How to Choose the Right Stainless Steel Plate Thickness (Beginner-Friendly 2025 Guide)

Stainless Steel Sheet

• Thickness: 0.4 mm – 6 mm
• Lightweight, flexible, used for bending/forming

Stainless Steel Plate

• Thickness: 6 mm and above
• Strong, rigid, used for heavy-duty applications

Stainless Steel Coil

• Continuous rolled sheet used for fabrication

Choosing the right thickness ensures:

• Strength
• Durability
• Safety
• Structural integrity
• Proper load-bearing capacity

If thickness is too low:

• Bends
• Vibrates
• Fails under pressure
• Gets dents
• Cracks

If thickness is too high:

• Becomes unnecessarily expensive
• Difficult to cut
• Leads to material waste

The goal is to balance strength with cost.

You must consider 4 key factors:

Factor 1 — Load / Weight

• Higher load → thicker plates
• Structural beams, platforms, machine bases need 12–40 mm

Factor 2 — Pressure

• Tanks, vessels, reactors: 8–30 mm
• High pressure → use SS 316L / Duplex

Factor 3 — Temperature

• Above 400°C → use 6–30 mm
• Above 650°C → use 310S or Inconel

Factor 4 — Corrosion Level

• Use thicker material for corrosive service
• Use higher grade (316L, Duplex, Nickel alloys)

Chemical Industries

• Reactors, tanks: 8–20 mm
• Pipelines support plates: 6–12 mm

Oil & Gas

• Offshore structures: 12–40 mm
• Heat exchanger components: 8–16 mm

Food & Pharmaceutical

• Equipment body: 2–4 mm
• Hygienic tanks: 4–6 mm

Construction & Architecture

• Handrails: 2–3 mm
• Facade/Cladding: 1.5–2 mm
• Beams/Platforms: 10–25 mm

Heavy Machinery

• Machine bases: 20–80 mm
• Wear-resistant plate: 12–50 mm

• 304 Stainless Steel → Best: 1–8 mm
• 316/316L → Best: 2–20 mm
• 310S → Best: 4–30 mm
• Duplex 2205 → Best: 3–20 mm
• Super Duplex 2507 → Best: 4–25 mm
• Nickel Alloys → Best: 3–12 mm

• Choosing thin material to reduce cost → Causes bending & failure
• Using thick plates unnecessarily → Higher cost & machining difficulty
• Ignoring chemical environment → Higher corrosion risk
• No consultation with experts → Wrong grade + wrong thickness
• Buying from uncertified suppliers → Risk of low-grade or fake steel

Selecting the right stainless steel plate thickness is critical for performance, safety, and long-term durability. Always consider load, pressure, temperature, corrosion level, and grade selection.

Moksh Tubes helps customers choose the perfect plate thickness based on industry standards and real-world requirements.