--- title: What is the difference between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel? description: "Stainless Steel has two ordinarily utilized grades are: Grade 304 and 316.\nHave you ever been looking at a Stainless Steel product(s) and seen it identified as a 304 or 316 Stainless Steel? Have you ever wondered what exactly that means?" image: https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/hubfs/Square%20series%20newels-rail-glass%20application%20photo.jpg --- [![Oak Pointe logo new 2014 Horizontal-1](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Oak%20Pointe%20logo%20new%202014%20Horizontal-1.png?width=450&name=Oak%20Pointe%20logo%20new%202014%20Horizontal-1.png)](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/) [Contact Us](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/contact)subscribe ### Speak to one of our experts today! read # What is the difference between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel? By Oak Pointe Team ![](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/hubfs/Square%20series%20newels-rail-glass%20application%20photo.jpg) *Stainless Steel has two commonly utilized grades: **Grade 304 and 316**.* *Have you ever looked at a Stainless Steel product and seen it identified as a 304 or 316 Stainless Steel? Have you ever wondered what exactly that means?* ## What precisely is the difference between the two grades? *All steels have the same basic composition, but Stainless Steel also contains a healthy dose of chromium — that alloy gives Stainless Steel its precise corrosion resistance.* *Generally, **304** is the less expensive Stainless Steel option and is used in kitchen applications, liquid storage, and food prep equipment. It is also one of the most widely-used grades.* ***316****, with its addition of molybdenum, is considerably more resistant to corrosive environments than 304. 316 is more suitable for exterior applications, including seawater environments and marine applications.* | ***304*** - *18% Chromium & 8% Nickle* - *Lower-Cost Corrosion Resistance* - *Resistant to Oxidation* - *No Limitation on Fabrication* | ***316*** - *16% Chromium, 10% Nickle, & 2% Molybdenum* - *Superior Corrosion Resistance* - *Resistant to Oxidation* - *Chlorine Resistant* | | --- | --- | ## How do you know which grade you need? *How do you know if you need 304 or 316? This question is rather simple. Is your application interior or exterior? If it’s interior, you can save on cost and go with 304. For exterior applications, it is helpful to have that extra corrosive protection, so 316 is best.* #### [*Learn More About the Oak Pointe Modern Metal Made Easy Program!*](https://info.stairpartsandmore.com/modern-metal-quote-request-checklist) Tags: [Stair Components](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stair-components), [Oak Pointe](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe), [Modern Metal](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal), [Modern Metal Made Easy](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal-made-easy), [Oak Pointe Updates](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe-updates), [Exterior Products](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/exterior-products), [Cable Railing System](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/cable-railing-system), [Stainless Steel](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stainless-steel) ### Related Articles ## [Custom Wood Racecar](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/custom-wood-racecar) *( read )* Topics: [Stair Components](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stair-components), [Oak Pointe](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe), [Modern Metal](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal), [Modern Metal Made Easy](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal-made-easy), [Oak Pointe Updates](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe-updates), [Exterior Products](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/exterior-products), [Cable Railing System](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/cable-railing-system), [Stainless Steel](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stainless-steel) ## [What are Powder Coated finishes?](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/what-are-powder-coated-finishes) *( read )* Topics: [Stair Components](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stair-components), [Oak Pointe](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe), [Modern Metal](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal), [Modern Metal Made Easy](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal-made-easy), [Oak Pointe Updates](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe-updates), [Exterior Products](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/exterior-products), [Cable Railing System](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/cable-railing-system), [Stainless Steel](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stainless-steel) ## [DIY Your Staircase Treads Today](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/diy-your-staircase-treads-today) *( read )* Topics: [Stair Components](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stair-components), [Oak Pointe](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe), [Modern Metal](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal), [Modern Metal Made Easy](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/modern-metal-made-easy), [Oak Pointe Updates](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/oak-pointe-updates), [Exterior Products](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/exterior-products), [Cable Railing System](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/cable-railing-system), [Stainless Steel](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog/tag/stainless-steel) ### Subscribe to The Chronicles of Marketing Newsletter [![Oak Pointe LLC, Stair Parts and More](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Oak%20Pointe%20logo%20new%202014%20Stacked_WHITE-01.png?width=300&name=Oak%20Pointe%20logo%20new%202014%20Stacked_WHITE-01.png "Oak Pointe LLC, Stair Parts and More")](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/) 96 New Pace Road Newcomerstown, OH 43832 740.498.9820 - [BLOG](https://blog.stairpartsandmore.com/blog) - [ABOUT](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/about) - [CONTACT](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/contact) - [FAQ](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/faq) - [NEWS](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/news) - [CAREERS](https://www.stairpartsandmore.com/careers) ### Subscribe for Instant Updates! ### Follow Us - - - - -