Stainless Steel Grades Chart & Global Equivalents
Stainless Steel Grades Chart: Types, Properties & Applications
Compare common stainless steel grades including 201, 304, 304L, 316L, 321, 410, 420, 430, 2205, 2507 and 17-4PH by stainless family, corrosion environment, magnetism, heat-treatment response, welding and typical use.
This page is a stainless steel grade-selection hub. For detailed AISI / UNS / EN / JIS / GB cross-reference work, use the dedicated Steel Grade Equivalent Chart .
Stainless Steel Grades: Quick Answer
304 / 304L are common starting grades for general fabrication, food equipment, architecture and welded components.
316L adds molybdenum and is commonly evaluated when chloride or chemical exposure is more demanding.
430 is a ferritic, magnetic stainless grade commonly used in appliances and relatively mild environments.
410 / 420 / 440C are martensitic grades selected when hardness and wear resistance matter more than maximum corrosion resistance.
2205 / 2507 are duplex grades used when higher strength and stronger chloride resistance are required.
There is no single “best stainless steel grade.” Selection depends on corrosion + temperature + welding + strength + forming + surface + cost.
Common Stainless Steel Grades Comparison
Use this quick comparison before opening the full 46-grade database.
| Grade | Family | Magnetic? | Heat Hardenable? | Corrosion Direction | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Austenitic | Usually low when annealed; may increase after cold work | No conventional quench hardening | Generally lower corrosion margin than 304 | Cost-sensitive fabrication |
| 304 | Austenitic | Usually low when annealed | No | General-purpose corrosion resistance | Food equipment, fabrication, architecture |
| 304L | Austenitic | Similar to 304 | No | General-purpose | Welded fabrication |
| 316L | Austenitic | Usually low when annealed | No | Higher chloride margin than 304 family | Chemical, pharma and process equipment |
| 321 | Austenitic, Ti stabilized | Usually low when annealed | No | 304-family corrosion direction with stabilization | Thermal and sensitization-sensitive service |
| 430 | Ferritic | Yes | No conventional quench hardening | Mild environments | Appliances and decorative parts |
| 410 | Martensitic | Yes | Yes | Lower general corrosion margin than 304 | Valves, shafts and wear parts |
| 420 | Martensitic | Yes | Yes | Application-dependent | Blades, tools and hardenable parts |
| 2205 | Duplex | Yes | No conventional hardening route | Strong chloride resistance | Chemical, offshore and process equipment |
| 2507 | Super Duplex | Yes | No conventional hardening route | Higher chloride margin than 2205 | Severe chloride environments |
| 904L | High-Alloy Austenitic | Usually low when annealed | No | High-alloy chemical service | Corrosion-sensitive process equipment |
| 17-4PH | Precipitation Hardening | Yes | Age hardenable | Service-dependent | High-strength components |
How to Choose the Right Stainless Steel Grade
General Fabrication
Start by evaluating 304 or 304L for general indoor, food-equipment, architectural and fabricated applications.
Chloride Exposure
Evaluate 316L when chloride exposure exceeds what 304 can reliably handle.
Severe Chlorides + Strength
2205 or 2507 may be evaluated when higher strength and localized-corrosion resistance are both required.
High Temperature
Grades such as 309S, 310S, 321, 321H or 347 may be relevant, depending on the actual duty.
Hardness & Wear
Evaluate martensitic grades such as 410, 420 or 440C when hardenability and wear resistance matter.
High Strength
PH grades such as 17-4PH or 15-5PH are used where high mechanical strength is a primary requirement.
5 Main Stainless Steel Families
Austenitic
Usually excellent formability and weldability. Includes 201, 304, 316L, 321 and 904L.
Ferritic
Chromium-based, generally magnetic, and not conventionally quench hardenable.
Martensitic
Magnetic and generally heat hardenable. Includes 410, 420 and 440C.
Duplex
Mixed ferritic-austenitic structure combining high strength with strong localized-corrosion resistance.
PH
Precipitation-hardening stainless designed for high strength after controlled aging treatment.
Stainless Steel Grades Database – 46 Grades
Browse stainless steel grades by family or use the filters to search by grade, EN / W.Nr., EN designation or application.
All 46 grades are written directly into the page HTML. Filtering only changes their display state, so the grade content remains present in the page source.
Search & Filter 46 Stainless Steel Grades
Austenitic Stainless Steel Grades 20 Grades
Martensitic Stainless Steel Grades 11 Grades
Ferritic Stainless Steel Grades 8 Grades
Duplex Stainless Steel Grades 4 Grades
Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Grades 3 Grades
Stainless Steel Grades by Corrosion Environment
| Environment | Grades to Evaluate | Selection Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mild indoor / dry service | 201, 304, 430 depending on application | Balance corrosion, forming, appearance and cost. |
| General wet service | 304 / 304L | Common starting point; actual media still matters. |
| Higher chloride exposure | 316 / 316L | Molybdenum improves localized-corrosion margin versus the 304 family. |
| High chloride + higher strength | 2205 | Duplex material requiring controlled fabrication. |
| Severe chloride service | 2507 or higher alloy after engineering review | Do not select only from PREN or grade name. |
| Aggressive chemical service | 317L, 904L or application-specific alloy | Media, concentration and temperature control selection. |
For comparative pitting calculations, see the PREN Calculator .
High-Temperature Stainless Steel Grades
“High temperature” can refer to different engineering problems: oxidation, scaling, sensitization, creep, thermal cycling or elevated-temperature strength.
309S / 310S
Common grades to evaluate where oxidation resistance at elevated temperature is important.
321 / 347
Stabilized austenitic grades used where thermal exposure and sensitization resistance matter.
304H / 321H / 347H
Higher-carbon variants may be specified where elevated-temperature mechanical strength forms part of the design.
Stainless Steel Grades for Welding
Low-Carbon Grades
Grades such as 304L and 316L reduce carbon and are widely used in welded fabrication.
Stabilized Grades
321, 347 and 316Ti use titanium or niobium stabilization where thermal exposure matters.
Duplex Grades
2205 and 2507 are weldable, but heat input, interpass temperature and phase balance require tighter control.
Which Stainless Steel Grades Are Magnetic?
| Family | Typical Magnetic Behavior | Important Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Austenitic | Usually low magnetic response when solution annealed | Cold working can increase magnetic response |
| Ferritic | Magnetic | Magnetism does not mean the material is carbon steel |
| Martensitic | Magnetic | These grades are generally heat hardenable |
| Duplex | Magnetic | The ferritic phase produces a clear response |
| PH | Many common PH grades are magnetic | Final response depends on grade and condition |
AISI, UNS, EN, JIS & GB Grade Equivalents
Stainless steel grade cross-reference is useful for international procurement, but this page is intentionally focused on grade selection, rather than full global standard conversion.
For detailed AISI / ASTM / UNS / EN / DIN / JIS / GB cross-reference work, use the dedicated equivalent chart.
Choose the Grade Together with the Product Form
Sheet & Plate
Grade availability, thickness, width, finish and tolerance depend on the flat-product standard.
Strip & Coil
Temper, edge, finish, width and coil dimensions are important for strip procurement.
Pipe & Tube
Pipe and tube use different product standards, dimensional systems and manufacturing routes.
Stainless Steel Grade RFQ Checklist
- Grade: exact AISI, UNS or EN designation where known.
- Product standard: ASTM, ASME, EN, JIS, GB or project specification.
- Product form: sheet, plate, coil, strip, pipe, tube or bar.
- Dimensions: thickness, width, length or OD × wall thickness.
- Surface: 2B, BA, No.4, HL, No.1 or another specified finish.
- Service environment: media, chlorides, temperature and cleaning conditions.
- Fabrication: welding, bending, machining, heat treatment or polishing.
- Documentation: MTC, PMI and inspection requirements.
- Quantity: pieces, coils or total weight.
- Destination: delivery port, packing and Incoterm.
Stainless Steel Selection Resources
Stainless Steel Grades FAQ
1. What are the main types of stainless steel?
The main commercial families are austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, duplex and precipitation-hardening stainless steels.
2. What is the most common stainless steel grade?
304 is one of the most widely used general-purpose stainless grades because it combines corrosion resistance, forming and weldability for many applications.
3. What is the difference between 304 and 316L?
316L contains molybdenum and generally provides a higher localized-corrosion margin in chloride environments. 304 remains widely used for less demanding environments.
4. Which stainless steel grade is best?
There is no universal best grade. The correct choice depends on corrosion environment, temperature, welding, strength, forming, surface requirements and cost.
5. Which stainless steel grades are magnetic?
Ferritic, martensitic and duplex grades are generally magnetic. Annealed austenitic grades usually show a lower magnetic response, although cold work can increase it.
6. Which stainless steel grades can be heat hardened?
Martensitic grades such as 410, 420 and 440C can be hardened by heat treatment. PH grades such as 17-4PH develop strength through precipitation aging.
7. Which stainless steel grades are suitable for high-temperature service?
Grades such as 309S, 310S, 321, 347 and selected H grades may be evaluated, but the correct choice depends on oxidation, stress, creep, atmosphere and time at temperature.
8. What is duplex stainless steel?
Duplex stainless combines ferritic and austenitic phases. Grades such as 2205 provide high strength together with strong resistance to several forms of localized corrosion.
9. Are AISI and EN stainless grades exactly equivalent?
Not necessarily. Cross-reference tables help identify similar grades, but substitution requires comparison of chemistry, mechanical requirements, heat treatment, product form and governing standards.
10. How do I identify an unknown stainless steel grade?
Use traceable documentation such as an MTC whenever possible. PMI can help identify alloy chemistry where project requirements call for verification. Magnetism alone is not sufficient.
Select Stainless Steel by Service Condition—not Grade Popularity
The most familiar stainless grade is not automatically the correct grade for every project.
A better selection path is: environment → temperature → fabrication → strength → surface → product standard → verification.