Stainless Steel E316H vs ER308
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel E316H and ER308 are both stainless steel grades. E316H is the stronger of the two: yield strength 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for ER308, about 6% more. On the shop floor, ER308 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than E316H (high, $$$$).
E316HChoose it when strength drives the design.
ER308Choose it when cost is the deciding factor.
E316H vs ER308: 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
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Compressive Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Same in both: Shear Modulus 77 GPa11.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.3 · Shear Strength 400 MPa58 ksi · Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit) 240 MPa34.8 ksi · Hardness, Brinell 185 HB · Hardness, Rockwell B 90 HRB · Hardness, Vickers 195 HV
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 15.5 W/m·K9 BTU/hr·ft·°F · 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 Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 38 / 100 · Formability (cold) 55 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 60 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 57 MJ/kg24,506 BTU/lb · Embodied Water 130 L/kg15.6 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 3.9 mm²/s · 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 | E316H | ER308 |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Both take the same 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
E316H vs ER308 — frequently asked
Is E316H stronger than ER308?
Yes. E316H has a typical yield strength of 425 MPa (61.6 ksi) against 400 MPa (58 ksi) for ER308 — about 6% more. Tensile strength is 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) vs 600 MPa (87 ksi).
Which is cheaper, E316H or ER308?
ER308 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while E316H is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which welds better, E316H or ER308?
ER308. Its weldability rates excellent (95/100) against excellent (90/100) for E316H.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E316H and ER308 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.