SUS316 Sheet, Plate, and Coil Specifications: Thickness, Width, and Weight

SUS316 Sheet, Plate and Coil: Definitions

SUS316 is the Japanese industrial standard designation for a molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel whose corrosion resistance is significantly enhanced by 2.00 to 3.00 percent molybdenum. The material is processed into sheet, plate and coil, with thickness and width selected according to the application. Typical uses include chemical equipment, seawater and salt-spray environments, food and pharmaceutical plant, heat exchangers, storage tanks, pipelines and reaction vessels, and building decoration. Sheet and plate requirements follow ASTM A240/ASME SA240 with Japanese designation JIS G4304 for plate and G4305 for sheet and strip; the Chinese equivalent is 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 under GB/T 3280 and GB/T 20878.

Equivalent Grades and Chemical Composition

The table below maps the 316 family across the principal national systems, followed by composition limits per ASTM A240 for plate and sheet.

Grade	UNS	Old British BS	EN Number	EN Name	Swedish SS	JIS
316	S31600	316S31	1.4401	X5CrNiMo17-12-2	2347	SUS316
316L	S31603	316S11	1.4404	X2CrNiMo17-12-2	2348	SUS316L
316H	S31609	316S51	-	-	-	-

Element	316 S31600	316L S31603
Carbon, max	0.08	0.030
Manganese, max	2.00	2.00
Phosphorus, max	0.045	0.045
Sulfur, max	0.030	0.030
Silicon, max	0.75	0.75
Chromium	16.0-18.0	16.0-18.0
Nickel	10.0-14.0	10.0-14.0
Molybdenum	2.0-3.0	2.0-3.0
Nitrogen, max	0.10	0.10

Mechanical Properties per ASTM A240

Minimum annealed mechanical properties are listed below. Note that the comparison is between 316 and its low-carbon twin 316L; the 316L values are 485 MPa tensile and 170 MPa yield, not those of 304L.

Property	316 S31600	316L S31603
Tensile strength, min	515 MPa	485 MPa
Yield strength, min 0.2 percent offset	205 MPa	170 MPa
Elongation, min	40 percent	40 percent
Hardness, max	95 HRB	95 HRB

Dimensional Range and Surface Finishes

SUS316 sheet, plate and coil are commonly supplied with thickness from 4 to 100 mm, widths of 1000 to 3500 mm, and standard lengths of 2440, 6000 mm or as required. Typical mill finishes are NO.1 hot-rolled annealed and pickled, 2B cold-rolled, BA bright annealed and No.4 brushed. Dimensional tolerances for plate are verified against ASTM A480, including thickness, width, length, camber and flatness limits. For example, the ASME SA240 strip tolerance table applies plus tolerances that increase with plate thickness while the minus tolerance is normally 0.010 inch.

Weight Calculation and Tolerances

The density of SUS316 is approximately 7.99 g/cm3, or 7990 kg/m3. Weight per unit area in kilograms per square metre equals thickness in millimetres multiplied by 7.99. A 2 mm plate therefore weighs about 15.98 kg/m2 and a 10 mm plate about 79.9 kg/m2. For a rectangular plate, total weight is thickness times width times length times density. These figures are used for estimating and logistics; actual weights follow the mill certificate.

Thickness, mm	Weight, kg/m2
1.0	7.99
2.0	15.98
4.0	31.96
6.0	47.94
10.0	79.90

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between SUS316 sheet and plate?
The distinction is thickness and, in some standards, width. Plate is the thicker product, generally above 4.75 mm in ASTM terminology, while sheet is thinner; JIS G4304 covers plate and G4305 covers sheet and strip.

Q2. How do I calculate SUS316 plate weight?
Multiply thickness in millimetres by 7.99 to get kg per square metre, then multiply by the plate area in square metres.

Q3. What is SUS316 equivalent to in Europe?
EN 1.4401, name X5CrNiMo17-12-2, with Swedish SS 2347; the low-carbon version is EN 1.4404, X2CrNiMo17-12-2, SS 2348.

Q4. Which surface finish should I specify?
NO.1 for hot-rolled industrial plate, 2B for general fabrication, BA for bright decorative use, and No.4 for brushed architectural panels; electropolishing is available for the smoothest surfaces.

Q5. What thickness tolerances apply?
Tolerances follow ASTM A480; thickness plus-tolerance increases with nominal thickness and width, while the minus side is normally 0.010 inch for plate.

Q6. Is 316L the same as 304L?
No. Both are low-carbon austenitic grades, but 316L contains 2.0 to 3.0 percent molybdenum and has superior chloride corrosion resistance; the mechanical property tables must not be mixed.