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316 Stainless Steel Sheet and 316L Sheet

316 stainless steel sheet is the molybdenum-bearing austenitic grade specified whenever chlorides are present. Adding 2 to 3 percent molybdenum to the 18-8 base raises the pitting resistance equivalent number from about 19 for 304 to about 25, which is the difference between a surface that tea stains in coastal air and one that does not. Walmay stocks 316 and 316L to ASTM A240 from 0.4 mm to 60 mm thick, up to 2,000 mm wide, in 2B, BA, No.4 brushed, hairline and No.8 mirror finishes, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate on every heat. Most of our stock is dual certified 316/316L, so it satisfies either callout.

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  • Medical Certification

    Complies with GMP standards, nickel ion release ≤0.1μg/L, and certified by cytotoxicity and sensitization tests.

  • Electropolished Surface

    Uniform and dense passive film; crevice corrosion potential is 150mV higher than mechanically polished surfaces.

  • Disinfection Resistance

    Withstands exposure to 5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 24 hours with no change, suitable for frequent disinfection environments.

Product Specifications

Specification
ItemDetail
Grade316, UNS S31600, and 316L, UNS S31603
StandardsASTM A240 / ASME SA240, ASTM A480, EN 10088-2, JIS G4304 / G4305
Thickness0.4-60 mm
Width1,000, 1,219, 1,500, 2,000 mm, or slit to width
Length2,000, 2,438, 3,000, 6,000 mm, or cut to size
Finish2B, 2D, BA, No.4, HL hairline, No.8 mirror
ConditionCold rolled and annealed below 4.75 mm, hot rolled pickled above
PRENAbout 25
CertificationEN 10204 3.1, dual certified 316/316L on most heats
Chemical Composition

Limits to ASTM A240, in percent by mass.

Element316316L
Carbon0.08 max0.030 max
Chromium16.0-18.016.0-18.0
Nickel10.0-14.010.0-14.0
Molybdenum2.00-3.002.00-3.00
Manganese2.00 max2.00 max
Silicon0.75 max0.75 max
Nitrogen0.10 max0.10 max
Phosphorus0.045 max0.045 max
Sulphur0.030 max0.030 max

Molybdenum is the whole point of the grade, and it is also why 316 costs roughly 25 to 40 percent more per tonne than 304. If a mill test certificate shows molybdenum below 2.00 percent, the material is not 316 whatever the stencil says.

Mechanical Properties
Property316316L
Yield strength, 0.2 percent proof205 MPa170 MPa
Tensile strength515 MPa485 MPa
Elongation in 50 mm40 percent40 percent
Hardness95 HRB max95 HRB max
Density8.0 g/cm38.0 g/cm3
Modulus of elasticity193 GPa193 GPa
Maximum continuous serviceAbout 870 CAbout 870 C
PRENAbout 25About 25
Gauge, Thickness and 4x8 Sheet Weight
GaugeThicknessWeight per 4x8 sheetWeight in lb
24 ga0.64 mm15.1 kg33 lb
22 ga0.79 mm18.8 kg41 lb
20 ga0.95 mm22.6 kg50 lb
18 ga1.27 mm30.2 kg67 lb
16 ga1.59 mm37.8 kg83 lb
14 ga1.98 mm47.1 kg104 lb
12 ga2.78 mm66.1 kg146 lb
11 ga3.18 mm75.6 kg167 lb
10 ga3.57 mm84.9 kg187 lb
-6.00 mm142.7 kg315 lb

A 4x8 ft sheet is 1,219 by 2,438 mm, an area of 2.97 square metres, so weight is 23.8 kg per millimetre of thickness.

Where 316 Earns Its Premium
Environment304316 / 316LBetter still
Indoor, dryFineUnnecessary-
Coastal atmosphereTea stains and pitsCorrect choice2205 in severe marine
Swimming pool hallsNoYes for surfaces, not for load-bearing fixings2205 duplex
Seawater immersionNoMarginal, pits over time2507 super duplex
Food and dairy with chloride cleaningMarginalCorrect choice-
Pharmaceutical process surfacesMarginalStandard-
De-iced highway structuresNoYes2205 duplex
Sulphuric acidNoNo904L
Above 870 CNoNo310S

Our 304 versus 316 guide works through the decision in detail, and understanding PREN explains the number that ranks these grades.

Ordering
ItemDetail
Minimum order1 tonne from stock, 3-5 tonnes for mill-rolled sizes and finishes
Lead time from stock7-10 days to loading
Lead time mill run30-45 days
Stock sizes4x8 ft and 1,219x2,438 mm in 0.5-3.0 mm, plus 1,500 and 2,000 mm widths
PackingWooden pallet or crate, PVC film, interleaved paper on BA and mirror
IncotermsFOB, CIF, DAP

State whether you need 316, 316L or dual certified, then the thickness or gauge, width, length, finish, quantity and destination port. Related products: 316 plate, 316L pipe, 316 rod and flat bar, 304 sheet.

Pricing Calculation

Workshop & Manufacturing Machine

Stainless Steel Plate Bending/Stamping Process

Stainless Steel Plates on Storage Rack

Palletized Stainless Steel Plates

Stainless Steel Plate Rolling Line

Precision Thickness Inspection of Stainless Steel Plate

Forklift Loading Stainless Steel Plates for Shipment

Stacked stainless steel sheets on a warehouse rack with mill markings on the edge and a forklift in the background
Close-up of a stainless steel sheet corner being measured with a caliper, showing the rolled surface and cut edge

316 stainless steel sheet is the molybdenum-bearing austenitic grade specified whenever chlorides are present. Adding 2 to 3 percent molybdenum to the 18-8 base raises the pitting resistance equivalent number from about 19 for 304 to about 25, which is the difference between a surface that tea stains in coastal air and one that does not. Walmay stocks 316 and 316L to ASTM A240 from 0.4 mm to 60 mm thick, up to 2,000 mm wide, in 2B, BA, No.4 brushed, hairline and No.8 mirror finishes, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate on every heat. Most of our stock is dual certified 316/316L, so it satisfies either callout.

Banded stainless steel sheets stacked and shrink-wrapped on a pallet, ready for export shipment

316 Stainless Steel Sheet Metal for Fabrication

As sheet metal, 316 behaves almost exactly like 304 on the shop floor, with three differences that matter when you quote a job.

  • Cutting is slower. Molybdenum raises hot strength, so laser cutting speeds drop by roughly 10 to 15 percent against 304 at the same thickness and plasma consumables wear faster.
  • Springback is slightly higher. Allow 3 to 5 degrees of overbend at 90 degrees, and keep the inside bend radius at or above the material thickness for cold bending.
  • Weld filler must match. Use 316L filler, ER316LSi for MIG and TIG. A 308L filler on a 316 joint leaves a weld bead without molybdenum, and that bead becomes the corrosion site the grade was chosen to avoid.

After welding or grinding, pickle and passivate. Heat tint on a 316 weld is chromium-depleted oxide and will pit in exactly the service the grade was bought for. We carry out cutting, bending, welding, polishing and surface treatment in house, described on our fabrication page.

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316L Steel Sheets Compared with 316

Consideration316316L
Carbon0.08 percent max0.030 percent max
Yield strength205 MPa170 MPa
Welding above 6 mmRisk of sensitisation without post-weld annealSafe as welded
Corrosion resistanceSame as 316L when not sensitisedSame, and reliable in the weld zone
CostEffectively identicalEffectively identical
AvailabilityWidely stockedWidely stocked, usually dual certified

Specify 316L for welded fabrication, pressure equipment and anything that will not be solution annealed after welding, which covers most tanks, pipework spools and process vessels. Specify 316 where the extra 35 MPa of yield strength is used and the section is thin or unwelded. Because the two cost the same, the industry default is dual certified material.

For heavier hot-rolled sections the same grade is on our 316 plate page, and the whole flat range sits under sheet and plate.

Stainless steel sheet being cut on a laser cutting table in a fabrication shop
Gloved hand inspecting the clean cut edge of a finished stainless steel plate part

Applications

FAQs

How much is a sheet of 316 stainless steel?
316 is priced per tonne against the live nickel and molybdenum surcharges, then adjusted for gauge, width, finish and quantity, so there is no standing price. Expect roughly 25 to 40 percent above 304 of the same size and finish, since 316 carries both 2 to 3 percent molybdenum and 2 to 4 points more nickel. A 16 gauge 4x8 ft 2B sheet weighs 37.8 kg, which is the figure to apply to any per-tonne quotation. Send gauge, finish, quantity and destination port for a firm price.
Which is better, stainless 304 or 316?
Neither is better in general, they differ in one property. 316 has 2 to 3 percent molybdenum and resists chlorides far better, so it is the right choice near the sea, in pool halls, in chemical service and in food plants with aggressive cleaning. 304 is 25 to 40 percent cheaper and performs identically indoors and inland. Their strength is the same, both at 205 MPa yield. Buying 316 for a dry indoor application spends money on corrosion resistance that will never be used.
What is the difference between stainless steel and 316 stainless steel?
Stainless steel is a family of over 150 alloys unified by a minimum of about 10.5 percent chromium, which forms the passive oxide film that resists rust. 316 is one specific grade within it: an austenitic stainless with 16 to 18 percent chromium, 10 to 14 percent nickel and 2 to 3 percent molybdenum. Saying a part is stainless steel says almost nothing about how it will behave; saying it is 316 to ASTM A240 fixes the composition, mechanical minimums and corrosion performance.
What are the disadvantages of 316 stainless steel?
It costs 25 to 40 percent more than 304 and its price swings with both nickel and molybdenum. Its yield strength is only 205 MPa, so structural sections are heavier than a duplex equivalent, and 2205 delivers roughly double the yield with better chloride resistance for a similar or lower price. It is not immune to chlorides either: in warm seawater immersion or under deposits it will eventually pit, which is where super duplex belongs. Above 870 C it scales. And like all austenitics it work hardens and machines poorly compared with a free-machining grade.
Is 316L the same as 316?
They are the same alloy with different carbon ceilings, 0.030 percent for 316L against 0.08 percent for 316. The low-carbon version resists sensitisation during welding, so its weld zone stays corrosion resistant without a post-weld anneal, at the cost of 35 MPa of yield strength. Most of the sheet we stock is dual certified to both, which is why the two are quoted at the same price.
Will 316 stainless steel rust?
It can. In chloride-bearing service it may show pitting or tea staining if the surface is contaminated with free iron, if weld heat tint was never removed, or if deposits sit on it undisturbed in warm salt water. Correct finishing solves most of it: pickle and passivate after fabrication, use stainless-only tooling, and choose a smoother finish where cleaning is difficult. A 2B or No.4 surface that is rinsed periodically will stay clean in coastal air for decades.
Which finish should I specify for food and pharmaceutical work?
Most food and pharmaceutical audits reference surface roughness rather than a finish name. A BA finish typically lands around 0.1 to 0.2 micrometres Ra and passes hygienic requirements as rolled. A No.4 brushed finish is around 0.4 to 0.6 micrometres Ra and is accepted for most food contact surfaces while hiding wear better. For product-contact surfaces with a stated Ra limit, electropolishing after fabrication is the reliable route.
What thickness is available, and where does sheet become plate?
Cold rolled sheet runs 0.4 to 4.75 mm, which covers 24 gauge through 10 gauge. Above 4.75 mm the material is hot rolled, pickled and annealed plate, which we supply to 60 mm in this grade. Below 0.4 mm we supply slit strip from coil.

Need more details on stainless steel products? Feel free to contact Walmay anytime.

Walmay will help match the right stainless product form and specification for your application, confirm quantities and packing needs, and provide requested documents based on order requirements.

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