Steel 1025
AISI/SAE 1025 · UNS G10250 · EN C25 · JIS S25C
1025 is a plain low/medium-carbon steel (~0.25 % C, 0.3–0.6 % Mn) supplied as hot-rolled, cold-drawn or cold-rolled bar, plate and sheet.
Values for the HR condition
1025 tempers and conditions
1025 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. HR is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
full anneal ~900–925 °C, slow cool | Softest, most ductile condition — choose for deep drawing, severe bending or before carburizing. | 210 | 385 | 32 | 111 HB | — |
HRDefault Hot rolled | Cheapest general-purpose stock for weldments, brackets and machined parts where tolerance and surface are not critical. | 220 | 400 | 25 | 116 HB | — |
~900 °C, air cooled | Uniform fine-grained structure with the best toughness/strength balance — used after forging, welding or heavy hot working. | 275 | 440 | 30 | 126 HB | — |
Cold rolled | Pick for sheet-metal parts needing a smooth surface, tight thickness tolerance and moderate strength increase. | 310 | 415 | 20 | 120 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Use when higher yield strength, straightness, close diameter tolerance and better machined finish are wanted on round/hex bar. | 370 | 440 | 15 | 126 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | Only for thin parts where a modest strength bump is required; 1025 has low hardenability so response is shallow and section-sensitive. | 380 | 550 | 20 | 20 HRC | 10 % IACS |
case hardened (case ~0.5–1.5 mm, quenched and low-temper) | Choose when a hard wear surface over a tough ductile core is needed — pins, bushings, light gears, cams. | 420 | 620 | 15 | 60 HRC | 10 % IACS |
What is 1025?
1025 is a plain low/medium-carbon steel (~0.25 % C, 0.3–0.6 % Mn) supplied as hot-rolled, cold-drawn or cold-rolled bar, plate and sheet. It is chosen when a cheap, weldable, easily formed general-engineering steel with somewhat higher strength than 1018/1020 is needed for shafts, pins, brackets, studs and carburized parts. It has essentially no corrosion resistance (needs paint, oil or plating), only moderate hardenability (water-quench, thin sections only) and cannot be through-hardened to high strength like 4140. 1025 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). 1025 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 1025 used for?
- Crankshafts
- Spindles
- Hydraulic cylinder bodies
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 51.9 W/m·K (30 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 90% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 86% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 77% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 220 MPa (31.9 ksi), worse than 98% of steel grades
1025 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1025-HR; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1025 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
1025 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
1025 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
1025 conducts electricity at 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1025 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1025's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. 1025 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1025
Is 1025 easy to machine?
Machines readily but is gummy in the annealed/hot-rolled state — cold drawn cuts cleanest; use positive rake, sharp tools and good coolant, or switch to 1117/1215 for heavy screw-machine work.
Can 1025 be welded?
Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/stick/resistance with ER70S-x or E7018; no preheat needed under ~25 mm section, mild preheat (100–150 °C) for thick or restrained joints.
Can 1025 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold formability in annealed or CR condition (bending, drawing, cold heading); hot works at 1100–1250 °C, and stress relieve or normalize after severe cold work.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 1025. Every 1025 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better55 / 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 | Excellent70 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent90 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
1025 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CSAE J403 / ASTM A29 | 0.22 – 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.6 | 0.45 |
| P0.040 max for some bar products | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S0.050 max for some bar products | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| SiNot specified by SAE; killed steel / GB/T 699 grade 25: 0.17-0.37 | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1025?
Must be protected — zinc/nickel plating, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, powder coat or paint; polishes fair but rusts immediately if left bare.
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 1025 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does 1025 cost?
1025 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.
1025 — frequently asked
What is 1025 used for?
1025 is typically used for crankshafts, spindles and hydraulic cylinder bodies. In short: low-carbon machining bar.
What is the yield strength of 1025?
1025 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 7 listed tempers.
Is 1025 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines readily but is gummy in the annealed/hot-rolled state — cold drawn cuts cleanest; use positive rake, sharp tools and good coolant, or switch to 1117/1215 for heavy screw-machine work.
Can 1025 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/stick/resistance with ER70S-x or E7018; no preheat needed under ~25 mm section, mild preheat (100–150 °C) for thick or restrained joints.
What surface finishes work on 1025?
Must be protected — zinc/nickel plating, phosphate-and-oil, black oxide, powder coat or paint; polishes fair but rusts immediately if left bare.
Can 1025 be formed, bent or molded?
Good cold formability in annealed or CR condition (bending, drawing, cold heading); hot works at 1100–1250 °C, and stress relieve or normalize after severe cold work.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1025?
1025 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 1025-HR and 1025-QT?
HR is the default condition — cheapest general-purpose stock for weldments, brackets and machined parts where tolerance and surface are not critical. QT: only for thin parts where a modest strength bump is required; 1025 has low hardenability so response is shallow and section-sensitive. Yield strength is 220 MPa in HR versus 380 MPa in QT.
How much does 1025 cost?
1025 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 1025?
Yes — 1025 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. 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 A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- JIS G 4051 (S25C) — JSA (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed. (machinability ratings) — Industrial Press (2020)
- MMPDS-2023 carbon-steel typical property tables — Battelle (2023)
- Mysteel / 1688 carbon bar quotations — Mysteel (2026)
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.