201 vs 304 Stainless Steel
Side-by-side comparison · Composition · Properties · Selection guide
201 replaces roughly half the nickel of 304 with manganese and nitrogen. That cuts cost — nickel is the most volatile input in stainless pricing — and raises strength, but lowers corrosion resistance and makes forming harder. 304 remains the safer general-purpose choice; 201 wins on price for dry, indoor, decorative duty.
Full datasheets:201 Stainless Steel·304 Stainless Steel
At a Glance
| 201 | 304 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Austenitic (Cr-Mn) | Austenitic |
| UNS | S20100 | S30400 |
| Standard | ASTM A240/A240M | ASTM A240/A240M |
| Density | 7.81 g/cm³ | 7.93 g/cm³ |
Corrosion Resistance and Service Limits
201
- General corrosion resistance comes from the chromium-rich passive film; nickel, molybdenum, nitrogen and copper change performance by grade.
- Check chlorides, temperature, crevices, deposits, process chemistry and cleaning conditions. A grade designation alone is not a service-life guarantee.
304
- General corrosion resistance comes from the chromium-rich passive film; nickel, molybdenum, nitrogen and copper change performance by grade.
- Check chlorides, temperature, crevices, deposits, process chemistry and cleaning conditions. A grade designation alone is not a service-life guarantee.
Fabrication and Heat Treatment
| Operation | 201 | 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Welding | Generally weldable with a qualified procedure and matching or over-alloyed filler where required; remove heat tint when corrosion service demands it. | Generally weldable with a qualified procedure and matching or over-alloyed filler where required; remove heat tint when corrosion service demands it. |
| Forming | Good ductility is typical, but rapid work hardening increases forming load and springback; bend radius and intermediate annealing depend on grade and reduction. | Good ductility is typical, but rapid work hardening increases forming load and springback; bend radius and intermediate annealing depend on grade and reduction. |
| Machining | Use rigid tooling, positive feeds and controlled heat because the material work-hardens; free-machining grades require separate corrosion and welding review. | Use rigid tooling, positive feeds and controlled heat because the material work-hardens; free-machining grades require separate corrosion and welding review. |
| Heat treatment | Solution annealing and rapid cooling restore the intended condition where applicable. Austenitic grades are not hardened by conventional quench-and-temper treatment. | Solution annealing and rapid cooling restore the intended condition where applicable. Austenitic grades are not hardened by conventional quench-and-temper treatment. |
Chemical Composition (wt%)
| Element | 201 | 304 |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤0.15 | ≤0.08 |
| Mn | 5.5–7.5 | ≤2.00 |
| Si | ≤1.00 | ≤0.75 |
| Cr | 16.0–18.0 | 17.5–19.5 |
| Ni | 3.5–5.5 | 8.0–10.5 |
| N | ≤0.25 | ≤0.10 |
| P | ≤0.060 | ≤0.045 |
| S | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | 201 | 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ≥655 MPa (95 ksi) | ≥515 MPa (75 ksi) |
| Yield strength (0.2%) | ≥260 MPa (38 ksi) | ≥205 MPa (30 ksi) |
| Elongation (50 mm) | ≥40% | ≥40% |
| Hardness | — | ≤201 HBW |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose 201 for:
- Indoor decorative tube, trim and railings
- Cookware bodies and utensils with normal washing
- Cost-driven appliance panels in dry environments
- Applications already proven in 201 by field history
Choose 304 for:
- Outdoor, coastal or humid installations
- Food processing with salts, acids or daily cleaning chemicals
- Deep drawing and demanding forming operations
- Anywhere long-term cosmetic appearance is contractual
Our verdict
Judge by exposure. Sheltered and dry: 201 saves real money and its extra strength is a bonus. Wet, salty or chemically cleaned: 201 will tea-stain and pit years before 304, and warranty claims erase the purchase saving. Never accept 201 delivered against a 304 order — check the MTC; manganese above ~5% is the giveaway.
Cost and Availability
Compare the current stock position, mill route, minimum production quantity, processing yield, testing and delivered cost for 201 and 304 at quotation time. A fixed price ratio would be misleading because product form, size, condition and market timing can change the commercial result.
Do Not Substitute Without Review
Do not replace 201 with 304, or the reverse, from the grade name alone. Recheck chemistry, mechanical-property condition, product standard, dimensions, corrosion environment, welding procedure and project approval before substitution.
201 & 304 Products We Export
201 Stainless Steel Coil
Cold rolled 201 stainless steel coil in 2B and BA finish, in quotation-confirmed dimensions, J1/J2 variants, slit to width — the cost-effective feedstock for tube mills and appliances.
View details →
304 Stainless Steel Sheet
304/304L stainless steel sheet in 2B, BA, No.4 and mirror finish, in quotation-confirmed dimensions, cut to size, with ordered documentation.
View details →
304 Stainless Steel Welded Pipe
304 welded stainless steel pipe and tube to ASTM A312, A249 and A554 — industrial, sanitary and polished decorative, round, square and rectangular sections.
View details →
304 Stainless Steel Round Bar
304/304L stainless steel round bar, in quotation-confirmed dimensions, bright drawn h9/h11 or peeled, cut to length — machining stock with full heat traceability.
View details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if material sold as 304 is actually 201?
Not by looking — both are bright austenitic sheets. The mill test certificate shows it instantly (201: ~5.5–7.5% Mn, ~3.5–5.5% Ni; 304: ≤2% Mn, ≥8% Ni), and a handheld XRF/PMI gun confirms in seconds. Insist on certificates from traceable mills.
Does 201 rust outdoors?
Exposed to rain, coastal air or road salt it will show brown staining and eventual pitting much sooner than 304 — often within one or two seasons in aggressive locations. Outdoors, specify at least 304.
Can a magnet distinguish 201 from 304?
No. Both may become magnetic after cold work. Use traceability and composition testing such as XRF or OES when positive grade identification is required.
RFQ
Get a 201 or 304 Quotation
Send the specification you have; we will identify missing inputs before quoting.
Technical content updated: 2026-07-29
Organizational author: Tsingshan (Shandong) Iron & Steel Co., Ltd..Review method, status and limitations.