Stainless Steel 305 · temper · default condition
Stainless Steel 305 Annealed
Properties of the Annealed condition, compared with the other 305 tempers.
Default stock condition for sheet, plate, coil and cold-heading wire; maximum ductility for drawing, spinning and multi-blow heading.
What is 305 Annealed?
305 Annealed is 305 in the Annealed temper — default stock condition for sheet, plate, coil and cold-heading wire; maximum ductility for drawing, spinning and multi-blow heading. 305 Annealed has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 305 Annealed has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of stainless steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 220 MPa·√m (200.2 ksi·√in), better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 50%, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 6.2 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Low strength — 260 MPa (37.7 ksi), worse than 84% of stainless steel grades
305 Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for 305 Annealed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 305 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
305 Annealed has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
305 Annealed has a yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
305 Annealed is rated for continuous service to 760°C (1,400 °F). It conducts heat at 16.2 W/m·K (9.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 17.2 µm/m·K (9.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
305 Annealed conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), better than 58% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 305 Annealed takes about 82 MJ of energy and emits 6.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 90% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
305 Annealed's machinability is fair (38/100, better than 63% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 305 tempers and conditions
305 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 305 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for sheet, plate, coil and cold-heading wire; maximum ductility for drawing, spinning and multi-blow heading.260 MPa yield · 150 HB
- Cold DrawnPick for straight bar and wire needing better surface, tighter tolerance and modest strength gain while keeping heading ductility.430 MPa yield · 200 HB
- Hot FinishedHot-rolled/hot-forged and solution-annealed 305 bar: soft, fully austenitic, non-magnetic condition supplied for further forming or machining.250 MPa yield · 150 HB
Working with 305 Annealed
Is 305 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305 be welded?
Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
Can 305 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What surface finishes work on 305?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
305 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A240/A276 | ≤ 0.12 | 0.06 |
| SiEN 1.4303 allows ≤1.00 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Nihigh Ni stabilises austenite, lowers n-value | 10.5 – 13 | 11.75 |
| NEN 1.4303 limit | ≤ 0.1 | 0.04 |
| Fe | balance | — |
305 Annealed — frequently asked
What is 305 Annealed used for?
305 Annealed is typically used for sinks, hollowware and spinning cones. In short: deep-drawing austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 305 Annealed?
305 Annealed has a typical yield strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) — weaker than 84% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 305 Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, better than 63% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305 Annealed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
What surface finishes work on 305 Annealed?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
Can 305 Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What is the maximum service temperature of 305 Annealed?
305 Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 760°C (1,400 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 305 Annealed?
Yes — 305 Annealed is available for sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Cr and Cr-Ni stainless plate, sheet and strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless steel bars and shapes — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 — Stainless steels, grade 1.4303 — CEN (2014)
- JIS G 4305 / G 4303 — SUS305 — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Austenitic cold-heading grade 305 wire data — Sandvik / Outokumpu (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.