304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Which Grade Should You Specify for Machined Parts?

304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Which Grade Should You Specify for Machined Parts? - Huaxiao precision manufacturing

The most common stainless question we field from buyers is 304 vs 316 stainless steel. Both are 18-8 austenitics, both machine, bend, and weld similarly, and both are non-magnetic in the annealed state. The entire difference comes down to one alloying element—molybdenum—and whether your part will ever see chlorides. This guide explains when 316’s premium […]