Guides/Comparisons
304 vs 316 stainless steel
304-vs-316-stainless-steelStainless steel 304 and Stainless steel 316 at a glance
This page compares Stainless steel 304 and Stainless steel 316 using only values that carry a source, a test condition and an evidence level. Ranges run across temper, heat treatment and product form, measured at room temperature where the source says so.
- Composition: Chromium (304 18 to 20%; 316 16 to 18%), Nickel (304 8 to 11%; 316 10 to 14%), Silicon (304 up to 1%; 316 up to 0.75%).
- Yield strength: the ranges overlap (304 at least 205 MPa; 316 193 to 213 MPa).
- Tensile strength: the ranges overlap (304 at least 515 MPa; 316 480 to 620 MPa).
- Density: the ranges overlap (304 7.85 to 8.06 g/cm³; 316 7.87 to 8.07 g/cm³).
- Young's modulus: the ranges overlap (304 200 GPa; 316 190 to 205 GPa).
- Thermal conductivity: the ranges overlap (304 14 to 17 W/(m·K); 316 13 to 17 W/(m·K)).
- Melting point: the ranges overlap (304 1,400 to 1,450 °C; 316 1,375 to 1,440 °C).
"Higher" means the whole range is higher, not just one value. Where a value is a specified minimum, the table says "at least".
Side by side
| Property | Stainless steel 304 | Stainless steel 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | at least 205 MPa | 193 to 213 MPa |
| Tensile strength | at least 515 MPa | 480 to 620 MPa |
| Density | 7.85 to 8.06 g/cm³ | 7.87 to 8.07 g/cm³ |
| Young's modulus | 200 GPa | 190 to 205 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | 14 to 17 W/(m·K) | 13 to 17 W/(m·K) |
| Melting point | 1,400 to 1,450 °C | 1,375 to 1,440 °C |
| Service temperature | no data | 750 to 925 °C |
| Thermal expansion | no data | 16.5 to 18.2 ppm/K |
Composition
| Element | Stainless steel 304 | Stainless steel 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | balance | balance |
| Chromium | 18 to 20% | 16 to 18% |
| Nickel | 8 to 11% | 10 to 14% |
| Carbon | up to 0.08% | up to 0.08% |
| Manganese | up to 2% | up to 2% |
| Silicon | up to 1% | up to 0.75% |
| Phosphorus | up to 0.045% | up to 0.045% |
| Sulfur | up to 0.03% | up to 0.03% |
| Molybdenum | not listed | 2 to 3% |
| Nitrogen | not listed | up to 0.1% |
Shares are as printed in the sources, by weight.
When to use which
| Material | Best for | Weakest at |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel 304 | Corrosion-resistant housings, fasteners and tanks where ordinary steel would rust | Chloride pitting in acidic solutions, and low strength compared with precipitation-hardened steels |
| Stainless steel 316 | Chloride-bearing and marine-grade service where 304 would pit, in annealed sheet, bar and plate | Crevice and pitting attack in seawater condenser tubes, intergranular attack after heating between 500 and 900 C, and modest strength next to precipitation-hardened grades |
Where each is used
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel 304 | Spacecraft propellant tank |
| Stainless steel 304 | Fasteners and screws |
| Stainless steel 304 | Architectural cladding |
| Stainless steel 316 | Aerospace structures |
| Stainless steel 316 | Chemical storage, food processing and oil refining equipment |