JR (ST37), S275JR, S355JR. Forming (EN 10111): DD11 (bending, stock), DD12, DD13 (deep drawing, stock), DD14. High-strength forming: S355MC to S700MC.
HR black vs HRPO vs cold-rolled
| HR black (mill scale) | HRPO (pickled & oiled) | Cold-rolled DC01 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | Blue-black scale | Grey-metallic, light oil | Bright, smooth |
| Thickness | 1.5–25 mm | 1.5–6 mm | 0.4–3 mm |
| Tolerance (2 mm) | ±0.17 mm | ±0.17 mm | ±0.08 mm |
| Before painting / galvanizing | Blast or pickle on site | Ready | Ready |
| Laser cutting | Scale spatter, lower quality | Clean cut | Clean cut |
| Price index | 1.00 | 1.04–1.08 | 1.12–1.20 |
| Typical use | Structures, plate parts, heavy fabrication | Trailers, tanks, profiles, tube mills, pressing | Appliances, furniture, panels |
Grades and equivalents
S235JR is the export standard for sheet and light plate; S355J2 for anything designed to EN 1993 at 355 MPa or needing −20 °C impact. Chemistry and full mechanical tables per thickness are on our reference site (links below); old St37/St52 names are cross-referenced there.
| EN | Yield (MPa) | Old DIN | ASTM | JIS | GOST | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S235JR | 235 | St37-2 | A36 / A1011 SS33 | SS400 / SPHC | St3sp | General structural, most stock |
| S275JR | 275 | St44-2 | A1011 SS40 | SS400 | St4sp | Frames, sections |
| S355JR / J2 | 355 | St52-3 | A572 Gr. 50 / A1011 SS50 | SM490 | 17G1S | Higher-strength structures, cranes, trailers |
| DD11 | 170–340 | StW22 | A1011 DS Type B | SPHD | 08kp | Forming, pressing, deep drawing |
| DD13 | 170–310 | StW24 | A1011 DDS | SPHE | 08Yu | Deep drawing |
Thickness, width and weight table
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 250 × 2 500 sheet (kg) | 1 500 × 3 000 sheet (kg) | 1 500 × 6 000 sheet (kg) | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mm | 11.8 | 36.8 | 53.0 | 106 | Coil, HRPO |
| 2.0 mm | 15.7 | 49.1 | 70.7 | 141 | Coil, HRPO |
| 2.5 mm | 19.6 | 61.3 | 88.3 | 177 | Coil, HRPO |
| 3.0 mm | 23.6 | 73.6 | 106 | 212 | Coil / sheet |
| 4.0 mm | 31.4 | 98.1 | 141 | 283 | Coil / sheet |
| 5.0 mm | 39.3 | 123 | 177 | 353 | Coil / sheet |
| 6.0 mm | 47.1 | 147 | 212 | 424 | Sheet / plate |
| 8.0 mm | 62.8 | 196 | 283 | 565 | Plate |
| 10 mm | 78.5 | 245 | 353 | 707 | Plate |
| 12 mm | 94.2 | 294 | 424 | 848 | Plate |
| 15 mm | 118 | 368 | 530 | 1 060 | Plate |
| 20 mm | 157 | 491 | 707 | 1 413 | Plate |
Widths 1 000, 1 250, 1 500, 2 000 mm; sheet lengths 2 000–6 000 mm cut to order; coils 5–25 t, ID 762 mm.
Tolerances (EN 10051)
| Nominal thickness | Width ≤ 1 200 | 1 200–1 500 | 1 500–1 800 | > 1 800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2.0 mm | ±0.15 | ±0.17 | ±0.19 | — |
| 2.0–2.5 mm | ±0.17 | ±0.19 | ±0.21 | ±0.23 |
| 2.5–3.0 mm | ±0.17 | ±0.19 | ±0.21 | ±0.23 |
| 3.0–4.0 mm | ±0.18 | ±0.20 | ±0.22 | ±0.24 |
| 4.0–5.0 mm | ±0.20 | ±0.22 | ±0.24 | ±0.26 |
| 5.0–6.0 mm | ±0.21 | ±0.23 | ±0.25 | ±0.27 |
| 6.0–8.0 mm | ±0.23 | ±0.25 | ±0.27 | ±0.29 |
| 8.0–10 mm | ±0.25 | ±0.27 | ±0.29 | ±0.31 |
| 10–12.5 mm | ±0.27 | ±0.29 | ±0.31 | ±0.33 |
Special class (S) at ~70% of these values on request; plate over 12 mm per EN 10029.
Processing: cut-to-length, slitting, laser and plasma
Coils are cut to length with levelling on our CTL lines (0.4–12 mm, up to 6 m), slit to strip for tube mills and roll-formers (20–600 mm, coils to 25 t), and sheets are laser-cut (to 25 mm) or plasma-cut (to 80 mm) to DXF. Parts, blanks and coils travel in the same container; processing is priced per metre or per ton on the offer. See cutting and slitting.
Applications
For plate over 20 mm see the heavy plate page; for cold-forming grades S355MC–S700MC the HSLA page; for pressure and boiler grades P265GH the pressure vessel plate page.
- Steel-building fabrication: base plates, gussets, cleats, purlin brackets
- Tube mills and roll-formers (HRPO strip 1.5–6 mm)
- Trailers, truck bodies, agricultural machinery (S355MC for cold-forming — see HSLA page)
- Tanks, silos, ducts, bins (plate rolling on site)
- Checkered plate substrate, perforated sheet, laser-cut parts
- General workshop stock in 1 250 × 2 500 and 1 500 × 3 000 sheets
Hot-rolled steel price per ton
Indicative FOB Istanbul bands from our weekly export list, S235JR, full-container quantities; HRPO carries a 4–8% premium over black, S355J2 4–8% over S235JR, and cut sheets 2–4% over coil.
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
Coils eye-to-sky on cradles (3 × 7–8 t per 20'), sheets in packs of 2–5 t on skids, VCI paper for HRPO on voyages over 14 days. HS code 7208 (hot-rolled flat, ≥600 mm wide): 7208.37/.38/.39 coil by thickness, 7208.51–.54 plate, 7208.25–.27 pickled.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 1 × 20' (3 coils ≈ 21 t) or 1 truck (22–24 t); mixed thicknesses allowed |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau / Almaty |
| Lead time | Stock 5–10 working days; mill order 3–5 weeks |
| Packing | Coils eye-to-sky on cradles, strapped; sheets 2–5 t packs on skids, VCI for HRPO |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 21 t · 40' HC ≈ 24–25 t · truck 22–24 t |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list per coil/pack, EN 10204 3.1, CE, certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / COC / EAC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight via London office |
Certificates
EN 10204 3.1 per heat (chemistry, yield, tensile, elongation; impact for J0/J2), CE marking per EN 10025, certificate of origin; SASO, SONCAP, COC, EAC on request; 3.2 with third-party inspector for plate on request.
How to order
Send grade, thickness × width (× length for sheet), surface (black / HRPO), quantity in tons, processing if any, and port. Reply within one working day with price, coil or pack list, gross weight and containers; stock items load in 5–10 working days.
Standards
- EN 10025-2 (S235JR, S275JR, S355JR/J0/J2)
- EN 10111 (DD11–DD14 forming)
- EN 10051 (tolerances for hot-rolled strip and sheet)
- ASTM A36 / A1011 CS Type B / SS Grade 33–50
- JIS G3101 SS400 / G3131 SPHC
- GOST 380 St3sp
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S235JR · S275JR · S355JR · DD11 · A36 · St37 (old name)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel?
Hot-rolled is rolled at ~900 °C: scaled surface, ±0.15–0.3 mm tolerance, 1.5 mm and thicker, cheapest, for welded and painted fabrication. Cold-rolled is re-rolled at room temperature: bright surface, ±0.05–0.1 mm, 0.4–3 mm, 12–20% dearer, for appliances, furniture and visible parts. Strength depends on grade, not on the process.
What is HRPO?
Hot-rolled pickled and oiled: the mill scale is removed in an acid bath and the strip is oiled. It is ready for painting, galvanizing, pressing and laser cutting and is the standard feed for tube mills and roll-formers.
What is the price of hot-rolled steel per ton?
See the indicative FOB Istanbul bands above for S235JR black and HRPO; S355J2 adds 4–8%, cut sheets 2–4%, and freight to the Gulf adds roughly 40–60 USD/t. Firm price within one working day.
What grades of hot-rolled steel do you stock?
S235JR (most sizes), S275JR, S355JR/J2 in common thicknesses, DD11 for forming; ASTM A36 and A1011 equivalents are certified on the same heats where the chemistry allows. Special grades (S355MC, P265GH, wear-resistant) are on their own pages.
What sizes are available?
1.5–20 mm from stock (1.35–25 mm to order), widths 1 000, 1 250, 1 500 and 2 000 mm, coils 5–25 t, sheets 2 000–6 000 mm long. Thicker plate to 200 mm is on the heavy plate page.
How much does a 2 mm hot-rolled sheet weigh?
15.7 kg/m²: a 1 250 × 2 500 mm sheet weighs 49 kg, a 1 500 × 3 000 mm sheet 71 kg. About 20 sheets of 1 250 × 2 500 make a ton.
Can you cut hot-rolled sheet to size?
Yes — cut-to-length with levelling up to 6 m, slitting to 20–600 mm strip, laser cutting to 25 mm and plasma to 80 mm to your DXF, on our own lines in Dilovası; parts ship with the coil order.
Is S235JR the same as ST37 and A36?
S235JR replaced DIN St37-2; ASTM A36 has a slightly higher yield (250 MPa) and is usually dual-certifiable. Composition and mechanical comparisons are on our reference site steelstandart.com.