Limestone vs Soapstone
Natural Material · grade comparison
Limestone and Soapstone are both natural material grades. Soapstone is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) against 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) for Limestone, about 100% more. Limestone is lighter (2.4 g/cm³ vs 2.95 g/cm³ for Soapstone) and Soapstone is stiffer (60 GPa vs 30 GPa). On the shop floor, Soapstone machines more easily (excellent vs very good) and Limestone sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Soapstone (standard, $$).
LimestoneChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when cost is the deciding factor.
SoapstoneChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
Limestone vs Soapstone: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Knoop
Same in both: Hardness, Mohs 3
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Melting Point (Solidus)
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Limestone | Soapstone |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Limestone vs Soapstone — frequently asked
Is Soapstone stronger than Limestone?
Yes. Soapstone has a typical tensile strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) against 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) for Limestone — about 100% more.
Which is cheaper, Limestone or Soapstone?
Limestone is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Soapstone is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Limestone or Soapstone?
Soapstone. Its machinability rates excellent (90/100) against very good (80/100) for Limestone.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Limestone and Soapstone side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.