316/316L Stainless Steel Plate
Stainless Metal Grades to Fit Your Needs
Grade 316 and 316L stainless steel plate is an austenitic alloy and the second most popular stainless steel grade after 304. The addition of molybdenum gives it superior corrosion and chloride-pitting resistance, making it a go-to material for marine, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and food processing applications. Sabre Alloys stocks 316/316L plate up to 120″ wide and up to 6″ thick, providing the large-format inventory needed to minimize seams, reduce waste, and support more complex part requirements.
Need it cut to size? We offer in-house plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, and cut-to-length services.
0.188-6.0″
Thickness
96-240″/480″
Length
96″/120″
Width
Key Properties and Advantages of Grade 316/316L
Grade 316 and 316L stainless steel plate conforming to ASTM A240 is a high-performance austenitic alloy engineered for demanding environments where corrosion resistance, structural integrity, and long service life are non-negotiable.
- Superior corrosion and oxidation resistance
- Excellent pitting and crevice corrosion resistance in chloride-rich environments
- High resistance to staining
- Elevated temperature creep, tensile, and stress-to-rupture strength
- Outstanding formability, machinability, and weldability
- Non-magnetic in annealed condition
- Hygienic surface properties ideal for high-purity applications
316 vs. 316L Stainless Steel Plate
The primary difference between Grade 316 and Grade 316L is carbon content. Grade 316 allows up to 0.08% carbon, while Grade 316L is restricted to 0.030% maximum. Both grades share the same chromium, nickel, and molybdenum composition and offer the same corrosion resistance in most service conditions.
The lower carbon content in 316L minimizes the risk of carbide precipitation at weld joints, making it the preferred choice for applications involving extensive welding or where sensitization is a concern. For most other applications, the two grades are interchangeable and are often dual-certified.
| Element | Composition |
| Carbon (C) | 0.08% max (316) 0.030% max (316L) |
| Chromium (Cr) | 16.00 – 18.00% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 10.00 – 14.00% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.00 – 3.00% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 2.00% max |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.75% max |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.045% max |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.030% max |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.10% max |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance |
Stainless Steel Plate Processing Services
Sabre Alloys offers in-house processing for 316 and 316L stainless steel plate, allowing us to deliver material cut to your exact specifications with fast turnaround times.
Sabre Alloys offers the following value-added steel processing services:
Grade 316 and 316: Stainless Steel Plate Applications
Grades 316 and 316L are commonly referred to as marine-grade stainless steel and widely specified for high-purity processing, chloride-exposed environments, and applications where sanitary surface conditions are required. Common applications include:
- Marine and Structural: Boat and ship components, architectural structures in coastal/saltwater environments, offshore and subsea hardware
- Industrial Processing: Heat exchangers, pipes and pressure vessels, wastewater/water treatment equipment
- High-Purity and Sanitary: Pharmaceutical/laboratory equipment, food and beverage processing equipment, surgical instruments
View All Industries to see a comprehensive list of our applications.
industries served
- Water
- Food processing
- Environmental
- Architecture
- Appliances
- Pharmaceutical
Contact Sabre Alloys
Ready to source 316 or 316L stainless steel plate for your next project?
Contact our team to discuss specifications, lead times, and processing requirements, or request a quote to get started.
Your Quality Supplier & Distributor of Strong, Corrosion & Heat-Resistant Grades
Whether you need material for a new product application or you want to replace your existing supply, let our talented staff at Sabre Alloys be your partners for sourcing exotic, high-quality stainless steel. Request a quote today.
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Sabre Alloys aims to be your solution center for exotic, high-quality stainless steel plate. We offer hard-to-find metal grades and we cater to a wide range of industries.