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MATERIAL REFERENCE / 01

Stainless Steel Grades

Grade references, chemistry ranges and selection notes for 304, 316L and 430. Confirm the governing standard before ordering.

GRADE INDEX / 01

Common grades

Austenitic and ferritic grades with commonly used UNS, EN and JIS designations.

304

Austenitic

304 Stainless Steel

UNS S30400 EN 1.4301 JIS SUS304

01

316L

Austenitic · Mo alloyed

316L Stainless Steel

UNS S31603 EN 1.4404 JIS SUS316L

02

430

Ferritic

430 Stainless Steel

UNS S43000 EN 1.4016 JIS SUS430

03

GRADE COMPARISON / 01

How 304, 316L and 430 differ

Compare the alloy families and published chemistry ranges first. They help explain where each grade is commonly considered, but they do not replace a check against the service environment and the specified product standard.

Typical composition ranges (% by mass)

0 — 20%

Cr · Chromium Ni · Nickel Mo · Molybdenum

304

304 Stainless Steel

Austenitic

A widely used austenitic chromium-nickel grade for general-purpose applications that need formability and corrosion resistance.

304 Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr17.5–19.5%Ni8–10.5%Mo—
Chromium
17.5–19.5%
Nickel
8–10.5%
Molybdenum
Not listed in this table

Selection context

For chloride-rich or more aggressive corrosive service, assess 316/316L or another grade against the actual environment. Grade 304 is not a universal choice; this summary does not qualify material for a specific application.

316L

316L Stainless Steel

Austenitic · Mo alloyed

A low-carbon 316 grade with molybdenum, considered where more resistance to localized corrosion is needed than a basic 304 grade provides.

316L Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr16–18%Ni10–14%Mo2–3%
Chromium
16–18%
Nickel
10–14%
Molybdenum
2–3%

Selection context

The low-carbon designation and molybdenum addition do not make 316L immune to corrosion. Temperature, chloride concentration, crevices, surface finish, fabrication and the governing standard all affect selection.

430

430 Stainless Steel

Ferritic

A ferritic chromium stainless steel commonly specified in sheet form for mildly corrosive and indoor applications.

430 Stainless SteelEach bar shows the listed minimum-to-maximum range on a shared scale from zero to twenty percent. A dash means no range is listed in that reference table; it does not mean the element is physically absent.05101520Cr16–18%Ni—Mo—
Chromium
16–18%
Nickel
Not listed in this table
Molybdenum
Not listed in this table

Selection context

430 belongs to the ferritic family, while 304 and 316L are austenitic. Check the service environment, fabrication route and required product standard before comparing or substituting grades.

Ranges follow the cited British Stainless Steel Association reference tables for these grade designations. A dash means that table lists no range, not zero content. Product-form standards can differ; verify the specification and mill certificate before ordering.

Composition references

British Stainless Steel Association

Use grade codes as a starting point

UNS, EN and JIS designations are useful cross-references, not blanket proof of interchangeability across product standards. Confirm the exact standard, product form, condition, inspection requirements and mill test certificate for the order.