Stainless Steel E316LMn vs ER308
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel E316LMn and ER308 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. E316LMn is harder — 200 HB against 185 HB for ER308 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. ER308 runs hotter in service (760°C vs 450°C continuous) and ER308 conducts electricity better (2.4 % IACS vs 2 % IACS). On the shop floor, ER308 welds better (excellent vs very good) and ER308 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than E316LMn (high, $$$$).
E316LMnChoose it when surface hardness matters.
ER308Choose it when the part sees heat, or when it will be welded.
E316LMn 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
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Rockwell C
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 400 MPa58 ksi · Compressive Strength 400 MPa58 ksi · Shear Strength 400 MPa58 ksi · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 150 MPa·√m137 ksi·√in · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 90 J66.4 ft·lbf
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Density 7.9 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)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
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.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Carbon (primary production) 5 kg CO₂/kg
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: 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 | E316LMn | 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.
E316LMn vs ER308 — frequently asked
What is the difference between E316LMn and ER308?
Stainless Steel E316LMn and ER308 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. E316LMn is harder — 200 HB against 185 HB for ER308 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads.
Which is cheaper, E316LMn or ER308?
ER308 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while E316LMn is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, E316LMn or ER308?
ER308. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (30/100) for E316LMn; for welding the order is ER308 first (excellent, 95/100) then E316LMn (very good, 82/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E316LMn 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.