304 vs 316 vs 430 — which stainless steel sheet
The full chemistry, mechanical and pitting-resistance comparison of 304 and 316 is on our reference site; 321 (titanium-stabilised) and 2205 duplex are supplied for high-temperature and high-chloride work on request.
| 304 / 304L (1.4301 / 1.4307) | 316 / 316L (1.4401 / 1.4404) | 430 (1.4016) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Austenitic (18% Cr, 8% Ni) | Austenitic (17% Cr, 10% Ni, 2% Mo) | Ferritic (16% Cr, no Ni) |
| Corrosion resistance | Good — food, kitchens, indoor/urban | Better — chlorides, coastal, chemical, pharma | Moderate — indoor, dry |
| Magnetic | No (slightly after forming) | No | Yes |
| Formability / deep drawing | Excellent | Very good | Fair |
| Weldability | Excellent (L grades for heavy sections) | Excellent | Limited (grain growth) |
| Yield / tensile | 210 / 520–720 MPa | 220 / 520–670 MPa | 260 / 450–600 MPa |
| Price index (per kg) | 1.00 | 1.45–1.60 | 0.65–0.75 |
| Typical use | Kitchens, tanks, fabrication, handrails, appliances | Marine, coastal façades, chemical, pools, food with brine | Appliances, trim, decorative panels, indoor cladding |
Grade pages
Each stainless grade has its own page with chemistry, mechanical properties, finishes, equivalents, kg/m² and the month's USD/MT band: 304 stainless steel sheet (1.4301, the general-purpose grade), 304L (1.4307, low-carbon welding grade), 316 stainless steel sheet (1.4401, marine and chemical), 316L (1.4404, welded process equipment), 430 stainless steel sheet (1.4016, ferritic, appliances) and 410 stainless steel sheet (1.4006, hardenable martensitic).
Surface finishes
| Finish | EN code | Appearance | Ra (µm) | Thickness | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 2B | Smooth, semi-matt, cold-rolled | 0.1–0.5 | 0.40–6.0 mm | General, fabrication, to be polished (stock) |
| BA (bright annealed) | 2R | Mirror-like, reflective | ≤ 0.1 | 0.40–2.0 mm | Appliances, trim, reflectors |
| No.4 satin | 2J / 2G | Brushed, 150–180 grit | 0.3–0.6 | 0.40–6.0 mm | Kitchens, handrails, architecture (stock) |
| Hairline | 2J (long grain) | Fine continuous brush | 0.2–0.4 | 0.40–3.0 mm | Lifts, panels, doors, cladding (stock) |
| Mirror No.8 | 2P | Polished, reflective | ≤ 0.05 | 0.5–3.0 mm | Decorative, columns, signage |
| Vibration / scotch-brite | 2K | Non-directional | 0.2–0.4 | 0.5–3.0 mm | Architecture, anti-scratch |
| PVD colour | — | Gold, bronze, black, rose gold on No.4 / mirror | — | 0.6–1.5 mm | Interiors, lifts, façades |
| No.1 / 1D | 1D | Hot-rolled, pickled, matt | 2–6 | 3–30 mm | Plate, tanks, structures |
| Checkered / embossed | 2M | Patterned | — | 1.5–6 mm | Floors, anti-slip, decorative |
All cold-rolled finishes supplied with PE protective film (60–80 µm) on request; one side or both.
Thickness, sizes and weight
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 000 × 2 000 (kg) | 1 250 × 2 500 (kg) | 1 500 × 3 000 (kg) | Form / finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.40 mm | 3.17 | 6.3 | 9.9 | 14.3 | CR 2B / BA / No.4 |
| 0.50 mm | 3.97 | 7.9 | 12.4 | 17.8 | CR 2B / BA / No.4 / hairline |
| 0.60 mm | 4.76 | 9.5 | 14.9 | 21.4 | CR |
| 0.80 mm | 6.34 | 12.7 | 19.8 | 28.5 | CR |
| 1.00 mm | 7.93 | 15.9 | 24.8 | 35.7 | CR |
| 1.20 mm | 9.52 | 19.0 | 29.7 | 42.8 | CR |
| 1.50 mm | 11.9 | 23.8 | 37.2 | 53.5 | CR / HR |
| 2.00 mm | 15.9 | 31.7 | 49.6 | 71.4 | CR / HR |
| 2.50 mm | 19.8 | 39.7 | 62.0 | 89.2 | CR / HR |
| 3.00 mm | 23.8 | 47.6 | 74.3 | 107 | CR 2B / HR No.1 |
| 4.00 mm | 31.7 | 63.4 | 99.1 | 143 | HR No.1 / 2B |
| 5.00 mm | 39.7 | 79.3 | 124 | 178 | HR No.1 |
| 6 – 30 mm | 47.6 – 238 | — | — | — | HR plate No.1 |
Widths 1 000 / 1 250 / 1 500 mm (2 000 for plate); lengths 2 000 / 2 500 / 3 000 / 6 000 mm; 430 density 7.70, 316 7.98.
Tolerances
Cold-rolled sheet to EN 10259 / ISO 9445 normal class (1.0 mm: ±0.06 mm; 2.0 mm: ±0.10 mm), hot-rolled plate to EN 10051 / EN 10029; width +3/−0 mm, length +5/−0 mm; flatness class per standard. Special tolerances on request.
Processing: cutting, slitting, laser, folding, polishing
Dedicated stainless lines (no carbon-steel contamination): slitting 20–600 mm, cut-to-length with levelling, laser cutting to 20 mm with nitrogen (oxide-free edges), water-jet, press-brake folding to 6 m with film on, polishing to No.4 / hairline / mirror, and PVD colouring via partner. Sheets can be film-protected, paper-interleaved and packed per part number.
Applications
- Commercial kitchens, food and dairy equipment, tanks and hoppers (304 2B / No.4)
- Chemical, pharma, water treatment, pools, coastal façades (316L)
- Lift interiors, doors, cladding, signage, handrails (No.4, hairline, mirror, PVD)
- Appliances, sinks, trim (430 BA / 304)
- Pressure vessels and heat exchangers (EN 10028-7 grades with 3.2)
- Laser-cut parts, perforated stainless screens, floor plate
Stainless steel sheet price per kg and per ton
Indicative FOB Istanbul bands from our weekly export list for 304 2B, 316L 2B and 430 BA, full-pallet quantities; stainless is priced per kg and follows the nickel and chrome market, so the band moves weekly. Finishes add: No.4 +3–5%, hairline +5–8%, mirror +12–20%, PVD +40–80%; thin gauges (0.4–0.6 mm) sit at the top of the band, plate near the bottom.
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
Sheets on wooden pallets with paper interleaving and PE film, corner protectors, max 2–3 t per pallet; coils eye-to-sky with paper wrap. HS code 7219 (flat-rolled stainless ≥ 600 mm): 7219.31–.35 cold-rolled by thickness, 7219.21–.24 hot-rolled.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 1 t per grade/finish; 1 × 20' (≈18–20 t) for economical freight |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau / Almaty |
| Lead time | Stock 5–10 working days; special finishes / PVD 2–4 weeks |
| Packing | Pallets 2–3 t, paper interleaved, PE film, corner protectors; coils paper-wrapped |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 18–20 t · 40' HC ≈ 22–24 t · truck 22–24 t |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1, certificate of origin; 3.2 / PMI / SASO / SONCAP on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight via London office |
Certificates
EN 10204 3.1 per sheet/coil (chemistry incl. Ni, Cr, Mo; mechanicals; finish), certificate of origin; 3.2 for pressure grades; PMI (positive material identification) on request; SASO / SONCAP / EAC on request.
How to order
Send grade, thickness × width × length, finish (and film), quantity in kg or sheets, and port. Reply within one working day with price per kg, pallet list and lead time.
Standards
- EN 10088-2 (stainless sheet, strip and plate)
- EN 10028-7 (pressure purposes)
- ASTM A240 / A240M
- JIS G4304 / G4305
- EN 10259 / EN 10051 (tolerances)
- EN 10088-4 (finishes 2B, 2R (BA), 2J (No.4), 2K, 2P)
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: 304 (1.4301) · 316L (1.4404) · 430 · 321 (1.4541) · 2205 duplex · 304 vs 316
Frequently asked questions
What is better, 304 or 316 stainless steel?
316L resists chlorides (sea air, pool water, brine, de-icing salt) and many chemicals far better thanks to 2% molybdenum; 304 is adequate for kitchens, indoor and urban use at 30–40% lower cost. Choose 316L within 5 km of the coast or for chemical/pharma service.
What is the price of a 4 × 8 ft stainless steel sheet?
A 1 220 × 2 440 mm (4 × 8 ft) sheet of 304 2B at 1.0 mm weighs 23.6 kg; at the indicative band above that is roughly USD 70–85 FOB Istanbul; 316L about USD 115–125; 430 about USD 50–65. Firm price per sheet within one working day.
What is the average price of SS 304 in the UAE?
Landed Jebel Ali in pallet quantity, Turkish 304 2B typically comes in 8–15% under Dubai stockist prices; freight adds about 60–90 USD/t and duty 5%. Ask for CIF per kg.
What is a 2B finish?
The standard cold-rolled finish: annealed, pickled and lightly skin-passed — smooth, semi-matt, Ra 0.1–0.5 µm. It is the base for polishing to No.4, hairline or mirror.
Is 430 stainless steel any good?
For dry indoor use — appliance panels, trim, decorative cladding, cookware bases — yes, at 25–35% below 304. It is magnetic, less formable and not for outdoor, coastal or food-acid service.
What thicknesses and sizes are in stock?
0.40–3.0 mm cold-rolled in 1 000, 1 250 and 1 500 mm widths (2 000–3 000 mm long), 3–30 mm hot-rolled plate to 6 000 mm; other sizes cut.
Can you supply hairline, mirror or coloured stainless?
Yes — No.4 satin, hairline, mirror No.8, vibration and PVD colours (gold, bronze, black, rose gold) with protective film, on 304 or 316L.
Do you laser-cut and fold stainless?
Yes — nitrogen laser to 20 mm, water-jet, folding to 6 m with film on, on dedicated stainless lines in Dilovası; parts ship with the sheet order.