Stainless Steel 305 · finish state
Stainless Steel 305 Hot Finished
Properties of the Hot Finished condition, compared with the other 305 tempers.
Hot-rolled/hot-forged and solution-annealed 305 bar: soft, fully austenitic, non-magnetic condition supplied for further forming or machining.
What is 305 Hot Finished?
305 Hot Finished is 305 supplied in the Hot Finished condition — hot-rolled/hot-forged and solution-annealed 305 bar: soft, fully austenitic, non-magnetic condition supplied for further forming or machining. 305 Hot Finished has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 91% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 305 Hot Finished has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Hot Finished is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 92/100, better than 98% of stainless steel grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 220 MPa·√m (200.2 ksi·√in), better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 50%, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
- High service temperature — 870°C (1,598 °F), better than 82% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 250 MPa (36.3 ksi), worse than 91% of stainless steel grades
305 Hot Finished properties
Typical room-temperature values for 305 Hot Finished — 37 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 Hot Finished has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
305 Hot Finished has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 91% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 50% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
305 Hot Finished is rated for continuous service to 870°C (1,598 °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 17.3 µm/m·K (9.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
305 Hot Finished conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 55% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 305 Hot Finished takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
305 Hot Finished's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 73% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability excellent (92/100).
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 Hot Finished
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 Hot Finished — frequently asked
What is 305 Hot Finished used for?
305 Hot Finished is typically used for sinks, hollowware and spinning cones. In short: deep-drawing austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 305 Hot Finished?
305 Hot Finished has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — weaker than 91% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 305 Hot Finished easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 73% 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 Hot Finished 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 Hot Finished?
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 Hot Finished 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 Hot Finished?
305 Hot Finished is rated for continuous use to about 870°C (1,598 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 305 Hot Finished?
Yes — 305 Hot Finished 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.