What is 304 stainless steel pipe?
304 stainless pipe covers two products that share a grade and a rack. The ornamental / mechanical tube (EN 10296-2, ASTM A554) is made by TIG or HF welding 1.4301 strip into a round, sizing it to a tight OD tolerance (±0.1–0.2 mm), and polishing the outside to a satin 180–320 grit or a mirror; walls are 1–3 mm, ODs follow the imperial handrail sizes (25.4, 38.1, 42.4, 50.8, 63.5, 76.2 mm) and the metric ones (20–219 mm), and the weld bead is removed outside and often inside. Its life is in railings, balustrades, furniture, shop fittings, trolleys, kitchen and food-plant frames and ducting — anything seen and handled. The pressure pipe (EN 10217-7, ASTM A312 TP304/304L) is welded and then solution-annealed and pickled, supplied in the ASME schedule wall series (5S, 10S, 40S) with the NPS outside diameters, hydrostatically tested and certified for fluids under pressure — process water, compressed air, steam condensate, food and beverage lines. It is unpolished (2B / pickled white). 304 gives corrosion resistance in the atmosphere, fresh water, food acids and detergents but not in chlorides: sea air, pool water and brine want 316. We stock the ornamental range Ø 12–101.6 mm in satin and the industrial range Ø 21.3–219.1 mm in 2B, and order schedule pipe and larger diameters from EU and Asian mills; most stock is dual-certified 304/304L.
Weight table — 304 round tube (kg/m and per 6 m)
Density 7.9 kg/dm³; wall and OD nominal; ornamental tolerances EN 10296-2 / A554. Schedule pipe weights per ASME B36.19M on request.
| OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | kg/m | kg per 6 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1 | 0.473 | 2.84 |
| 20 | 1.2 | 0.562 | 3.37 |
| 20 | 1.5 | 0.691 | 4.15 |
| 20 | 2 | 0.897 | 5.38 |
| 20 | 2.5 | 1.09 | 6.54 |
| 20 | 3 | 1.271 | 7.63 |
| 21.3 | 1 | 0.506 | 3.04 |
| 21.3 | 1.2 | 0.601 | 3.61 |
| 21.3 | 1.5 | 0.74 | 4.44 |
| 21.3 | 2 | 0.962 | 5.77 |
| 21.3 | 2.5 | 1.171 | 7.03 |
| 21.3 | 3 | 1.368 | 8.21 |
| 22 | 1 | 0.523 | 3.14 |
| 22 | 1.2 | 0.622 | 3.73 |
| 22 | 1.5 | 0.766 | 4.6 |
| 22 | 2 | 0.997 | 5.98 |
| 22 | 2.5 | 1.215 | 7.29 |
| 22 | 3 | 1.42 | 8.52 |
| 25 | 1 | 0.598 | 3.59 |
| 25 | 1.2 | 0.712 | 4.27 |
| 25 | 1.5 | 0.878 | 5.27 |
| 25 | 2 | 1.146 | 6.88 |
| 25 | 2.5 | 1.401 | 8.41 |
| 25 | 3 | 1.644 | 9.86 |
| 26.9 | 1 | 0.645 | 3.87 |
| 26.9 | 1.2 | 0.768 | 4.61 |
| 26.9 | 1.5 | 0.949 | 5.69 |
| 26.9 | 2 | 1.241 | 7.45 |
| 26.9 | 2.5 | 1.52 | 9.12 |
| 26.9 | 3 | 1.786 | 10.72 |
| 28 | 1 | 0.673 | 4.04 |
| 28 | 1.2 | 0.801 | 4.81 |
| 28 | 1.5 | 0.99 | 5.94 |
| 28 | 2 | 1.295 | 7.77 |
| 28 | 2.5 | 1.588 | 9.53 |
| 28 | 3 | 1.868 | 11.21 |
| 30 | 1 | 0.722 | 4.33 |
| 30 | 1.2 | 0.861 | 5.17 |
| 30 | 1.5 | 1.065 | 6.39 |
| 30 | 2 | 1.395 | 8.37 |
| 30 | 2.5 | 1.713 | 10.28 |
| 30 | 3 | 2.018 | 12.11 |
| 32 | 1 | 0.772 | 4.63 |
| 32 | 1.2 | 0.921 | 5.53 |
| 32 | 1.5 | 1.14 | 6.84 |
| 32 | 2 | 1.495 | 8.97 |
| 32 | 2.5 | 1.837 | 11.02 |
| 32 | 3 | 2.167 | 13 |
| 33.7 | 1 | 0.815 | 4.89 |
| 33.7 | 1.2 | 0.972 | 5.83 |
| 33.7 | 1.5 | 1.203 | 7.22 |
| 33.7 | 2 | 1.579 | 9.47 |
| 33.7 | 2.5 | 1.943 | 11.66 |
| 33.7 | 3 | 2.294 | 13.76 |
| 35 | 1 | 0.847 | 5.08 |
| 35 | 1.2 | 1.01 | 6.06 |
| 35 | 1.5 | 1.252 | 7.51 |
| 35 | 2 | 1.644 | 9.86 |
| 35 | 2.5 | 2.024 | 12.14 |
| 35 | 3 | 2.392 | 14.35 |
| 38 | 1 | 0.922 | 5.53 |
| 38 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 6.6 |
| 38 | 1.5 | 1.364 | 8.18 |
| 38 | 2 | 1.794 | 10.76 |
| 38 | 2.5 | 2.211 | 13.27 |
| 38 | 3 | 2.616 | 15.7 |
| 40 | 1 | 0.972 | 5.83 |
| 40 | 1.2 | 1.16 | 6.96 |
| 40 | 1.5 | 1.439 | 8.63 |
| 40 | 2 | 1.893 | 11.36 |
| 40 | 2.5 | 2.336 | 14.02 |
| 40 | 3 | 2.765 | 16.59 |
| 42.4 | 1 | 1.031 | 6.19 |
| 42.4 | 1.2 | 1.232 | 7.39 |
| 42.4 | 1.5 | 1.528 | 9.17 |
| 42.4 | 2 | 2.013 | 12.08 |
| 42.4 | 2.5 | 2.485 | 14.91 |
| 42.4 | 3 | 2.945 | 17.67 |
| 44.5 | 1 | 1.084 | 6.5 |
| 44.5 | 1.2 | 1.294 | 7.76 |
| 44.5 | 1.5 | 1.607 | 9.64 |
| 44.5 | 2 | 2.118 | 12.71 |
| 44.5 | 2.5 | 2.616 | 15.7 |
| 44.5 | 3 | 3.102 | 18.61 |
| 48.3 | 1 | 1.178 | 7.07 |
| 48.3 | 1.2 | 1.408 | 8.45 |
| 48.3 | 1.5 | 1.749 | 10.49 |
| 48.3 | 2 | 2.307 | 13.84 |
| 48.3 | 2.5 | 2.853 | 17.12 |
| 48.3 | 3 | 3.386 | 20.32 |
| 50 | 1 | 1.221 | 7.33 |
| 50 | 1.2 | 1.459 | 8.75 |
| 50 | 1.5 | 1.812 | 10.87 |
| 50 | 2 | 2.392 | 14.35 |
| 50 | 2.5 | 2.958 | 17.75 |
| 50 | 3 | 3.513 | 21.08 |
| 50.8 | 1 | 1.241 | 7.45 |
| 50.8 | 1.2 | 1.483 | 8.9 |
| 50.8 | 1.5 | 1.842 | 11.05 |
| 50.8 | 2 | 2.431 | 14.59 |
| 50.8 | 2.5 | 3.008 | 18.05 |
| 50.8 | 3 | 3.572 | 21.43 |
| 54 | 1 | 1.32 | 7.92 |
| 54 | 1.2 | 1.578 | 9.47 |
| 54 | 1.5 | 1.962 | 11.77 |
| 54 | 2 | 2.591 | 15.55 |
| 54 | 2.5 | 3.208 | 19.25 |
| 54 | 3 | 3.812 | 22.87 |
| 57 | 1 | 1.395 | 8.37 |
| 57 | 1.2 | 1.668 | 10.01 |
| 57 | 1.5 | 2.074 | 12.44 |
| 57 | 2 | 2.74 | 16.44 |
| 57 | 2.5 | 3.394 | 20.36 |
| 57 | 3 | 4.036 | 24.22 |
| 60.3 | 1 | 1.477 | 8.86 |
| 60.3 | 1.2 | 1.767 | 10.6 |
| 60.3 | 1.5 | 2.197 | 13.18 |
| 60.3 | 2 | 2.905 | 17.43 |
| 60.3 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 21.6 |
| 60.3 | 3 | 4.283 | 25.7 |
| 63.5 | 1 | 1.557 | 9.34 |
| 63.5 | 1.2 | 1.862 | 11.17 |
| 63.5 | 1.5 | 2.317 | 13.9 |
| 63.5 | 2 | 3.064 | 18.38 |
| 63.5 | 2.5 | 3.799 | 22.79 |
| 63.5 | 3 | 4.522 | 27.13 |
| 70 | 1 | 1.719 | 10.31 |
| 70 | 1.2 | 2.057 | 12.34 |
| 70 | 1.5 | 2.56 | 15.36 |
| 70 | 2 | 3.388 | 20.33 |
| 70 | 2.5 | 4.204 | 25.22 |
| 70 | 3 | 5.007 | 30.04 |
| 76.1 | 1 | 1.871 | 11.23 |
| 76.1 | 1.2 | 2.239 | 13.43 |
| 76.1 | 1.5 | 2.788 | 16.73 |
| 76.1 | 2 | 3.692 | 22.15 |
| 76.1 | 2.5 | 4.584 | 27.5 |
| 76.1 | 3 | 5.463 | 32.78 |
| 80 | 1 | 1.968 | 11.81 |
| 80 | 1.2 | 2.356 | 14.14 |
| 80 | 1.5 | 2.933 | 17.6 |
| 80 | 2 | 3.886 | 23.32 |
| 80 | 2.5 | 4.827 | 28.96 |
| 80 | 3 | 5.755 | 34.53 |
| 84 | 1 | 2.068 | 12.41 |
| 84 | 1.2 | 2.475 | 14.85 |
| 84 | 1.5 | 3.083 | 18.5 |
| 84 | 2 | 4.086 | 24.52 |
| 84 | 2.5 | 5.076 | 30.46 |
| 84 | 3 | 6.054 | 36.32 |
| 88.9 | 1 | 2.19 | 13.14 |
| 88.9 | 1.2 | 2.622 | 15.73 |
| 88.9 | 1.5 | 3.266 | 19.6 |
| 88.9 | 2 | 4.33 | 25.98 |
| 88.9 | 2.5 | 5.381 | 32.29 |
| 88.9 | 3 | 6.42 | 38.52 |
Welded EN 10217-7 / ASTM A554 (ornamental) and A312 (pressure); density 7.93 kg/dm³; 6 m lengths.
Grades, standards and tolerances
| Grade / standard | Yield (MPa) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4301 / 304 (EN 10088, ASTM A554 / A312) | ≥ 210 | the stock grade |
| 1.4307 / 304L | ≥ 200 | welded pressure pipe, low carbon |
| 1.4401 / 316 | ≥ 220 | marine, chemical |
| 1.4404 / 316L | ≥ 200 | process pipework, pharma |
| 1.4541 / 321 | ≥ 200 | high temperature, titanium-stabilised, to order |
Yield per EN 10088-2 for the strip; welded tube properties per EN 10296-2 / EN 10217-7. Most stock is dual-certified 1.4301/1.4307.
Ornamental tube vs schedule pipe
| Aspect | Ornamental / mechanical tube | Schedule pressure pipe |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | EN 10296-2, ASTM A554 | EN 10217-7, ASTM A312 |
| Sizing | OD × wall in mm (or inch OD) | NPS × schedule (5S / 10S / 40S) |
| Surface | satin 180–320, mirror, or 2B | 2B / pickled, unpolished |
| Heat treatment | as welded (bead removed) | solution annealed + pickled |
| Testing | dimensional, eddy-current option | hydrostatic, eddy-current, 3.1 |
| Grade | 304 (dual 304/304L) | 304L usually specified |
| Typical use | railings, furniture, frames, ducts | process, water, steam, food lines |
| Fittings | ornamental elbows, end caps | butt-weld fittings, flanges (ASME B16.9 / EN 10253) |
Do not use ornamental tube for pressure: it is not annealed, not hydro-tested and its wall is thinner than any schedule.
Lengths and stock
Ornamental satin tube Ø 12–101.6 mm × 1–2 mm and industrial 2B tube Ø 21.3–219.1 mm × 1.5–4 mm are stocked in 6 m at Dilovası; schedule pipe (½"–8", 5S–40S) in 304L and diameters above 219 mm come from the mill in 1–3 weeks. Cut to length on our saw; film on ornamental tube.
Cutting, bending, welding and polishing
Cold-saw or laser (tube laser up to Ø 200 mm on our line) — no abrasive discs on polished tube; mandrel-bend ornamental tube at radius ≥ 2.5 × OD without wrinkling; weld with 308L filler by TIG, purge the inside with argon on visible or hygienic joints, and re-polish the seam to match the satin grain (we supply matching-grit tube so the joint blends). Pickle or brush all heat tint. Keep carbon-steel tools away from stainless.
Where it is used
- Handrails, balustrades and guardrails
- Furniture, shop fittings, display and trolley frames
- Kitchen, food-plant and hospital frames and rails
- Exhaust, ventilation and dust-extraction ducting
- Process water, compressed-air and condensate lines (schedule pipe)
- Solar-thermal, HVAC and plumbing headers
304 pipe vs 316L vs galvanized
316L stainless pipe is the chloride-resistant version for coastal railings, pools and chemical lines at about 40 % more. Galvanized pipe does the same jobs indoors at a third of the price where a painted or dull finish is acceptable. For a mirror or hairline look the decorative tube pages apply; for pressure-tight seamless pipe, seamless stainless pipe.
Price
304 round tube is priced per ton (or per metre) from the stainless list, moving with nickel; ornamental satin tube carries a polishing premium over 2B and large diameters a size premium. The bands below are the month\'s indicative FOB Istanbul ranges for the handrail range and for the larger industrial sizes.
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
304 tube is bundled in hexagonal packs of 100–300 kg, each tube in PE film (ornamental) or with paper separators (2B), bundles in PE and cardboard with end caps, on pallets or in wooden crates for mixed orders; a 20' takes 12–16 t, a 40' HC 18–22 t, 6 m lengths. HS 7306.40.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 500 kg (mixed sizes) |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Stock 3–5 working days; schedule pipe and large OD 1–3 weeks |
| Packing | Tubes film-wrapped individually (ornamental), bundled 100–300 kg in PE and cardboard, on pallets or in crates |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 12–16 t (bulky); 40' HC ≈ 18–22 t |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1, certificate of origin; 3.2 and PED on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight above 100 t |
Certificates
Every bundle is traceable to the strip heat: EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and mechanicals plus the tube mill's dimensional and weld-test record; schedule pipe adds the hydrostatic and eddy-current test report, and PED / 3.2 certification is arranged on request.
How to order
Specify 304 (or 304L), OD × wall (or NPS × schedule), length, finish (satin grit / 2B / mirror), quantity in pieces or metres, and use (ornamental / pressure); state fittings and certificate needs.
Standards
- EN 10296-2 / EN 10217-7 — welded stainless tubes (mechanical / pressure)
- ASTM A554 (ornamental) / A312 (pressure) — TP304 / 304L
- ASME B36.19M schedules
- EN 10204 3.1
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: 1.4301 · 1.4307 · 1.4401
Frequently asked questions
What sizes of 304 stainless pipe do you stock?
Ornamental satin tube Ø 12–101.6 mm in 1–2 mm wall and industrial 2B tube Ø 21.3–219.1 mm in 1.5–4 mm, all in 6 m; schedule pipe ½"–8" in 304L to order.
What is the weight of 304 pipe per metre?
kg/m = (OD − wall) × wall × 0.0248; e.g. Ø 50.8 × 1.5 mm = 1.83 kg/m. The full table is above.
Is 304 pipe suitable for drinking water?
Yes — 304/304L is used for potable water, food and beverage lines; specify annealed schedule pipe or sanitary tube, not ornamental tube.
Can 304 stainless pipe be used outdoors?
Inland yes; within a few kilometres of the sea, in pool halls or with de-icing salt it pits — use 316L.
What is the difference between ASTM A554 and A312?
A554 is ornamental / mechanical tube (OD × wall, polished, not for pressure); A312 is annealed, hydro-tested pressure pipe in NPS and schedule sizes.
What is the price of 304 stainless pipe?
Per ton FOB Istanbul from the stainless list — see the band above; it follows the nickel price. Per metre on request.