Mild Steel (1018)
Low carbon steel with good weldability and machinability. The workhorse of fabrication.
Reference properties
- Category: Steel
- Density: 0.283 lb/in³
- Yield strength: 53,700 psi
- Tensile strength: 63,800 psi
Available tempers and conditions
- Hot Rolled — 126 HB
- Rough surface, scale. Lower stress.
- Cold Rolled — 131 HB
- Smooth finish. Higher strength, more internal stress.
The condition on the purchase order changes forming behavior as much as the alloy does. Mild Steel (1018) is stocked in 2 listed conditions; confirm which one the certification covers before committing die clearance, bend radius, or press tonnage.
Production use
As a steel product, Mild Steel (1018) should be compared against other grades in the same family before substituting — density drives coil and part weight, while the yield and tensile basis above drive forming load and springback.
Published families and nominal properties vary by grade, temper, thickness, processing history, and governing specification. Confirm the actual purchase specification and material certification before releasing a die, forming process, weld procedure, or production setup. Surface condition, grain direction, coating, work hardening, edge quality, and lot-to-lot variation can affect performance even when nominal strength values match.
Where to source Mild Steel (1018)
Supplier listings are starting points for availability and data sheets, not endorsements or current pricing.
Verification checklist
Verify units, thickness tolerance, yield and tensile basis, and any temperature or direction dependence. Run a representative trial when forming limits, safety, or high production volume make an incorrect assumption costly. This page is a reference, not a material certification or supplier guarantee.
Estimate cost with the material cost calculator, check coil and blank weight with the sheet weight calculator, or return to the production material library.