Stainless Steel ER308H vs ER385
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel ER308H and ER385 are both stainless steel grades. ER308H is the stronger of the two: yield strength 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) against 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) for ER385, about 6% more. ER385 is harder — 195 HB against 175 HB for ER308H — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. ER308H runs hotter in service (800°C vs 400°C continuous) and ER308H conducts heat better (16.2 W/m·K vs 11.5 W/m·K). On the shop floor, ER308H machines more easily (fair vs poor), ER385 forms better (very good vs good), and ER308H sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than ER385 (high, $$$$).
ER308HChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
ER385Choose it when surface hardness matters.
ER308H vs ER385: 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
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Compressive Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Elongation at Break 38% · Reduction in Area 55% · Shear Strength 400 MPa58 ksi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
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)
Same in both: Latent Heat of Fusion 285 J/g123 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °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) -0.05 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 Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 75 kN·m/kg
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 | ER308H | ER385 |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Both take the same 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.
ER308H vs ER385 — frequently asked
Is ER308H stronger than ER385?
Yes. ER308H has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) against 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) for ER385 — about 6% more. Tensile strength is 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) vs 600 MPa (87 ksi).
Which is cheaper, ER308H or ER385?
ER308H is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while ER385 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, ER308H or ER385?
ER308H. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (28/100) for ER385; for welding the order is ER308H first (excellent, 88/100) then ER385 (very good, 80/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in ER308H and ER385 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.