Reference & Charts
Stainless Steel Grades
Typical properties of common stainless steel grades — type, strength, hardness, machinability, and whether it's magnetic — with a spec sheet and typical uses for each. Compare 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 303, 430, 410, and 17-4 PH at a glance.
8 entries · Last verified: 2026-07-09
Stainless steels are grouped by microstructure, which governs their behavior. Austenitic grades (300 series, e.g. 304/316) are non-magnetic, highly corrosion-resistant, and not hardenable by heat treatment. Ferritic grades (e.g. 430) are magnetic and nickel-free. Martensitic grades (e.g. 410) are magnetic and can be hardened by heat treatment. Precipitation-hardening grades (e.g. 17-4 PH) combine very high strength with good corrosion resistance.
| Stainless Grade | Type | Condition | Density(g/cm³) | Tensile(MPa) | Yield(MPa) | Elong.(%) | Hardness | Machinability | Magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | Austenitic | Annealed | 8 g/cm³ | 515 MPa | 205 MPa | 40 % | ≤201 HB | Fair | No* |
| 304L | Austenitic | Annealed | 8 g/cm³ | 485 MPa | 170 MPa | 40 % | ≤201 HB | Fair | No* |
| 316 | Austenitic | Annealed | 8 g/cm³ | 515 MPa | 205 MPa | 40 % | ≤217 HB | Fair | No* |
| 316L | Austenitic | Annealed | 8 g/cm³ | 485 MPa | 170 MPa | 40 % | ≤217 HB | Fair | No* |
| 303 | Austenitic | Annealed | 8 g/cm³ | 620 MPa | 240 MPa | 50 % | ≤228 HB | Excellent | No* |
| 430 | Ferritic | Annealed | 7.7 g/cm³ | 450 MPa | 275 MPa | 22 % | ≤183 HB | Fair | Yes |
| 410 | Martensitic | Annealed | 7.7 g/cm³ | 515 MPa | 310 MPa | 25 % | ≤223 HB | Fair | Yes |
| 17-4 PH | Precipitation-hardening | H900 | 7.8 g/cm³ | 1070 MPa | 1000 MPa | 10 % | ~40 HRC | Fair | Yes |
Select a stainless grade for its full spec sheet.
Frequently asked
- 304 vs 316 — what's the difference?
- Both are austenitic and similar in strength, but 316 adds ~2–3% molybdenum, giving markedly better resistance to chlorides and pitting — so 316 is the marine/chemical choice, while 304 is the general-purpose default at lower cost.
- Which stainless steels are magnetic?
- Ferritic (430), martensitic (410), and precipitation-hardening (17-4 PH) grades are magnetic. Austenitic 300-series grades (304, 316, 303) are essentially non-magnetic when annealed, though cold work can make them slightly magnetic.
- Which stainless machines the best?
- 303 is the free-machining grade — sulfur is added specifically to improve machinability, making it the go-to for high-volume turned parts (at some cost to corrosion resistance and weldability).
Sources
- AISI / ASM International — typical properties of stainless steels
- Manufacturer datasheets (annealed condition; 17-4 PH in H900)