304 vs 316 Stainless Steel - What's the Difference?

There are more than 60 grades of stainless steel. Stainless steel is essentially low-carbon steel that contains chromium of 10% or more by weight. It is the addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion-resisting properties. Austenitic 304 and 316 stainless steels are considered surgical or medical-grade stainless steels, they are the most common stainless steels. The key difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel that makes them different is the addition of molybdenum, an alloy that drastically enhances corrosion resistance, especially for more saline or chloride-exposed environments. 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, but 304 does not.

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Both of these 300-grade steels are known for their excellent welding and forming properties, which give them applications across many industries. These alloys cannot be hardened by heat treatment, but they can develop high strength by cold working.

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel

In pharmaceutical, power generation and chemical process applications, austenitic stainless steels like 304 are typically the first choice. Molybdenum is mainly used for added corrosion resistance in 316, make it ideal for more acidic environments. Certain critical petroleum, chemical processes and marine applications with corrosive chloride gas require the improved pitting and crevice corrosion resistance of 316 molybdenum-modified stainless steels.

300 Series Austenitic &#; Typical Grade: 304 Chromium (17-25%); nonmagnetic, not heat treatable. Can develop high strength by cold working. Molybdenum (up to 7%) can increase corrosion resistance &#; especially pitting and crevice corrosion resistance.

Typical Use: Food & beverage, cryogenic, chemical process, medical (hypodermic needles, implants, stents), instrumentation/chromatography tubing, oil & gas, hydraulic tubing and marine applications. Super austenitic grades (high nickel) extend performance for applications requiring extreme corrosion & oxidation/scaling resistance or higher strengths.

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Cost analysis

Another difference between the 304 and 316 is the cost of the material. When made into fasteners, the 304 SS tends to be more affordable. For this reason, 304 SS products are more popular among consumers. It meets standard corrosion requirements at a lower cost than the higher grade material.  Alternatively, 316 SS fasteners tend to be used by contractors who operate in highly corrosive environments in order to prevent stress corrosion cracking. 

Other stainless steel grades

304 and 316 stainless steel fasteners are not the only material options available for consumers. While the 300 series offers superior corrosion resistance, the 400 series provides an elevated hardness. For example, 410 SS has a low alloy content, meaning that there are fewer materials added to its composition, resulting in a higher carbon content. This increased amount of carbon gives the 400 series of stainless steels increased strength characteristics as well as better performance at elevated temperatures while still maintaining some corrosive resistance. Due to the lower alloy content in the 400 series of stainless steel, fasteners made from this material tend to cost less than the 300 series parts.

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Material selection guide

Review the tables below to learn more about 304, 316 and other popular SS grades to determine the optimal choice for your upcoming project.

Environmental Conditions

The following chart describes the environmental conditions in which certain grades of stainless steel are appropriate. All environmental conditions are based on EN ISO Exposure Categories. Results based on SFS internal testing and supplemented by The Nickel Institute, "Design Guidelines for the Selection and Use of Stainless Steel" (Released by AISI).

Environmental condition explanation

Environmental grades are taken from ISO . They do not describe specific quantitative criteria for pollution levels, but are instead meant to be standard guidelines for generalized environmental conditions.

Material connections

The following chart describes the situations in which a fastener of a particular material can be installed into a surface of a particular material. The information from this chart is derived from the MCA technical document, "Fastener Compatibility with Profiled Metal Roof and Wall Panels". 

SFS product lines

SFS offers multiple products that utilize the corrosive resistant properties of 304 stainless steel. Popular examples include the Bi-Met 300® series curtain wall screws series or in the stainless self-tappers. In addition, many of our cladding fasteners for rainscreen systems and panel screws are offered with both 304 and 316 to accommodate a diverse range of environments, including highly corrosive conditions. 

We welcome you to explore our extensive range of fasteners to find the best fit for the intended application, climate, and budget. Call 1 800 234 . Our team is ready to answer all your questions and help place your order.  

Summary of 304 vs 316 Stainless Steel

Stainless steel fasteners can offer a wide variety of strength and corrosion-resistant properties to meet your requirements. Each grade of stainless steel will have different properties and provide advantages in particular environments. It is important for contractors to choose the correct material for their fasteners based on their job site environment. This document serves as a tool to help effectively make the correct fastener selection based on your needs.

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