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Views: 15 Author: Shirley Publish Time: 2025-06-16 Origin: Site
Stainless steel suppliers and manufacturers offer many grades of stainless steel products. For first-time buying stainless steel plates buyers, the grade of steel can be overwhelming. Moreover, choosing the right stainless steel plate also includes specifications, performance, and usage environment. This guide covers stainless steel types, common sizes, prices, and finding suppliers, etc., with the aim of helping our customers choose the most suitable stainless steel plates.
The terms stainless steel plate and stainless steel sheet both refer to flat-rolled products. The key difference is thickness:
Stainless steel sheets are typically thinner, generally under 3 mm or 0.1181 inch. Thin steel plates are generally Class B steel, cold-rolled or hot-rolled steel plates with steel grades of B0-B3. They are more flexible, and are mainly used in automobiles, electrical equipment, containers and furniture.
Stainless steel plates are thicker, starting from 3 mm and going up to several inches. This added thickness provides greater strength and rigidity, making stainless steel plates essential for structural applications, heavy machinery, shipbuilding, tanks, and pressure vessels.
Sometimes you might see the term stainless steel steel plate, essentially emphasizing the same thick product category as standard stainless steel plate.
Not all stainless steel is the same. The grade determines its properties. Here are the most common types you'll encounter for plates and sheets:
Austenitic (300 Series - e.g., 304, 316): It contains 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321, 309S, 310S, etc. The most widely used. 300 series steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, good formability, and weldability.
SS steel sheet and plate in grade 304 is the standard "18/8" stainless.
Grade 316 adds molybdenum for superior resistance to chlorides (like saltwater), making it ideal for marine environments or chemical processing. 304 and 316 alloy are non-magnetic.
Ferritic (400 Series - e.g., 430): Magnetic, with good corrosion resistance (generally less than 304) and excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking. 400 series often more affordable. Used for automotive trim, appliances, and some architectural applications.
Martensitic (400 Series - e.g., 410, 420): Magnetic, can be hardened by heat treatment. It offers high strength and moderate corrosion resistance. 400 steel used for cutlery, tools, valves, pump shafts, and fasteners like stainless steel wood screws.
Duplex (e.g., 2205): Duplex combines features of austenitic and ferritic grades. It is very high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, especially to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Often used in demanding chemical, oil & gas, and marine applications.
Size is very important to buyers. Stainless steel plates are custom products, and buyers have their own special size requirements. And different sizes will have different prices.
The most common stainless steel sheet size is 4x8 inches, which is also the standard steel sheet size. Stainless steel sheets 4x8 means sheets are 4 feet wide by 8 feet long（1220x2240cm）. You can also find stainless steel sheets 4x8 prices listed online or by suppliers as a standard reference point.
And stainless steel plates come in a wider range of widths, lengths, and thicknesses than sheets. Common widths include 48", 60", 72", 96", and 120". Lengths can vary significantly but are often 96", 120", 144", or 240". So when you buy stainless steel sheets or plates, always specify your exact required dimensions (thickness, width, length).
While this guide focuses on plate and sheet, stainless steel also has other forms you might need:
Stainless steel bar: Solid shapes (round, square, hex, flat) used for machining parts, shafts, or fasteners.
Stainless steel tubes: Hollow sections, either welded or seamless. Sizes range from small instrumentation tubes to large diameters like 2 inch stainless steel pipe.
Stainless steel welding wire: Used for joining stainless components via MIG or TIG welding processes.
Stainless steel compression fittings, stainless steel fitting, stainless steel flange: Essential components for creating leak-proof connections in piping systems carrying liquids or gases.
Stainless steel price and SS material price based on several factors. Understanding these helps you budget and time purchases:
Grade: Higher alloy grades like 316 or duplex 2205 are significantly more expensive than basic grades like 304 or 430.
Form: Plate is generally more expensive per pound than sheet due to the heavier rolling required. Specialty forms like bar or tube command different pricing.
Thickness/Gauge: Thicker material stainless plate costs more per square foot than thinner sheet, both because it uses more metal and requires more processing.
Quantity: Buying more usually lowers the per-unit cost.
Markets: The prices of raw materials (nickel, chromium, molybdenum) greatly impact stainless steel steel plate and sheet costs.
Surface treatment: A standard mill finish 2B is most common. Specialty finishes (brushed, mirror, patterned) add your cost.
Processing: If you need material cut to size, edged, or have holes drilled, this adds labor and cost. Knowing if you need full sheets/plates or cut pieces is crucial for getting accurate stainless steel sheets 4x8 prices or quotes for custom sizes.
Those needing fabrication or quick turnaround, local partners are essential. Here’s how to find stainless steel suppliers:
Search Online: Use precise terms like "stainless steel suppliers near me" or "stainless steel near me" to find nearby inventory. For customized products, search "stainless steel fabricators near me".
Check Local Metal Service Centers: These suppliers stock a wide ranges stainless steel of products (plates, sheets, stainless steel bar, stainless steel tubes, stainless steel flange, and stainless steel compression fittings). They often offer cutting, drilling, or edging services.
Verify Capabilities: Ask if they handle your specific needs: Do you stock stainless steel sheets 4x8 or custom plate sizes? Can you supply accessories like stainless steel welding wire or stainless steel wood screws? Do you work with 2 inch stainless steel pipe or other tubular products?
Compare stainless steel sheets 4x8 prices: Get quotes from multiple local suppliers is very important – prices vary based on inventory and location.
Picking the perfect plate involves 5 key steps:
Grade Selection:
304: Best for most environments like kitchens, tanks, general fabrication.
316: Essential for saltwater, chemicals, or marine use.
430: Cost-effective for indoor, non-structural uses.
Duplex (2205): For extreme stress/corrosion (offshore, chemical plants).
Thickness Matters:
Use stainless steel sheets (<3/16") for surfaces, cladding, or bending. Choose stainless steel plates (≥3/16") for load-bearing structures or high-pressure systems.
Size & Quantity:
Stainless steel sheets 4x8 are standard for easy handling. You should confirm custom plate dimensions (thickness/width/length) with suppliers. The larger orders often reduce the stainless steel price per unit.
Surface Finish:
2B (Standard): Smooth, slightly reflective – most industrial uses.
Brushed/No. 4: Decorative, hides scratches – common in architecture.
Mirror/No. 8: Ultra-reflective – for high-end decor or signage.
Prices:
Stainless steel prices fluctuate with the nickel/chrome market. Size specifications also affect the price quote, and some suppliers and factories will charge processing fees. You need to ask for clarification.
Choosing stainless steel is not difficult. Understand the grade, size, factors affecting price and search for local suppliers, you will make the perfect choice. If you still can't choose, please contact JN, we will answer any stainless steel questions for customers free of charge.
