Stainless Steel 304 Tubing
Stainless steel 304 tubing is a chromium-nickel alloy tube widely used across industrial and commercial sectors. It is referred to as 304 SS seamless tubing, which contains 18–20% chromium and 8–11% nickel. This composition provides strong corrosion resistance, good formability and reliable performance at both ambient and high temperatures. From pharmaceutical industries to structural frameworks, SS 304 tubing delivers consistent mechanical properties with low maintenance requirements.
Stainless Steel 304 Tubing Price
The price of stainless steel 304 tubing differs according to tube type, wall thickness, surface finish, and order volume. The following are the key price criteria to consider when placing an order.
Approximate Price Range
SS 304 tubing is generally priced between INR 180 and INR 600 per kilogram in India and between USD 2 and USD 8 per foot in international markets. Seamless variants are priced higher than ERW or welded types.
Cost Per Foot (Approx.)
The cost per foot is roughly INR 80 to INR 900, depending on the pipe’s size and thickness. Larger tubing with thicker walls can increase the cost of the product.
Factors Affecting Price:
4 main factors influence the final price: raw nickel and chromium market rates, tube type (seamless vs. welded), wall thickness and schedule selected, and surface finish (mill finish, pickled, or polished). Each of these can shift the unit price considerably across order batches.
Available Types of 304 SS Seamless Tubing
SS 304 tubing is manufactured in 13 distinct forms to meet varied pressure, temperature, fabrication, and aesthetic requirements.
- 304 stainless steel square tubing
- 304 stainless steel seamless tubing
- 304 stainless steel rectangular tubing
- 304 stainless steel ERW tubing
- 304 stainless steel round tubing
- 304 stainless steel oval tubing
- 304 stainless steel ornamental tubing
- 304 stainless steel welded tubing
- 304 stainless steel furniture tubing
- 304 stainless steel seamless heat exchanger tubing
- 304 stainless steel seamless U tubing
- 304 stainless steel seamless instrumentation tubing
- 304 stainless steel seamless corrugated tubing
Stainless Steel 304 Tubing Specifications
The table mentions the key specifications of stainless steel 304 tubing
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Standards & grades |
ASTM A213, ASTM A269, ASTM A312, ASME SA213, EN 10216-5 |
|
304 stainless steel tube sizes |
1/8" NB to 12" NB (custom sizes available) |
|
Pipe schedules |
SCH 5S, SCH 10S, SCH 40S, SCH 80S |
|
Forms available |
Seamless, Welded (ERW), Square, Rectangular, Round, Oval, U-tube |
|
Wall thickness |
0.5 mm to 20 mm |
|
Finish |
Mill finish, Pickled, 180 Grit Polished, 320 Grit Polished, Bright Annealed |
Chemical Composition of 304 SS Seamless Tubing
The corrosion resistance and mechanical performance of SS 304 tubing come from a tightly controlled chemical balance, with chromium and nickel as the primary alloying elements and strict limits on carbon and sulphur content.
|
Element |
SS 304 |
|
Ni |
8 – 11% |
|
Fe |
Balance |
|
Cr |
18 – 20% |
|
C |
0.08 max |
|
Si |
0.75 max |
|
Mn |
2 max |
|
P |
0.040 max |
|
S |
0.030 max |
Mechanical Properties of 304 SS Seamless Tubing
SS 304 tubing offers a reliable combination of tensile strength, ductility, and hardness, making it suitable for both static load-bearing and dynamic service conditions.
|
Property |
Grade 304 |
|
Tensile strength (MPa) min |
515 |
|
Yield strength 0.2% proof (MPa) min |
205 |
|
Elongation (% in 50mm) min |
40 |
|
Rockwell B (HR B) max |
92 |
|
Brinell (HB) max |
201 |
Size Chart and Schedule Chart of Stainless Steel 304 Tubing
The table below specifies the 304 stainless steel tube sizes and schedules:
|
Nominal Pipe Size (inches) |
Outside Diameter (mm) |
Outside Diameter (inch) |
5S (mm) |
5S (kg/m) |
10S (mm) |
10S (kg/m) |
40S (mm) |
40S (kg/m) |
80S (mm) |
80S (kg/m) |
|
1/8 |
10.3 |
0.405 |
- |
- |
1.25 |
0.28 |
1.73 |
0.37 |
2.42 |
0.47 |
|
1/4 |
13.7 |
0.54 |
- |
- |
1.66 |
0.49 |
2.24 |
0.63 |
3.03 |
0.8 |
|
3/8 |
17.2 |
0.675 |
- |
- |
1.66 |
0.63 |
2.32 |
0.85 |
3.2 |
1.1 |
|
1/2 |
21.3 |
0.84 |
1.65 |
0.81 |
2.11 |
1 |
2.77 |
1.27 |
3.74 |
1.62 |
|
3/4 |
26.7 |
1.05 |
1.65 |
1.02 |
2.11 |
1.28 |
2.87 |
1.68 |
3.92 |
2.2 |
|
1 |
33.4 |
1.315 |
1.65 |
1.3 |
2.77 |
2.09 |
3.38 |
2.5 |
4.55 |
3.24 |
|
1 1/4 |
42.2 |
1.66 |
1.65 |
1.66 |
2.77 |
2.69 |
3.56 |
3.39 |
4.86 |
4.47 |
|
1 1/2 |
48.3 |
1.9 |
1.65 |
1.91 |
2.77 |
3.11 |
3.69 |
4.06 |
5.08 |
5.41 |
|
2 |
60.3 |
2.375 |
1.65 |
2.4 |
2.77 |
3.93 |
5.54 |
5.45 |
5.54 |
7.49 |
|
2 1/2 |
73 |
2.875 |
2.11 |
3.69 |
3.05 |
5.26 |
5.16 |
8.64 |
7.01 |
11.4 |
|
3 |
88.9 |
3.5 |
2.11 |
4.52 |
3.05 |
6.46 |
5.49 |
11.3 |
7.62 |
15.3 |
|
3 1/2 |
101.6 |
4 |
2.11 |
5.18 |
3.05 |
7.41 |
6.02 |
13.6 |
8.08 |
18.6 |
|
4 |
114.3 |
4.5 |
2.11 |
5.84 |
3.05 |
8.37 |
6.02 |
16.1 |
8.56 |
22.3 |
|
5 |
141.3 |
5.563 |
2.77 |
9.46 |
3.41 |
11.6 |
6.55 |
21.8 |
9.53 |
31 |
|
6 |
168.3 |
6.625 |
2.77 |
11.3 |
3.41 |
13.9 |
7.11 |
28.3 |
10.97 |
42.6 |
|
8 |
219.1 |
8.625 |
2.77 |
14.8 |
3.76 |
20 |
8.18 |
42.5 |
12.7 |
64.6 |
|
10 |
273.1 |
10.75 |
3.41 |
22.7 |
4.2 |
27.8 |
9.27 |
60.4 |
12.7 |
81.5 |
|
12 |
323.9 |
12.75 |
3.96 |
31.3 |
4.58 |
36.1 |
9.53 |
73.9 |
12.7 |
97.4 |
Key Features of Stainless Steel 304 Tubing
SS 304 tubing offers 7 performance advantages that make it one of the most widely stocked grades across industrial and commercial supply chains.
- Non-magnetic properties
- Cost-effective
- Good appearance
- High-temperature resistance
- Easy to fabricate
- Versatile applications
- Rust and corrosion resistance
Applications of SS 304 Tubing
SS 304 tubing is used across 8 major industries where hygiene, corrosion resistance, and structural reliability are required simultaneously.
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Chemical processing
- Oil and gas industry
- Automotive industry
- Architectural applications
- Heat exchangers
- Water treatment plants
- Medical equipment
How to Choose the Right 304 SS Seamless Tubing Supplier?
Selecting 304 stainless steel tubing suppliers involves more than comparing price lists. Evaluate these 6 criteria to ensure consistent material quality, supply reliability, and project fit.
Evaluate the manufacturer's technical expertise:
Check whether the supplier has direct processing knowledge of Grade 304. This alloy requires precise annealing and controlled cold-drawing for seamless variants. Ask about prior experience with the grade and how batch consistency is verified.
Check grade availability and product range:
A reliable supplier should stock all tube types across multiple schedules and 304 stainless steel tube sizes. Limited availability usually forces a compromise on dimensions or form, which adds cost and delays.
Verify quality certifications and testing capabilities:
ISO 9001 is the baseline. Also confirm in-house testing: hydrostatic testing, PMI (positive material identification), ultrasonic testing, and hardness checks. Always request mill test reports with full material traceability.
Examine the strength of raw material sourcing:
Final tube quality depends on the source of raw coils or billets. Approved certified mills reduce variability. Consistent raw material sourcing ensures stable mechanical and chemical properties across supply batches.
Assess customisation capabilities:
Standard sizes often fall short of project specifications. A supplier with in-house cutting, polishing, and end-finishing capabilities can deliver custom lengths or special finishes without adding third-party lead time.
Review delivery timelines and supply capacity:
Confirm stock availability, dispatch timelines and minimum order quantities before finalising. At Piping Mart, we provide a list of suppliers who maintain a ready stock of SS 304 tubing for both domestic and export requirements. Even when inventory is available, confirm lead times and documentation requirements early to protect the project schedule.
Stainless Steel 304 Tubing Suppliers
Stainless Steel 304 Tubing FAQ's
SS 304 tubing in India is typically priced between INR 180 and INR 600 per kilogram. Seamless variants cost more than ERW or welded types. Contact a supplier directly for a project-specific quote based on size, schedule, and quantity.
Tubing is measured based on its actual outer diameter and wall thickness, with precise dimensional tolerances. Pipe is measured by a nominal bore (NB) size, which is just a standard label and does not match its exact real dimensions. Tubing is used in precision and instrumentation applications; pipe is used for fluid transport..
SS 316 contains 2–3% molybdenum, which gives it better resistance to chlorides and pitting than SS 304. It is suitable for marine, pharmaceutical, and high-chloride environments. For general industrial and architectural use, SS 304 is the preferred choice.
SS 304 tubing is available from 1/8" NB to 12" NB in standard sizes. Custom outer diameters, wall thicknesses, and cut lengths are available depending on the supplier and order quantity.
SS 304 tubing is available in 13 different forms, such as seamless, welded, ERW, square, rectangular, round, oval, ornamental, furniture, heat exchanger, U-tube, instrumentation, and corrugated. Each type has a specified pressure rating, temperature range, and fabrication requirements.