304 Stainless Steel Plate: Thickness, Weight & Supplier Guide

304 stainless steel plate: A Practical Buying Guide

Looking for a reliable 304 stainless steel plate supplier? Huaxiao Stainless keeps 100,000 tons of inventory, ships in 15 days, and is certified to ISO/TS16949. Before you request a quote, here is what actually matters when specifying and sourcing 304 stainless steel plate.

Why Choose 304 Stainless Steel Plate

304 stainless steel plate is the thick-section workhorse of corrosion-resistant fabrication. Where 304 sheet handles light enclosures and cladding, plate – generally 3 mm and thicker, up to 100 mm plus – carries the load-bearing and structural roles: base plates, flanges, pressure-vessel heads, tank bottoms and machine frames. The 18/8 chemistry (18% chromium, 8% nickel) delivers broad corrosion resistance in most atmospheric and mild-chemical environments, while low-carbon 304L avoids weld sensitization so fabricated assemblies keep their edge integrity.

For any part that must both bear weight and resist rust without painting, 304 plate is usually the first material specifiers reach for – and it is also one of the cheapest austenitic grades to machine and weld.

Specifications, Thickness & Sizes

We supply 304 and 304L plate to ASTM A240 / A480 and EN 10028-7. Thickness runs from 3 mm to 120 mm (with 6-50 mm as the most common stock range), width up to 2000-2500 mm, and length 6000 mm standard, extendable to 12000 mm or cut to your drawing.

• Weight rule: kg per plate = thickness(mm) x width(m) x length(m) x 7.93 (the density of 304). A 10 mm x 1.5 m x 6 m plate is about 715 kg.
• Finish: NO.1 mill finish, 2B, BA, or pickled and oiled
• Cutting: plasma, waterjet or laser; bevelling and CNC profiling available
• Testing: UT per A578 for thick sections, PMI and hydrostatic as required

Every plate ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate covering chemistry and mechanicals.

304 Stainless Steel Plate Price Factors

The 304 stainless steel plate price per kg is set by the nickel and ferro-chrome market plus a thickness premium – heavier gauge costs more to roll. 304L typically prices a touch above 304 because of tighter carbon control.

• Thickness: plates above 50 mm carry a heavy-rolling surcharge
• Width and length: wide or extra-long plates add mill scheduling cost
• Finish: BA and mirror add polishing; NO.1 is the cheapest
• Cutting: cut-to-size and bevelling are priced per cut, not per kg

Send us the exact dimensions and quantity and we will quote landed weight, not just a generic per-kg number.

Common Applications

304 plate goes into chemical and food tanks, pressure vessels, heat-exchanger channels, structural frames and brackets, marine cleats, brewery and pharmaceutical equipment, and the backing structure behind architectural stainless cladding. Anywhere a part must carry load and stay corrosion-free, plate is the answer.

How to Choose a Reliable Supplier

For plate the three checks are chemistry, flatness and traceability. Confirm the chromium (18.0-20.0%) and nickel (8.0-10.5%) range on the mill cert, ask for a flatness tolerance per A480, and request UT reports on any plate above 20 mm that sees pressure. A dependable 304 stainless steel plate supplier provides all three without hesitation.

Huaxiao Stainless holds 100,000 tons of stainless inventory, dispatches within 15 days, and operates under ISO/TS16949 quality control with full heat traceability from mill to your dock.

Frequently Asked Questions About 304 stainless steel plate

Get a Quote for 304 stainless steel plate

304 stainless steel plate in stock: 100,000 tons available, 15-day delivery, certified to ISO/TS16949. Browse our 304 stainless steel plate product page or contact us for a quote to get a competitive price today.