304 Stainless Steel Coil: Price, Sizes & Supplier Guide

304 stainless steel coil: A Practical Buying Guide

Looking for a reliable 304 stainless steel coil 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 coil.

Why Choose 304 Stainless Steel Coil

304 stainless steel coil is the workhorse austenitic grade – the classic 18/8 chromium-nickel alloy. With roughly 18% chromium and 8-10.5% nickel it delivers the best all-round balance of corrosion resistance, formability and weldability at the lowest price of the mainstream grades. For anything that is not exposed to chlorides or strong chemicals, 304 coil is the most economical choice and the volume leader in every stainless market.

Because it is non-hardenable by heat treatment and work-hardens only moderately, 304 coil deep-draws, spins and bends cleanly, which is why it dominates appliance bodies, kitchenware and architectural cladding. Where pitting from salt is a risk, step up to 316; where budget is the constraint and finish matters, 430 ferritic is the cheaper cousin.

Specifications, Sizes & Surface Finish

We stock 304 (UNS S30400) coil to ASTM A240 / A480 and JIS G4305. Thickness runs from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm, width from 500 mm to 1500 mm, in coil weights of 3-8 tons.

• Finish: 2B (standard), BA bright annealed, No.4 brushed, 8K mirror, hairline
• Temper: annealed / soft for deep forming, or 1/2H-3/4H for structural panels
• Edge: mill edge or slit (deburred) edge
• Protection: PVC film (single or double side) to guard the surface in transit and fabrication

Typical properties: tensile 515 MPa minimum, yield 205 MPa minimum, elongation 40% minimum, hardness HRB 92 maximum. Chemistry: Cr 18.0-20.0%, Ni 8.0-10.5%, C 0.08% max.

304 Stainless Steel Coil Price Factors

The 304 stainless steel coil price per kg is set by two commodity inputs: nickel (8-10.5%) and chromium/ferro-chrome. Nickel is the volatile one and LME movement passes straight through to the base price, so quotes are typically valid for a short window.

• Gauge: thin stock below 0.5 mm adds rolling passes and cost
• Finish: BA and 8K mirror add polishing over standard 2B; hairline / No.4 add brushing
• Width: narrow slit coils carry a slitting premium; very wide coils need special mills
• Quantity: full-coil orders unlock mill-direct pricing versus cut-to-length sheets

If your part never sees chlorides, ask us to quote 430 alongside 304 – the nickel-free grade is often 30-40% cheaper per kg for the same look.

Common Applications

304 coil is everywhere: kitchen sinks, cookware and food-processing surfaces, refrigerator and dishwasher panels, range hoods, indoor architectural cladding and column covers, HVAC ducting, automotive trim, chemical and water-tank shells, roofing and façade panels, and general fabrications from brackets to enclosures.

How to Choose a Reliable Supplier

With 304 the two failure modes are wrong chemistry and inconsistent finish. Confirm on the mill certificate that chromium lands in 18.0-20.0% and nickel in 8.0-10.5%, and that carbon is at or below 0.08%. For visible parts, request a physical finish sample from the same coil batch, because 2B gloss varies between mills.

A credible 304 stainless steel coil supplier sends both the certificate and the sample before you commit. Huaxiao Stainless carries 100,000 tons in stock, ships in 15 days, and works to ISO/TS16949, which matters if your coil feeds an appliance or automotive production line.

Frequently Asked Questions About 304 stainless steel coil

Get a Quote for 304 stainless steel coil

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