Steel 1018
AISI/SAE 1018 · UNS G10180 · EN 1.0453, C15 · JIS S15C · GB 15
1018 is a plain low-carbon (0.15–0.20 % C) manganese steel sold mainly as hot-rolled and cold-drawn bar, and as cold-rolled sheet; it is the default general-purpose 'mild steel' for shafts, pins, brackets, machined parts and weldments.
Values for the HR condition
1018 tempers and conditions
1018 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full/subcritical anneal (~870 °C, slow cool) | Pick for maximum ductility before deep drawing, severe bending or heavy cold forming, and to remove cold-work stresses. | 215 | 385 | 33 | 111 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest form; pick for weldments, brackets and parts machined all over where scale and loose tolerance are acceptable. | 220 | 400 | 25 | 116 HB | — |
case hardened, 58–62 HRC case | Pick when a wear-resistant hard skin over a tough low-carbon core is needed — gear teeth, bushings, cam followers, pins. | 330 | 500 | 15 | 60 HRC | — |
Cold rolled | Pick for stamped, bent or laser-cut sheet parts needing a clean, scale-free surface ready for paint or plating. | 340 | 440 | 18 | 126 HB | 10.8 % IACS |
~925 °C, air cooled | Pick for uniform fine-grain structure, better toughness and dimensional stability after welding, forging or heavy machining. | 340 | 440 | 32 | 126 HB | — |
Cold drawn | Pick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment. | 370 | 440 | 15 | 126 HB | — |
What is 1018?
1018 is a plain low-carbon (0.15–0.20 % C) manganese steel sold mainly as hot-rolled and cold-drawn bar, and as cold-rolled sheet; it is the default general-purpose 'mild steel' for shafts, pins, brackets, machined parts and weldments. It is chosen for low cost, easy machining, excellent weldability and good cold formability, and it case-hardens well by carburizing. Limits are low strength in the as-supplied state (it cannot be through-hardened usefully), poor corrosion resistance requiring paint/plating, and loss of notch toughness well below room temperature. 1018 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). 1018 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — weaker than 98% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is 1018 used for?
- Motor shafts
- Tie rods
- Machined pins, spacers and bushings
- Weldment brackets and base plates
- Carburized gears and cam followers
- Keyed drive shafts
- Fixture and jig plates
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 — 220 MPa (31.9 ksi), worse than 98% of steel grades
1018 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1018-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1018 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
1018 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — weaker than 98% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
1018 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 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1018 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 1018 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1018's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% 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. 1018 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1018
Is 1018 easy to machine?
Machines easily but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tools, high speed and generous coolant; cold-drawn stock gives better finish and chip control than hot-rolled.
Can 1018 be welded?
Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT for thin sections; use E7018/ER70S-6 and preheat ~100 °C only in heavy restrained joints.
Can 1018 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — bends, roll-forms and stamps readily in annealed/HR condition; cold-drawn bar has lower ductility and may need stress relief before heavy bending.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to 1018. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better58 / 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 / 0.8 µm |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Better85 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent95 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
| Minimum bend radius | 1× thickness |
| Sheet thickness range | 3 – 12 mm |
| Spring-back | Moderate |
| Welding processes | MIG, TIG, SPOT, SEAM, LASER, STICK |
1018 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 | 0.15 – 0.2 | 0.18 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Sinot specified in AISI/SAE 1018 bar; 0.15–0.35 typical for killed steel | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1018?
Must be protected: zinc/nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate, e-coat or paint; carburize or nitrocarburize for wear surfaces (anodizing not applicable).
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 1018 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 1018 cost?
1018 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 99% 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.
1018 — frequently asked
What is 1018 used for?
1018 is typically used for motor shafts, tie rods, machined pins, spacers and bushings, weldment brackets and base plates, carburized gears and cam followers and keyed drive shafts. In short: the standard machining steel.
What is the yield strength of 1018?
1018 has a typical yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — weaker than 98% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 1018 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machines easily but gummy — use positive rake, sharp tools, high speed and generous coolant; cold-drawn stock gives better finish and chip control than hot-rolled.
Can 1018 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent weldability by all arc, resistance and gas processes with no preheat or PWHT for thin sections; use E7018/ER70S-6 and preheat ~100 °C only in heavy restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on 1018?
Must be protected: zinc/nickel plating, black oxide, manganese phosphate, e-coat or paint; carburize or nitrocarburize for wear surfaces (anodizing not applicable).
Can 1018 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability — bends, roll-forms and stamps readily in annealed/HR condition; cold-drawn bar has lower ductility and may need stress relief before heavy bending.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1018?
1018 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 1018-HR and 1018-CD?
HR is the default condition — cheapest form; pick for weldments, brackets and parts machined all over where scale and loose tolerance are acceptable. CD: pick for shafts, pins and as-supplied-diameter parts needing tight tolerance, straightness and higher yield without heat treatment. Yield strength is 220 MPa in HR versus 370 MPa in CD.
How much does 1018 cost?
1018 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 99% 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 1018?
Yes — 1018 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
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- GB/T 699 (15/20 grades) — SAC (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. — Industrial Press (2020)
- worldsteel LCI data for steel products — World Steel Association (2023)
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.