If you are planning to work with stainless steel, knowing its density is essential. It plays a big role in material decisions, whether it’s for transport, load calculations, or estimating costs.
The average density of stainless steel is about 8,000 kg/m³ (or 8 g/cm³). However, it can range between 7.75 and 8.05 g/cm³, depending on the grade. Stainless steel density makes it heavier than aluminium but lighter than pure iron, providing strength without excessive weight.
From construction to kitchenware, knowing the density helps calculate the weight of finished products, material cost estimates, and load-bearing capacity. This is especially important in sectors like architecture, automotive, and manufacturing.
Different grades of stainless steel have slightly different densities. For example, for 304 grade it is ~7.9 g/cm³. For 316 grade, it is ~8.0 g/cm³. And for 430 grade, ~7.7 g/cm³. These variations affect durability, corrosion resistance, and weight.
The density of SS 304 is 7.93 g/cm³. It’s one of the most widely used stainless steel grades due to its excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and overall strength. It’s often used in kitchenware, tanks, pipelines, and medical equipment.
Let’s say you need to transport a steel sheet that’s 2m x 1m x 5mm (0.005m). Volume = 2 × 1 × 0.005 = 0.01 m³. Weight = 0.01 × 8000 (density) = 80 kg. Now you can plan logistics or pricing better with just a quick formula.
When choosing stainless steel for a project, don’t just look at grade. Rather, take into account its density to avoid surprises in weight, cost, or performance.