304L Stainless Steel Plate: Sizes, Price & Supplier Guide

304L stainless steel plate: A Practical Buying Guide

Looking for a reliable 304L 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 304L stainless steel plate.

Why Choose 304L Stainless Steel Plate

304L stainless steel plate is the low-carbon (0.030% max) version of 304, designed for heavy welded fabrications. In thick sections, welding can heat the heat-affected zone enough to precipitate chromium carbides at the grain boundaries – a problem called sensitization that destroys corrosion resistance. The L grade lower carbon eliminates this risk, so tanks, vessels and structural assemblies can be welded without post-weld annealing. You get the same 18-8 corrosion resistance and formability as 304, with weldability that suits large, heavily-welded parts.

For plate thicker than about 6 mm that will be welded, 304L is the standard engineering choice over 304.

Specifications, Sizes & Surface Condition

We supply 304L (UNS S30403) plate to ASTM A240 and EN 10028-7. Thickness runs from 3 mm to 100 mm and beyond, in widths up to 2000-2500 mm and lengths of 6000 mm or cut to your drawing.

• Finish: No.1 (hot-rolled, pickled), 2B, BA, or 8K mirror for decorative use
• Cutting: laser, plasma or waterjet; bevelling and edge preparation available
• Flatness: levelled plates for tight-tolerance fabrication
• Testing: ultrasonic (UT), positive material identification (PMI) and impact tests on request

Typical properties: tensile 485 MPa minimum, yield 170 MPa minimum, elongation 40%, hardness HB 201 maximum. PREn is approximately 18-19.

304L Stainless Steel Plate Price Factors

The 304L stainless steel plate price is the per-kg base price plus processing. As with 304 coil, nickel (8-10.5%) and chromium (18-20%) drive the base, and LME nickel passes through to the quote. Beyond that:

• Thickness: plate over 50 mm carries a mill premium for the extra reduction and ingot size
• Cutting: laser, plasma and waterjet cutting is priced by cut length and edge quality
• Testing: UT and impact testing add cost but are often mandatory for vessels
• Quantity: full-plate orders unlock mill-direct pricing over piece-cut blanks

Send us your plate dimensions, quantity and any NACE or impact requirements and we will return a landed price, not just an ex-works number.

Common Applications

304L plate is the default for welded pressure vessels and storage tanks, heat-exchanger shells, chemical and petrochemical process equipment, food and dairy tanks, pharmaceutical vessels, and structural components in low-chloride environments. Where welding is heavy and post-weld heat treatment is impractical, 304L is specified over 304.

How to Choose a Reliable Supplier

For plate the critical checks are chemistry, thickness tolerance and test documentation. Confirm carbon is at or below 0.030% and that the certificate lists the actual heat number. For thick plate ask for ultrasonic (UT) test reports per ASTM A578, and for any sour-service use confirm NACE MR0175 / impact test compliance.

A dependable 304L stainless steel plate supplier provides all of this without hesitation. Huaxiao Stainless holds 100,000 tons of stainless inventory, dispatches within 15 days, and operates under ISO/TS16949 with full heat traceability on every plate we ship.

Frequently Asked Questions About 304L stainless steel plate

Get a Quote for 304L stainless steel plate

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