304 Stainless Steel Plate Supplier
Hot rolled 304/304L and 304H stainless steel plate. Cut-to-length plate from 3mm to 16mm (up to 20mm on request), and mill plate from 6mm up to 150mm thick. Full plates or cut blanks for tanks, vessels and heavy frames.
Cut to length on our own lines up to 12000mm; laser, plasma and waterjet cutting to your drawing
Dual-certified 304/304L to ASTM A240 and ASME SA240
Standard sizes 1500×6000mm and 2000×6000mm; mill plate up to 3500mm wide
Mixed loads of 304 stainless steel sheet & plate in one container, from our 4,500 tons of stainless sheet and plate stock (out of 80,000 tons in total) in Wuxi
Why Order 304 Plate From MTS
01
Plates Cut to Your Nesting Plan
Send us your part list or DXF files. Our 6 kW fiber laser cuts tank floors, flanges and gussets from full plates up to 10mm thick, and we cut thicker plate by plasma or waterjet. Our cut-to-length lines cut 3–16mm plate (up to 20mm on request) to any length up to 12000mm. You receive parts, numbered to your list.
02
Low Carbon for Welded Work
Our 304 plate is supplied as 304/304L dual grade. Carbon stays at or below 0.030%. You can weld thick sections without weld decay, and still use 304 design strength.
03
Measured After Each Process
We check dimensions after every processing step, with calipers, tape and CMM. You get the mill certificate plus our processing report, so you know the size and weight you pay for.
04
Sheet and Plate on One Order
Need 2mm cladding and 12mm base plates for the same project? We pack 304 stainless steel sheet & plate in one container. One supplier, one inspection, one set of documents.
05
Processed and Loaded in Wuxi
We process up to 100,000 tons a month and hold 80,000 tons in our Wuxi warehouses, which cover 60,000 m². Our own cranes load the container, and we ship from Shanghai, Qingdao or Tianjin in 8–12 working days.
304 Plate for Process Tanks and Equipment
Most 304 plate goes into equipment that holds liquid. Brewery tanks, dairy silos, water tanks and mixing vessels are typical. These jobs share three needs: clean welds, a cleanable inner surface and full certificates.
304/304L covers the welding side. The inner surface is the next question. Hot rolled plate has a No.1 pickled finish. For product-contact surfaces, we can brush one side to No.4 on our own brushing line, up to 2000mm wide.
Tell us which side faces the product. We will protect that side with film and keep it facing up in the bundle.
304 Stainless Steel Plate Types
304/304L Dual-Certified Plate
The standard for tanks, vessels and welded frames. One plate meets both grades, so one stock item covers both drawings. Example: 304/304L plate, 10mm, 1500×6000mm.
304H High-Temperature Plate
Controlled carbon of 0.04–0.10% for strength above about 500°C. Used in boiler parts, heat exchangers and furnace frames.
304 Plate With No.4 One Side
Hot rolled plate brushed on one side for visible or product-contact faces. Common for tank walls and food machinery bases.
304 Checkered Plate
Raised pattern for walkways, platforms and stair treads in food and chemical plants. 2–6mm thick.
304 Cut Blanks, Rings and Flanges
Parts cut from 304 plate to your drawing, by fiber laser up to 10mm and by plasma or waterjet on thicker plate. You pay for the parts, not the offcuts.
Need thinner gauges or a 2B finish? See our 304 Stainless Steel Sheet.
304 Plate Specifications
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Grades | 304, 304L, 304/304L dual, 304H |
| Cold rolled sheet | Thickness: 0.27–6.0mm Width: 1000, 1219 (4 ft), 1500mm Length: 2000, 2438 (8 ft), 3000mm standard; cut to any length up to 6000mm. Sheets over 6m are long sheets, made to order, with limited transport options |
| Hot rolled cut-to-length plate | Thickness: 3.0–16mm standard, up to 20mm on request Width: 1000, 1219, 1500, 1800, 2000mm Length: 2000, 2438, 3000, 6000mm standard; cut to any length up to 12000mm |
| Hot rolled mill plate | Thickness: 6–150mm (304, 304L, 304H) Width: 1500, 1800, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500mm; the thicker the plate, the wider it can be supplied Length: 2000, 3000, 6000mm standard; 12000mm on request. Plates over 12m are rarely made, hard to ship in containers and only supplied as a special order |
| Finish | No.1; No.4 one side on request |
| Standards | ASTM A240, ASME SA240, EN 10088-2 / EN 10028-7 (1.4301 / 1.4307), JIS G4304 (SUS304), GB/T 4237 |
| Testing | Chemistry, tensile, hardness; IGC test (ASTM A262) and UT on request |
Buying 304 Plate for Welded Equipment: A Practical Guide
304 is the default plate for welded tanks and frames. It is easy to weld, easy to source and costs far less than 316. Problems start when the grade, the welding or the environment does not match. Here is how to avoid them.
304, 304L or 304H Plate
Order 304/304L dual-certified plate for almost all welded work. It has the low carbon of 304L and the strength values of 304. Your designer can use 304 allowable stresses, and your welder gets weld-decay resistance.
Plain 304 with higher carbon is only worth it when weld corrosion does not matter. Examples are bolted frames and machine bases kept dry. Even there, the price difference is usually small.
Order 304H only for service above about 500°C. Its higher carbon keeps creep strength at temperature. Do not use 304H for corrosive service. The same carbon that adds strength makes the welds more prone to sensitization.
For the code side, such as ASME SA240 and dual certification, see our Stainless Steel Plate buying guide.
Welding Thick 304 Plate
304 plate does not need preheat. The bigger risk is too much heat. Keep the interpass temperature below about 150°C. Long time at 450–850°C causes carbide formation, even in thick sections.
Use ER308L filler for 304 and 304L. It leaves a small amount of ferrite in the weld, which helps prevent hot cracking. Clean the weld zone of oil, marker ink and carbon steel dust before welding.
After welding, remove heat tint by pickling or grinding. Heat tint is a common start point for rust on new tanks. Many buyers blame the plate when the real cause is untreated weld tint.
When 304 Plate Is the Wrong Choice
304 handles fresh water, most foods and dry indoor air very well. It struggles with chlorides. Brine, seawater, salty food, chlorinated water and some cleaning chemicals can pit it.
A common rule of thumb is about 200 ppm chloride in water at room temperature. Above that, or at higher temperatures, move to 316. Hot chloride solutions above about 60°C can also cause stress corrosion cracking in 304. For those jobs, look at 316 or duplex 2205.
A tank that will see salt or acid cleaning should be planned in 316 plate from the start. Changing grades after a failure costs far more than the price difference.
SUS 304 Plate and Other Standard Names
Drawings from different countries name 304 plate differently. SUS 304 plate is the Japanese JIS name, under JIS G4304 for hot rolled plate. EN 1.4301 is the European name, and 1.4307 is the 304L equivalent.
The chemistry ranges are close but not identical. If your project names a specific standard, order to that standard. Where the chemistry meets both, the plate can be dual-certified.
What Drives the 304 Stainless Steel Plate Price
304 plate is priced per ton, then adjusted for size and extras. Nickel is the largest cost driver, so the base price follows the nickel market.
Thickness also matters. Very thick plate, usually above about 50mm, is rolled in small batches and costs more per ton. Wide plates over 2000mm often carry a width extra. Lengths over 12m are special orders and need special transport.
Then come the services, such as cutting and one-side brushing, which add to the base price. Compare quotes on the same plate size and the same extras.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SS 304 plate price per ton?
The price depends on thickness, plate size, quantity and the current nickel price. Cutting and other work are extra. Plates above 50mm or wider than 2000mm usually cost more per ton. Send us your sizes and tonnage. We will quote a current price per ton or per kg within 2–4 working hours, valid for 3 days.
Is SUS 304 plate the same as ASTM A240 304 plate?
They are the same grade family under different standards. SUS 304 follows JIS G4304, and 304 follows ASTM A240. Most chemistry and strength limits overlap. If your drawing names one standard, we certify to that standard.
What is the standard size of 304 stainless steel plate?
The most common sizes are 1500×6000mm and 2000×6000mm. Cut-to-length plate also comes in 1219×2438mm (4x8 ft) and 1500×3000mm, or in any length up to 12000mm. We also cut parts directly from your drawing.
Can I order 304 plate thinner than 6mm?
Yes. Our hot rolled cut-to-length plate starts at 3mm, with a No.1 finish. Below 3mm, or if you need a 2B or BA surface, order 304 sheet, cold rolled from 0.27mm. You can order sheet and plate together in one container.
Do I need 304L or 304 plate for a water tank?
For a welded water tank, order 304/304L dual-certified plate. It welds without weld decay and keeps 304 strength values. Check the chloride level first. Water with high chloride, such as some well water, may need 316L.
Can you supply 304 plate with an inspection certificate for food equipment?
Yes. Each plate comes with an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate. We can add PMI testing and third-party inspection on request. Food-contact compliance depends on your final surface and your local rules, so check those with your customer.
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