Oct 13, 2026Buying Guides
Stainless Steel Sheet and Coil: 304, 316L and 430 Grades Explained
Stainless steel sheet and coil is ordered by grade, finish and thickness. This guide compares 304, 316L, 430 and 201, the common finishes, and what to send for a quote.
What stainless steel sheet and coil actually is
Stainless steel is an iron-chromium alloy with at least 10.5% chromium. The chromium forms a thin passive oxide layer on the surface, and that layer is what resists rust - there is no coating to wear off.
That is why grade selection matters more than almost anything else: the grade decides how much chromium, nickel and molybdenum the steel contains, and those elements decide where the sheet or coil can be used.
The grades most buyers ask for
304 and 304L - general purpose
304 (EN 1.4301) is the standard 18/8 grade, roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It covers food equipment, kitchenware, sinks, architectural trim and most indoor wet environments. 304L has a lower carbon content, so it welds without sensitisation and is the safer choice for welded parts.
316 and 316L - for chlorides and chemicals
316 (EN 1.4401) adds 2-3% molybdenum on top of the 304 chemistry. That addition is what improves resistance to chlorides and pitting, so 316 is specified for marine hardware, chemical and pharmaceutical equipment and coastal architecture. 316L is the low-carbon version, again for welded fabrication.
430 - ferritic, no nickel
430 (EN 1.4016) contains 16-18% chromium and no nickel, is magnetic and is noticeably cheaper. It is used indoors for appliance panels, kitchen trim and decorative parts, and it should not be specified for aggressive or long-term outdoor exposure.
201 - cost-effective, indoor use
201 replaces part of the nickel with manganese. It suits indoor decorative and lighter-duty applications where 304 is not required. Corrosion resistance is lower than 304, and it is not a like-for-like substitute outdoors.
Finish, thickness and size
Surface finish is stated at the same time as the grade:
- 2B - cold rolled, annealed and pickled; the standard bright mill finish
- BA - bright annealed, smoother and more reflective than 2B
- No.4 / hairline - brushed finish for architectural and appliance work
- No.8 - mirror polish
Sheet is usually ordered as thickness x width x length in millimetres, and coil as thickness x width with a coil weight. Common widths are 1000, 1219, 1250 and 1500 mm, and sheet thickness typically runs from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm. Standards to quote against include ASTM A240, EN 10088-2, JIS G4304/G4305 and GB/T 3280.
What to send for a quote
A stainless quotation is accurate when these details are on the enquiry:
- Grade (for example 304, 316L, 430)
- Finish (2B, BA, No.4, No.8)
- Thickness, width and length - or coil weight
- Quantity in sheets, pieces or tonnes
- Standard to be met
- Application or environment, so the grade can be checked
- Destination port and packing requirements
Send those details to our team and we will come back with price, lead time and the mill certificate for the exact heat.
