Carbon steel plate is the base of most fab work: gussets, base plates, brackets, skid decks, trailer tongues and oilfield equipment. We source A36 and A572 Grade 50 plate from 3/16 inch up, arrange plasma, oxy-fuel or laser cutting to your drawing, and deliver across Texas. Send the thickness, grade and parts and most quotes come back the same business day.
What steel plate is used for and how to choose
A36 is the general-purpose structural plate, with a minimum yield of 36 ksi. It welds easily, bends predictably and suits most brackets, base plates and frames. A572 Grade 50 raises minimum yield to 50 ksi. That lets an engineer size a lighter plate for the same load, which matters on trailers, cranes and anything where weight costs money. Much of the plate sold today is dual-certified A36/A572-50, so it meets either spec.
For wear, look at abrasion-resistant plate such as AR400. It lasts far longer in bucket edges, chutes and hopper liners, but it is hard to bend and drill. For pressure vessels and tanks, A516 Grade 70 is the usual spec.
Hot rolled plate carries mill scale. It is fine under paint once blasted, but it will flake off and contaminate welds if you do not grind the joint. Plate weight climbs fast, so run the numbers on the metal weight calculator before you plan a lift.
Steel plate grades
| Grade/finish | Why pick it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A36 | 36 ksi minimum yield. Easy to weld and form. The default for general fabrication. | Heavier section needed than A572-50 for the same load. |
| A572 Grade 50 | 50 ksi minimum yield. Lighter designs for trailers, equipment and structures. | Make sure the drawing calls for it; substitution needs an engineer's OK. |
| A36/A572-50 dual cert | Meets both specs from one plate, which simplifies buying. | Confirm dual cert on the mill cert if your customer checks. |
| AR400 | Abrasion resistant for liners, blades and wear parts. | Hard to bend and drill. Not a structural substitute. |
| A516 Grade 70 | Pressure vessel and tank plate with good notch toughness. | Specify it only when the job calls for it. |
Common steel plate sizes
| Thickness | Common widths | Common lengths |
|---|---|---|
| 3/16 in, 1/4 in, 5/16 in | 48, 60, 72, 96 in | 96, 120, 144, 240 in |
| 3/8 in, 1/2 in, 5/8 in | 48, 60, 72, 96 in | 96, 120, 240, 288 in |
| 3/4 in, 1 in | 48, 60, 72, 96 in | 96, 120, 240, 288 in |
| 1-1/4 in, 1-1/2 in, 2 in | 60, 72, 96 in | 120, 240 in |
| Over 2 in to several inches | Varies | Usually cut from larger plate |
Sizes only. Metal prices move daily, so every order is quoted.
Cut-to-size options for steel plate
Most plate is burned. Plasma cutting is fast and economical through the common thicknesses and typically holds about a sixteenth of an inch. Oxy-fuel takes over on heavy plate. Both leave a heat-affected edge that is harder than the base metal, with some bevel and dross, which is fine for weld prep but worth knowing if you plan to drill or tap near the edge.
Laser cutting holds closer size and cleaner holes on thinner plate, generally up to around 3/4 to 1 inch depending on the machine. Simple rectangles and strips can be sheared or saw cut. We arrange the cut through our supply network and quote it with the plate. Nested parts from one plate usually cost less per piece than cutting each part from its own blank, so send the full parts list together.
What to include in your steel plate quote request
- Grade: A36, A572-50, dual cert, AR400 or A516-70
- Thickness
- DXF or PDF drawing, or blank dimensions
- Hole sizes and any edges that need close tolerance
- Quantity per part
- Mill certs, if required
- Delivery location and whether a forklift is on site