Steel E260
EN E260
E260 is a non-alloy low-carbon steel to EN 10305 (1.0220) used for cold-sized and welded precision tube.
Reference datasheet — E260 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
E260 tempers and conditions
E260 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed then lightly cold worked | Choose for tubes that must be bent, flared or end-formed after delivery while keeping good dimensional accuracy. | 275 | 380 | 20 | 118 HB | 10.8 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Use where residual stress from cold sizing would cause distortion during machining or subsequent welding, with only a small strength loss. | 290 | 400 | 15 | 126 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
Cold drawn | Cold-drawn precision tube variant when maximum strength, straightness and surface finish are wanted and bending is limited. | 380 | 470 | 8 | 150 HB | 10.3 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways E260 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
+CR1Default | Welded and cold sized | Surface finish |
+CR2 | Heat treated before the final cold sizing pass | Surface finish |
What is E260?
E260 is a non-alloy low-carbon steel to EN 10305 (1.0220) used for cold-sized and welded precision tube. It offers higher strength than E220 while keeping useful formability, with about 300 MPa yield, 410 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation, 130 HB and 73 HRB in the cold-worked default condition, and is supplied in +CR1, +CR2, +SR, +C and +LC. The steel has no corrosion resistance and the cold-worked strength is lost locally in weld heat-affected zones. E275 or E315 are the next steps when more strength is required. E260 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F). E260 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is E260 used for?
- precision steel tubing
- cylinder tubes
- structural tube components
- automotive tubing
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.5 % IACS, better than 89% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 68/100, better than 83% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), worse than 86% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 12%, worse than 84% of steel grades
E260 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
E260 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,495°C (2,723 °F).
Mechanical16
E260 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
E260 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
E260 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 E260 takes about 28 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
E260's machinability is good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (68/100).
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. E260 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with E260
Is E260 easy to machine?
Machines like ordinary low-carbon steel — gummy chips and built-up edge; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant, or specify a resulfurized grade if heavy turning is planned.
Can E260 be welded?
Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/resistance/laser with CEV around 0.30; no preheat for typical tube walls, and the cold-worked strength is locally lost in the HAZ.
Can E260 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, flares, expands and end-forms well in the +CR2/+LC conditions; keep bend radii ≥ 2–3 × D in the harder +CR1/+C tempers to avoid seam cracking.
E260 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccast/ladle analysis limit for the non-alloy EN 10305 tube grades | ≤ 0.17 | 0.12 |
| Si | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.2 | 0.7 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Febalance, residual elements per EN 10305 | balance |
What surface finishes work on E260?
No anodizing; protect with oiling, zinc phosphate, electro/hot-dip zinc, e-coat or powder paint — bare tube rusts within days in humid storage.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel E260 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 1.0220
How much does E260 cost?
E260 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
E260 — frequently asked
What is E260 used for?
E260 is typically used for precision steel tubing, cylinder tubes, structural tube components and automotive tubing. In short: mid-strength precision tube steel; weldable cold-sized tube; stronger than E220.
What is the yield strength of E260?
E260 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is E260 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades). Machines like ordinary low-carbon steel — gummy chips and built-up edge; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and generous coolant, or specify a resulfurized grade if heavy turning is planned.
Can E260 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent weldability by MIG/TIG/resistance/laser with CEV around 0.30; no preheat for typical tube walls, and the cold-worked strength is locally lost in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on E260?
No anodizing; protect with oiling, zinc phosphate, electro/hot-dip zinc, e-coat or powder paint — bare tube rusts within days in humid storage.
Can E260 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bends, flares, expands and end-forms well in the +CR2/+LC conditions; keep bend radii ≥ 2–3 × D in the harder +CR1/+C tempers to avoid seam cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of E260?
E260 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does E260 cost?
E260 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% 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.
Sources
- EN 10305-3 Steel tubes for precision applications — Welded cold sized tubes — CEN (2016)
- EN 10305-1 / -2 Steel tubes for precision applications — Seamless and welded cold drawn tubes — CEN (2016)
- EN 10027-2 Numerical designation system for steels (material number 1.0220) — CEN (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- worldsteel Life Cycle Inventory — steel tube — 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.