Which is better, 304 or 316 stainless steel?

2025-02-12

304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel which is better?
In daily life and industrial production, stainless steel is widely used because of its excellent corrosion resistance and beautiful appearance. Among them, 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel are the two most common types. Many people will have questions when choosing materials: 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel, which is better? This article will analyze the characteristics of these two kinds of stainless steel in detail from the aspects of composition, performance, application scenarios and price to help you make a more informed choice.

Features of 304 stainless steel
1. Excellent corrosion resistance
304 stainless steel shows good corrosion resistance in most environments, especially in dry indoor environments.
2. Good processing performance
Due to its good ductility and plasticity, 304 stainless steel is very suitable for cold working and welding, and is the ideal material for manufacturing a variety of products.
3. Affordable
Compared with 316 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel has a lower price, so it is widely used in many non-extreme environments.
4. Widely used
304 stainless steel is often used in tableware, kitchen utensils, building decoration materials and medical equipment and other fields.

316 stainless steel features
1. Stronger corrosion resistance
The addition of molybdenum significantly improves the corrosion resistance of 316 stainless steel in high temperature, high humidity, salt, acid and other harsh environments. For example, in Marine environments or chemical plants, 316 stainless steel performs better.
2. Better high temperature resistance
316 stainless steel can still maintain its strength and oxidation resistance in high temperature environments, so it is often used in high temperature equipment manufacturing.
3. Preferred materials for specific fields
Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, 316 stainless steel is often used in ships, chemical equipment, pharmaceutical equipment and the food industry.
4. Higher prices
Due to the addition of molybdenum, the production cost of 316 stainless steel is higher, so the price is more expensive than 304 stainless steel.

Comparison of the two

Features	304 stainless steel	316 stainless steel
Composition	18% chromium and 8% nickel	16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2%-3% molybdenum
Corrosion resistance	performs well in general environment	performs better in harsh environments
High temperature resistance	better	better
The price	lower	higher
Common applications	tableware, household appliances, architectural decoration	Marine equipment, chemical equipment, medical equipment

How to choose?
1. Select according to the use environment
If your use environment is more ordinary, such as interior decoration or kitchen supplies, then choose the affordable 304 stainless steel can meet the needs. But if it is in the seaside, chemical plants or other corrosive environment, 316 stainless steel will be a better choice.
2. Consider your budget
If the budget is limited, you can prioritize 304 stainless steel. However, if the material performance requirements are high and the budget is sufficient, 316 stainless steel is undoubtedly a better choice.
3. Focus on application scenarios
For areas where strict hygiene standards are required, such as food processing or medical equipment, 316 stainless steel is widely adopted due to its stronger corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties.