Steel 5CrMnMo vs 5CrNiMo
Steel · grade comparison
Steel 5CrMnMo and 5CrNiMo are both steel grades. 5CrMnMo is the stronger of the two: yield strength 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) against 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) for 5CrNiMo, about 11% more. 5CrMnMo runs hotter in service (400°C vs 300°C continuous). On the shop floor, 5CrMnMo sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than 5CrNiMo (standard, $$).
5CrMnMoChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
5CrMnMo vs 5CrNiMo: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all 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 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.
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Rockwell C
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 210 GPa30.5 Msi · Shear Modulus 81 GPa11.7 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Elongation at Break 18% · Hardness, Brinell 220 HB · Hardness, Vickers 230 HV
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Melting Point (Solidus) 1,420°C2,588 °F
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 460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 12 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Machinability 55 / 100 · Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 55% · Polishability 55 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Water 60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
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 10
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 5CrMnMo | 5CrNiMo |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Both take the same 9 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Manganese Phosphate, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating, Zinc Phosphate.
5CrMnMo vs 5CrNiMo — frequently asked
Is 5CrMnMo stronger than 5CrNiMo?
Yes. 5CrMnMo has a typical yield strength of 500 MPa (72.5 ksi) against 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) for 5CrNiMo — about 11% more. Tensile strength is 780 MPa (113 ksi) vs 760 MPa (110 ksi).
Which is cheaper, 5CrMnMo or 5CrNiMo?
5CrMnMo is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while 5CrNiMo is standard ($$). 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, 5CrMnMo or 5CrNiMo?
5CrMnMo. Its weldability rates fair (35/100) against poor (30/100) for 5CrNiMo.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 5CrMnMo and 5CrNiMo 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.