Stainless
304 / 316 / 430 sheet and plate, tube and profile, pipe, handrail fittings.
Stainless sheet & plate 304 / 316 / 4302B, BA, No.4, hairline; 0.40–30 mm.From stock
304 stainless steel sheetAISI 304 / 1.4301 austenitic stainless sheet and plate 0.5–6 mm, 2B / BA / No.4, from stock.From stock
304L stainless steel sheetLow-carbon AISI 304L / 1.4307 for welded tanks and vessels, 1–6 mm sheet and plate to 30 mm.From stock
316 stainless steel sheetMolybdenum-alloyed AISI 316 / 1.4401 for coastal, marine and chemical service, 1–6 mm sheet from stock.From stock
316L stainless steel sheetLow-carbon AISI 316L / 1.4404 for welded marine, chemical and pharma equipment, 1–6 mm sheet, plate to 30 mm.From stock
2205 duplex stainless steel sheetDuplex 2205 / 1.4462 sheet and plate 1.5–30 mm — twice the strength of 316L and chloride-SCC resistant, for desalination, chemical and offshore work.From stock
430 stainless steel sheetFerritic AISI 430 / 1.4016 — magnetic, nickel-free, economical stainless for appliances and decoration, 0.5–3 mm.From stock
410 stainless steel sheetMartensitic AISI 410 / 1.4006 — hardenable 12 % Cr stainless for blades, wear parts and valves, 1–6 mm to order.From stock
Stainless tube & profileRound, square and rectangular, polished and mill finish.From stock
Stainless steel round bar304 / 316L / 303 / 431 round, hexagon and square bar Ø 3–300 mm, bright or peeled, cut to length.From stock
Stainless rectangular tubeWelded 304 / 316 rectangular hollow section 20×10–150×50 mm, 1–3 mm, satin or 2B, for frames, rails and architecture.From stock
Stainless pipeWelded and seamless EN 10217-7 / ASTM A312.From stock
304 stainless steel pipeWelded 304 / 1.4301 round tube and pipe Ø 12–219 mm, 1–4 mm, satin or 2B, from stock; ornamental and mechanical.From stock
316L stainless steel pipeWelded 316L / 1.4404 round tube and schedule pipe Ø 12–219 mm for marine, coastal, pool and chemical service.From stock
Seamless stainless steel pipeSeamless 304L / 316L pipe to ASTM A312 / EN 10216-5, ½"–12", sch 10S–160, for pressure, high temperature and instrumentation.From stock
Satin stainless steel tubeBrushed 180–320 grit round, square and rectangular stainless tube for handrails, furniture and architecture, 304 / 316.From stock
Mirror stainless steel tubeMirror-polished (No. 8, BA-equivalent) round and square stainless tube in 304 / 316 for decorative, signage and luxury interiors.From stock
Food grade stainless steel tubeSanitary / hygienic 304L and 316L tube to DIN 11850, ISO 2037, ASTM A270 — Ra ≤ 0.8 µm inside, for dairy, beverage, food and pharma lines.From stock304 or 316: the only question most projects need to answer
304 is the default austenitic grade — 18 % chromium, 8 % nickel, and the right answer for kitchens, food processing, architectural work and general corrosion resistance indoors and in clean air. 316 adds 2–3 % molybdenum, which buys resistance to chlorides: seawater, de-icing salt, swimming pools, coastal atmospheres and many chemical environments.
The premium for 316 tracks the nickel and molybdenum markets and is usually 25–45 %. Paying it inland and away from chlorides buys nothing measurable; not paying it on a coastal balustrade produces pitting within a season. The L suffix on either grade means low carbon for welded sections over about 6 mm, where chromium carbide precipitation would otherwise sensitise the heat-affected zone.
Surface finish is a specification, not a preference
The finish decides both appearance and cost, and it is the single most common source of a rejected delivery. 2B is the mill finish: smooth, slightly reflective, the default for fabrication. No.4 is a brushed satin for visible architectural and kitchen work. BA is bright annealed, near-mirror. No.8 is a true mirror polish and is priced accordingly.
State the finish and the direction of the grain on the order. On a fabricated panel, grain direction matters more to the eye than the finish grade does.
Ferritic grades where nickel is the problem
430 and 410 contain no nickel, which makes them substantially cheaper and immune to nickel price swings. 430 is used for appliance panels, interior trim and dry-environment work; 410 is hardenable and goes into blades, fasteners and wear parts.
The trade-off is real: ferritic grades are magnetic, less formable and far less corrosion resistant than 304. They are a cost answer for dry interiors, not a substitute for austenitic steel outdoors.
Everything in stainless at a glance
| Product | Range | Standard | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless sheet & plate 304 / 316 / 430 | 304 · 316L · 430 · 321 · 2205 | EN 10088 · ASTM A240 | From stock |
| 304 stainless steel sheet | 1.4301 · AISI 304 | 18 % Cr · 8 % Ni | From stock |
| 304L stainless steel sheet | 1.4307 · AISI 304L | C ≤ 0.03 % | From stock |
| 316 stainless steel sheet | 1.4401 · AISI 316 | 17 Cr · 11 Ni · 2 Mo | From stock |
| 316L stainless steel sheet | 1.4404 · AISI 316L | C ≤ 0.03 % | From stock |
| 2205 duplex stainless steel sheet | 1.4462 · S32205 | PREN ≈ 35 | From stock |
| 430 stainless steel sheet | 1.4016 · AISI 430 | 17 % Cr · nickel-free | From stock |
| 410 stainless steel sheet | 1.4006 · AISI 410 | 12 % Cr · C ≤ 0.15 | From stock |
| Stainless tube & profile | 304 · 316L | A554 · EN 10219 | From stock |
| Stainless steel round bar | 304 · 316L · 303 · 431 | Ø 3 – 300 mm | From stock |
| Stainless rectangular tube | 20×10 to 150×50 mm | 1–3 mm wall | From stock |
| Stainless pipe & round tube | 304 · 316L · 321 | Ornamental 16 – 219 mm | From stock |
| 304 stainless steel pipe | 1.4301 · AISI 304 | Ø 12–219 mm | From stock |
| 316L stainless steel pipe | 1.4404 · AISI 316L | Ø 12–219 mm | From stock |
| Seamless stainless steel pipe | A312 / EN 10216-5 | A312 / EN 10216-5 | From stock |
| Satin stainless steel tube | 180 / 240 / 320 grit | Round · square · rectangular | From stock |
| Mirror stainless steel tube | No. 8 · 600 grit · 8K | Round · square | From stock |
| Food grade stainless steel tube | DIN 11850 · ISO 2037 · A270 | DIN 11850 · ISO 2037 · A270 | From stock |
Ranges are the stocked or rolled envelope, not a tolerance. The product page carries the full size table, weights and the governing standard in full.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel?
316 contains 2–3 % molybdenum and 304 does not. That molybdenum gives resistance to chlorides — seawater, salt spray, pool chemistry and de-icing salt. Inland and away from chlorides the two perform alike, and 304 costs 25–45 % less.
Is stainless steel magnetic?
Austenitic grades such as 304 and 316 are essentially non-magnetic in the annealed condition, though cold working can make them slightly magnetic. Ferritic 430 and martensitic 410 are magnetic by nature — so a magnet distinguishes the families, not the quality.
What does the L in 304L mean?
Low carbon, at most 0.03 %. It matters for welded sections above about 6 mm, where normal carbon levels let chromium carbides form at the grain boundaries during welding and leave the heat-affected zone vulnerable to corrosion.
Which surface finish should I order?
2B for general fabrication and anything that will be painted or hidden; No.4 brushed for visible architectural and kitchen surfaces; BA or mirror where reflectivity is the point. Always state grain direction on fabricated panels.
How much heavier is stainless than carbon steel?
About 1–2 %. Use 7.93 kg/dm³ for 304 and 8.00 for 316 against 7.85 for carbon steel — a difference that matters for a shipment weight but not for a structural calculation.