Steel 1012
AISI/SAE 1012 · UNS G10120 · JIS S12C
AISI/SAE 1012 is a plain-carbon (non-resulfurized) low-carbon steel with about 0.12 % C and 0.30–0.60 % Mn, supplied mainly as hot-rolled or cold-rolled sheet/strip, coil and cold-drawn bar.
Values for the HR condition
1012 tempers and conditions
1012 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full/subcritical anneal, softest condition | Use when maximum ductility for deep drawing, severe bending or cold heading is needed, or to soften cold-worked stock. | 180 | 320 | 35 | 90 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest general form for welded structures, stampings and tube stock where surface finish and tight tolerance are not critical. | 185 | 330 | 28 | 95 HB | — |
austenitized and air cooled | Use to refine and homogenize grain structure after hot working, forging or heavy welding for uniform properties and toughness. | 195 | 345 | 32 | 100 HB | — |
Cold rolled | Choose for stamped and drawn sheet parts needing a clean bright surface, tight thickness tolerance and good paint adhesion. | 250 | 345 | 25 | 100 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for shafts, pins and cold-headed parts needing higher yield strength, straightness and a smooth ground-ready surface. | 340 | 400 | 18 | 115 HB | — |
What is 1012?
AISI/SAE 1012 is a plain-carbon (non-resulfurized) low-carbon steel with about 0.12 % C and 0.30–0.60 % Mn, supplied mainly as hot-rolled or cold-rolled sheet/strip, coil and cold-drawn bar. It is chosen for its very good cold formability, deep-drawing behaviour and excellent weldability in stamped brackets, chassis parts, tubing, chain and cold-headed fasteners. Strength is low and it cannot be through-hardened; it is also gummy to machine and has essentially no corrosion resistance, so it needs paint, zinc or phosphate coating and is usually carburized when a hard surface is required. 1012 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). 1012 has a yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1012 used for?
- Cold-formed fasteners
- Welded tube
- Stamped brackets
- Chassis and body panels
- Chain links
- Deep-drawn housings
- Carburized pins and rollers
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 96% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 185 MPa (26.8 ksi), worse than 99% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
1012 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1012-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1012 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical14
1012 has a yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1012 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1012 conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1012 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
1012's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1012 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1012
Is 1012 easy to machine?
Soft and gummy — long stringy chips and built-up edge; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant, or specify a resulfurized grade (1117/12L14) for heavy turning.
Can 1012 be welded?
Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT needed at typical sheet thicknesses; use ER70S-6/E7018 class filler.
Can 1012 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — deep drawing, roll forming, cold heading and tight bend radii; normalize or anneal between severe forming steps.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to 1012. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Good50 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.1 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 220 / 260 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Better85 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better95 / 100 |
1012 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.1 – 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Pmax per SAE J403 | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Smax per SAE J403 | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sinot specified for non-resulfurized grades; residual in semi-killed/killed steel | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1012?
No inherent corrosion resistance: zinc plate/galvanize, phosphate-and-oil, e-coat or paint; carburize and quench for a hard wear surface (58–62 HRC case).
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1012 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G10120
- JIS
- S12C
- Similar grades
- 15
How much does 1012 cost?
1012 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1012 — frequently asked
What is 1012 used for?
1012 is typically used for cold-formed fasteners, welded tube, stamped brackets, chassis and body panels, chain links and deep-drawn housings. In short: ductile; deep cold-forming.
What is the yield strength of 1012?
1012 has a typical yield strength of 185 MPa (26.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 99% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 1012 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 53% of steel grades). Soft and gummy — long stringy chips and built-up edge; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant, or specify a resulfurized grade (1117/12L14) for heavy turning.
Can 1012 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT needed at typical sheet thicknesses; use ER70S-6/E7018 class filler.
What surface finishes work on 1012?
No inherent corrosion resistance: zinc plate/galvanize, phosphate-and-oil, e-coat or paint; carburize and quench for a hard wear surface (58–62 HRC case).
Can 1012 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — deep drawing, roll forming, cold heading and tight bend radii; normalize or anneal between severe forming steps.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1012?
1012 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1012-HR and 1012-CD?
HR is the default condition — cheapest general form for welded structures, stampings and tube stock where surface finish and tight tolerance are not critical. CD: pick for shafts, pins and cold-headed parts needing higher yield strength, straightness and a smooth ground-ready surface. Yield strength is 185 MPa in HR versus 340 MPa in CD.
How much does 1012 cost?
1012 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1012?
Yes — 1012 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A1008/A1011 — Cold-Rolled and Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet — ASTM (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining (machinability ratings) — ASM International (1989)
- GB/T 699 — (10/15 comparable) — SAC (2015)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.