Views: 6 Author: Wang Publish Time: 2025-09-01 Origin: Site
Looking for super strong metal sheets that fight rust? 316 Stainless Steel Sheet is one of the best choices for tough jobs! Why? Because it has a special ingredient called molybdenum that makes it way better at handling salty air, harsh chemicals, hot temperatures, and wet places than regular stainless steel. It's super strong, lasts a long time, and is easy to keep clean. That's why it's used on boats, in factories making medicine or food, on buildings, and lots more. This guide explains everything you need to know: why 316 is so good, the different types you can buy, its strength details, thickness sizes, how much it costs, and the best places to get it.
As a leading manufacturer of stainless steel and nickel alloy products, when my clients ask why 316 stainless steel sheet is so popular, the answer lies in its performance in demanding industrial environments. Here's why 316 SS sheet is our most requested and recommended product:
Corrosion Resistance: The critical addition of 2-3% molybdenum fundamentally elevates its performance beyond standard 304 stainless steel. Chlorides are present in coastal atmospheres, chemical processing environments, food production sanitation, pharmaceutical washdowns, and road de-icing salts. 316's molybdenum forms a more stable passive layer, offering exceptional resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in these aggressive settings.
Robust Strength and Durability: 316 stainless steel screws maintain excellent mechanical properties across a wide range. Such as 316 stainless steel screws, which face not just corrosion but also stress, impact, and thermal cycling. 316 steel sheet provides high tensile and yield strength, good toughness, and retains its integrity better than 304 at temperatures encountered in heat exchangers, exhaust systems, or process vessels.
Many Applications:Our 316 sheet reliably serves diverse industries:
Marine and Offshore: Hull linings, deck fittings, piping, and railings.
Chemical and Petrochemical Processing: Tanks, reactors, piping, ductwork.
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology: Process vessels, piping, work surfaces.
Food and Beverage Processing: Tanks, conveyors, work surfaces, cookware.
Architecture and Construction: Cladding, roofing, fasteners, railings.
Surface Integrity and Hygiene: In food, pharma, and medical applications, preventing bacterial harborage is paramount. 316 sheet has smooth finishes (e.g., 316 2B stainless steel sheet, 316 BA stainless steel sheet, 316 #4 stainless steel sheet and 316 #8 mirror stainless steel sheet) that are easy to clean, sterilize, and maintain to the highest sanitary standards, reducing contamination risk and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Excellent Fabrication Properties: 316 sheet has good formability, weldability, and machinability. This ensures efficient component manufacturing and complex assembly.
Aesthetic Longevity and Low Maintenance: 316 stainless steel sheet maintains its attractive metallic finish significantly longer than 304 in corrosive atmospheres. It requires less frequent cleaning and polishing to retain its appearance, drastically reducing lifecycle maintenance costs compared to lesser materials or even painted carbon steel.
There are four types of 316 stainless steel plates, including plain 316 stainless steel plates, perforated 316 stainless steel plates, polished 316 stainless steel plates and color-coated 316 stainless steel plates.
Plain 316 Stainless Steel Sheet: It is a standard mill finish, typically the cold-rolled, annealed, and pickled 2B surface, which exhibits a uniform, lightly reflective, matte grey appearance. This product form provides the essential molybdenum-enhanced corrosion resistance inherent to the 316 alloy, with the 316L steel offering superior weldability due to its ultra-low carbon content mitigating sensitization and subsequent intergranular corrosion. Plain 316 stainless steel sheet serves as the foundational material stock for fabrication across demanding sectors, including chemical processing, marine equipment, pharmaceutical infrastructure, and food/beverage machinery.
Perforated 316 Stainless Steel Sheet: Produced by precisely punching or laser-cutting defined hole patterns (like round, square, slotted, or custom geometries) into a plain 316 sheet, achieving specific open area percentages and pitches. The Perforated 316 Stainless Steel Sheet metallurgical requirement is ensuring clean, deburred hole edges to maintain the alloy's inherent pitting and crevice corrosion resistance, as mechanical deformation during perforation can locally affect the passive layer integrity. This type is primarily utilized for filtration, screening, and separation applications in aggressive environments; architectural facades and walkways requiring drainage/ventilation; acoustic panels; and security screens, where its combination of controlled permeability, structural rigidity, and corrosion resistance is essential.
Polished 316 Stainless Steel Sheet: Achieved through sequential mechanical polishing processes to attain specific surface roughness (Ra) values and visual aesthetics; common finishes include #4, #6/#7, and #8. The polishing process enhances surface smoothness, significantly reducing micro-scale surface irregularities where corrosive agents or contaminants might initiate attack or adhere. It is vital that the polishing sequence maintain the metallurgical integrity of the near-surface layer without inducing excessive heat or embedding foreign particles that could compromise corrosion resistance.
Colored 316 Stainless Steel Sheet: Created by depositing a thin, durable ceramic or metallic coating onto the surface of a polished 316 sheet, typically via Physical Vapor Deposition, or less commonly through controlled thermal oxidation, resulting in stable, vibrant colors without altering the substrate's bulk mechanical properties or core corrosion resistance. The PVD process forms a hard, adherent, microscopically thin layer that is chemically inert and UV-stable, providing long-lasting aesthetic appeal for architectural cladding, decorative panels, signage, and premium consumer goods; critically, while the coating itself offers additional wear resistance, the underlying 316 stainless steel substrate ensures structural integrity and corrosion protection, though any surface damage exposing the base metal can create localized corrosion sites, necessitating careful handling and installation.
US316 Chemical Composition (%):
Grade | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Ni | Mo | Cr |
SUS316 | ≤0.08 | ≤2.00 | ≤1.00 | ≤0.045 | ≤0.03 | 10.00-14.00 | 2.00-3.00 | 16.00-18.00 |
SUS316 Physical Properties:
Properties | Value |
Density | 7.98 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 1375 - 1450 ℃ |
Solution treatment | 1010 ~1150℃ |
Alloy structure | Austenitic |
Resistivity | 73μΩ.cm |
Specific heat | 0.45 J/g.k |
Magnetic permeability | Non-magnetic |
316 Stainless Steel Mechanical properties
Tensile strength | ≥520 MPa |
Yield strength | ≥205MPa |
Elongation | ≥40% |
Reduction of area | ≥60% |
Hardness | ≤187HB，≤90HRB，≤200HV |
316 Minor Differences in Various Standards
NO. | Standard | Grade | Serial Number | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cr | Ni | N | Mo |
1 | ASTM A276/A276M | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
2 | ASTM A959 | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
3 | ASTM A240/A240M | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 0.75 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | 0.1 | 2.0-3.0 |
4 | ASTM A182/A182M | F316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | 0.1 | 2.0-3.0 |
5 | ASTM A193/A193M | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
6 | ASTM A269/A269M | TP316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
7 | ASTM A312/A312M | TP316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
8 | ASTM A320/A320M | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
9 | ASTM A403/A403M | WP316 CR316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
10 | ASTM A493 | 316 | S31600 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | 0.1 | 2.0-3.0 |
11 | ASTM A554 | MT-316 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 | |
12 | JIS G4303:2012 | SUS316 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 | |
13 | JIS G4304:2012 | SUS316 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 | |
14 | JIS G4305:2012 | SUS316 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 | |
15 | GB/T 20878-2007 | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 | S31608 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.045 | 0.03 | 1 | 16.0-18.0 | 10.0-14.0 | - | 2.0-3.0 |
This is a rigorous, industry-standard reference chart for 316 stainless steel sheet gauge thicknesses, adhering to the Brown & Sharpe / American Standard Gauge system commonly used for stainless steel in North America.
Gauge (B&S) | Decimal Inch (in) | Millimeter (mm) | Approx. Weight (lb/ft²) | Approx. Weight (kg/m²) |
30 ga | 0.0125 | 0.32 | 0.51 | 2.49 |
28 ga | 0.0156 | 0.40 | 0.64 | 3.12 |
26 ga | 0.0187 | 0.47 | 0.76 | 3.71 |
24 ga | 0.0239 | 0.61 | 0.97 | 4.74 |
22 ga | 0.0299 | 0.76 | 1.22 | 5.96 |
20 ga | 0.0359 | 0.91 | 1.46 | 7.13 |
18 ga | 0.0478 | 1.21 | 1.95 | 9.52 |
16 ga | 0.0598 | 1.52 | 2.44 | 11.91 |
14 ga | 0.0747 | 1.90 | 3.05 | 14.89 |
13 ga | 0.0897 | 2.28 | 3.66 | 17.87 |
12 ga | 0.1046 | 2.66 | 4.27 | 20.85 |
11 ga | 0.1196 | 3.04 | 4.88 | 23.83 |
10 ga | 0.1345 | 3.42 | 5.49 | 26.81 |
9 ga | 0.1495 | 3.80 | 6.10 | 29.79 |
8 ga | 0.1644 | 4.18 | 6.71 | 32.77 |
0.1793 | 4.55 | 7.32 | 35.75 | |
6 ga | 0.1943 | 4.94 | 7.93 | 38.73 |
5 ga | 0.2092 | 5.31 | 8.54 | 41.71 |
4 ga | 0.2242 | 5.69 | 9.15 | 44.69 |
3 ga | 0.2391 | 6.07 | 9.76 | 47.67 |
Note: Gauge numbers are not absolute and vary between material types, remember always verify with specific mill certifications.
316 stainless steel sheet price changes are based on many things. Expect to pay more than regular steel and usually more than the common 304 stainless steel. As of late 2023/early 2024, basic 316 sheets might start around 4 to 8 per pound, but this is just a rough starting point. The real price you pay depends heavily on several key factors:
The biggest factor is the cost of the raw materials, especially nickel (Ni) and molybdenum (Mo). These metals are expensive, and their prices jump around daily on the world market. When nickel and molybdenum prices go up, so does the price of 316 stainless.
The second factor is thickness. Thicker sheets use more metal, so they cost more. Think of buying a thick book versus a thin pamphlet; more pages means a higher price. Also, very wide sheets or special sizes can cost extra because they are harder for the factory to make.
The third factor is the manufacturing process. For example, 316 stainless steel 2B sheet is the least expensive type. A mirror finish costs much more than a 2B sheet.
And steel factories usually give lower prices per pound if you buy a large amount. Buying just one small sheet will cost more per pound.
Finally, shipping costs add to the price, especially for heavy sheets. Also, like many things, prices tend to slowly go up over time due to inflation.
316 stainless steel sheet price list
Type | Thickness | Finish | Price Range (USD/lb) |
Plain 316 (2B Finish) | 16 Gauge (0.0598") | Matte, unpolished | 4.50–4.50–6.00 |
1/8" (0.125") | Matte, unpolished | 4.75–4.75–6.25 | |
Polished 316 | 16 Gauge (0.0598") | #4 Brushed | 5.50–5.50–7.50 |
1/8" (0.125") | #8 Mirror | 8.00–8.00–12.00+ | |
Perforated 316 | 16 Gauge (0.0598") | 2B (pre-perf) | 6.00–6.00–9.00+ |
316L (Low Carbon) | Any thickness | Any finish | +0.20–0.20–0.50/lb |
Big Metal Companies (Best for Large Orders):
If you need a lot of sheets like hundreds or thousands of pounds, buy directly from big metal factories called "mills" (like Zhengzhou Huitong or JN Alloy) or large sellers called "distributors" (like Ryerson or Reliance Steel). These companies sell thick sheets, thin sheets, or even giant rolls. They give you official papers called "MTRs" that prove the steel is real 316. Prices here are cheaper for big orders, but you usually need to buy a lot at once.
Local Metal Stores or Websites (Best for Small Orders):
If you only need one sheet or a few small pieces, go to a local metal shop (like Metal Supermarkets or Industrial Metal Supply) or order online (like McMaster-Carr or OnlineMetals). These places cut sheets to your exact size. You can walk into their stores, call them, or order from their websites. They ship quickly, but the price per piece is higher than buying in bulk. Always ask if they have the "MTR" paper for the steel.
Special Sellers (For Unique Needs):
If you need special finishes—like shiny mirror polish (#8), brushed metal (#4), sheets with holes (perforated), or colored sheets—companies like JN or Huitong are experts. They make these custom sheets but may take longer to deliver. Check their websites or call them to ask about your project.
Recommended Websites:
Huitong:https://htpipe.com/
Ryerson: https://www.ryerson.com/
Reliance Steel: https://reliance.com/
