Stainless Steel 305 Cold Drawn vs 305 Full Hard
Stainless Steel · 305 temper comparison
305 Cold Drawn and 305 Full Hard are two conditions of the same stainless steel grade, 305: Cold Drawn versus Full Hard. The chemistry is identical, so every difference below comes from the condition. 305 Full Hard is the stronger of the two: yield strength 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) against 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) for 305 Cold Drawn, about 133% more; tensile strength follows at 1,275 MPa (185 ksi) vs 655 MPa (95 ksi). In exchange, 305 Cold Drawn is the more ductile: elongation 32% versus 8% for 305 Full Hard, and 305 Full Hard is harder (360 HB vs 200 HB). 305 Cold Drawn runs hotter in service (760°C vs 300°C continuous). On the shop floor, 305 Cold Drawn welds better (very good vs good).
305 Cold DrawnChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
305 Full HardChoose it when strength drives the design.
305 Cold Drawn vs 305 Full Hard: 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.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Same in both: Melting Point (Solidus) 1,400°C2,552 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,450°C2,642 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 16.2 W/m·K9.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F · Latent Heat of Fusion 285 J/g123 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Same in both: Electrical Conductivity 2.4 % IACS · Electrical Resistivity 7.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m28.3 µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.08 V
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 45 / 100 · Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 50% · Castability 40 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 60%
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.
305 Cold Drawn vs 305 Full Hard — frequently asked
Is 305 Full Hard stronger than 305 Cold Drawn?
Yes. 305 Full Hard has a typical yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) against 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) for 305 Cold Drawn — about 133% more. Tensile strength is 1,275 MPa (185 ksi) vs 655 MPa (95 ksi).
Which condition does FabDigit quote by default, Cold Drawn or Full Hard?
Annealed is the default 305 condition in the FabDigit quote flow (neither Cold Drawn nor Full Hard). The other condition is available on request or by drawing note — specify it in the material field or the part notes and the quote is priced for it.
Which welds better, 305 Cold Drawn or 305 Full Hard?
305 Cold Drawn. Its weldability rates very good (75/100) against good (55/100) for 305 Full Hard.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 305 Cold Drawn and 305 Full Hard 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.