Stainless 304

Most common austenitic stainless. Excellent corrosion resistance and formability.

Reference properties

• Category: Stainless
• Density: 0.290 lb/in³
• Yield strength: 31,200 psi
• Tensile strength: 73,200 psi

Available tempers and conditions

Annealed — 88 RB

Softest. Best formability.

1/4 Hard — 25 RC

Work hardened. Springy.

The condition on the purchase order changes forming behavior as much as the alloy does. Stainless 304 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 stainless product, Stainless 304 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 Stainless 304

• Ulbrich
• Rolled Metal Products
• Specialty Rolled Metals
• Thyssenkrupp

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.