Comparison of 304 and 316 stainless steels for laser cutting of custom parts

304 vs 316 stainless: which one to choose?

The short answer

Choose 304 by default: it covers the majority of indoor and outdoor uses, in the widest range of thicknesses and finishes. Move to 316 as soon as the part will live around chlorides — salt air, road salt, brines, bleach wash-downs. 316 costs noticeably more than 304: pay for it when the environment justifies it, not "just in case."

Both grades are 18-8 austenitics (about 18 % chromium, 8 % nickel and up). They cut, bend and weld very similarly, are non-magnetic in the annealed state and share the same melting point (2550 °F). The whole difference comes down to one alloying element : molybdenum.

316 contains about 2 to 3 % of it, which markedly strengthens its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-rich environments. 304 contains none — it remains excellent in normal atmosphere, fresh water and everyday food service, but coastal spray and road salt will eventually pit it.

How do their properties compare?

Values drawn from our per-thickness technical sheets (annealed sheet, ASTM A240M-20a/A480M-20a standard).

Property 304 stainless 316 stainless
Ultimate tensile strength85 ksi75 ksi
Yield strength35 ksi30 ksi
Brinell hardness123149
Elongation at break50 %40–50 %
Elastic modulus29,000 ksi29,000 ksi
Thermal conductivity9.4 BTU/h-ft °F8.4 BTU/h-ft °F
Melting point2550 °F2550 °F
Magnetic (annealed)NoNo
Chloride resistanceAdequateClearly superior (molybdenum)

In practice, these mechanical gaps change nothing for the vast majority of sheet-metal parts: the stiffness (elastic modulus) is identical and both grades work-harden during forming. The deciding factor remains the environment.

304 or 316: the verdict by your use case

Use case Verdict Why
Commercial kitchen (counters, backsplashes, shelving) 304 Everyday wash-downs without aggressive chlorides; 304 in a #4 brushed finish is the trade standard.
Food processing with chlorinated sanitizers 316 Repeated bleach or brine wash-downs pit 304 over time.
Marine parts, docks, coastal equipment 316 Salt air is the textbook case for molybdenum — it's literally "marine stainless."
Roadside brackets and panels (road salt) 316 Across Canada, salt spray from November to April is the equivalent of coastal service.
Indoor railings and handrails 304 No chlorides in play; 304 #4 brushed delivers the intended look at a better cost.
Farm and dairy equipment 304, otherwise 316 304 is enough for milk and standard wash-downs; move to 316 if your protocols use concentrated chlorinated disinfectants.
Shop enclosures and machine guards 304 Dry indoor environment: the premium for 316 adds nothing.
Chemical processing, pharma, CIP zones 316 Better resistance to many acids and intensive cleaning regimes; verify your process's chemical compatibility.
Base plate or flange thicker than 1/8″ 304 By elimination: our 316 range stops at 1/8″, while 304 goes up to 1/2″.

Even 316 isn't invincible: avoid hot, stagnant chloride solutions, design so water drains and dries, and rinse salt-exposed parts regularly.

Which thicknesses and finishes are offered at Laseo?

The grade you choose also determines what's available. 304 covers twelve thicknesses, from 24 gauge (0.025″) up to 1/2″; 316 covers eight, from 24 gauge to 1/8″ (0.125″). Beyond 1/8″, then, the question no longer arises : it's 304.

304 stainless

  • Thicknesses : 24 gauge to 1/2″ (12 thicknesses)
  • Finishes : #4 brushed (24 to 11 gauge), #2B (20 gauge to 3/16″), #1 (1/4″ to 1/2″)
  • Bending : offered up to 1/4″; 3/8″ and 1/2″ are cut only
  • Cutting : fiber laser, ±0.005″ tolerance, parts up to 30″ × 44″

Full 304 stainless steel spec sheet →

316 stainless

  • Thicknesses : 24 gauge to 1/8″ (8 thicknesses)
  • Finishes : #2B (24 gauge to 1/8″), #4 brushed (18 gauge to 1/8″)
  • Bending : offered from 22 gauge to 1/8″; 24 gauge is cut only
  • Cutting : fiber laser, ±0.005″ tolerance, parts up to 30″ × 44″

Full 316 stainless steel spec sheet →

To understand the difference between the #1, #2B and #4 brushed finishes — and to know which ones are dictated by the chosen thickness — see our guide Stainless steel finishes : #1 vs #2B vs #4.

Is there a difference in fabrication?

Very little. Both grades are cut on the fiber laser with the same tolerance (±0.005″) and bend on the same press brakes — stainless work-hardens during forming and shows more springback than mild steel, regardless of grade. The exact inside radii and K-factors per thickness are in the bending guide.

Two things in common to keep in mind when designing :

In short, the 304 vs 316 decision is made on the service environment and the range of thicknesses, not on manufacturability. When in doubt about a particular environment, request a quote describing the expected exposure — we'll tell you honestly whether 316 is worth it.

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