Stainless Steel 304 vs SUS316J1L
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel 304 and SUS316J1L are both stainless steel grades. 304 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) against 545 MPa (79 ksi) for SUS316J1L, about 7% more. 304 runs hotter in service (870°C vs 500°C continuous). On the shop floor, 304 machines more easily (45 vs 35 out of 100) and 304 sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than SUS316J1L (premium, $$$).
304Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
304 vs SUS316J1L: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel 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 stainless steel 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.
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Rockwell B
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 193 GPa28 Msi · Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 250 MPa36.3 ksi · Elongation at Break 55% · Reduction in Area 70% · Compressive Strength 250 MPa36.3 ksi · Hardness, Brinell 150 HB · Hardness, Vickers 160 HV
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Density 8 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Formability (cold)
Polishability
Castability
Same in both: Weldability 88 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 65 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Water 110 L/kg13.2 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 24.1 MN·m/kg · Modulus of Resilience 162 kJ/m³ · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 304 | SUS316J1L |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| Casting & forging | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Annealed | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| AlCrN | Yes | — |
| AlTiN | Yes | — |
| Black Oxide | Yes | — |
| CVD Al2O3 | Yes | — |
| CVD TiCN | Yes | — |
| CVD TiN | Yes | — |
| Cerakote | Yes | — |
| Chrome Plating | Yes | — |
| CrN | Yes | — |
| DLC | Yes | — |
| Electropolishing | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
| MoS2 | Yes | — |
| Multilayer CVD | Yes | — |
| Nickel Plating | Yes | — |
| PTFE Coating | Yes | — |
| Painting | Yes | — |
| Passivation (Stainless Steel) | Yes | — |
They share 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
304 vs SUS316J1L — frequently asked
Is 304 stronger than SUS316J1L?
Yes. 304 has a typical tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) against 545 MPa (79 ksi) for SUS316J1L — about 7% more.
Which is cheaper, 304 or SUS316J1L?
304 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while SUS316J1L is premium ($$$). 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, 304 or SUS316J1L?
304, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 45/100 against 35/100 for SUS316J1L.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 304 and SUS316J1L 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.