Stainless sheet goes into food equipment, backsplashes, enclosures, marine trim and anything that has to stay clean and rust-free. We source 304 and 316 sheet in the common gauges and finishes, arrange the cut to your size, and deliver across Texas. Tell us the grade, gauge, finish and blank size and most quotes come back the same business day.
What stainless sheet is used for and how to choose
Start with the environment. Indoors, in a kitchen, or on equipment that gets washed down with fresh water, 304 stainless does the job and costs less. Near salt water, around pool chemicals, or anywhere chlorides sit on the surface, go to 316 stainless. The molybdenum in 316 resists the pitting that shows up as rust freckles on 304 along the coast.
Then pick the finish for how the part will look and be cleaned. 2B is the standard mill finish, smooth and dull gray, and it is the right call for anything that gets painted, hidden or formed hard. #4 is the brushed look on appliances and hoods. BA is bright and reflective but not a true mirror. #8 is a mirror for signage and trim. Polished finishes usually ship with a PVC film on the good side; leave it on through cutting and bending.
If the sheet will be welded heavily, ask for the L grade (304L or 316L). Most sheet sold today is dual-certified, so it meets both.
Stainless sheet grades and finishes
| Grade/finish | Why pick it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 304 / 304L | General-purpose stainless for food equipment, enclosures, indoor and fresh-water work. Forms and welds well. | Pits in salt air and chlorides. Not the grade for coastal or pool work. |
| 316 / 316L | Molybdenum adds chloride resistance for marine, coastal, chemical and pharmaceutical use. | Costs more than 304. Overkill for a dry indoor part. |
| 430 | Ferritic, magnetic, lower cost. Common on appliance panels and trim. | Less corrosion resistant than 304 and weaker welds. Keep it indoors and dry. |
| 2B finish | Standard mill finish. Smooth, consistent, easy to form and weld. | Dull gray. Not a cosmetic finish. |
| #4 brushed | The satin look on kitchens, hoods and elevator panels. Hides fingerprints and small scratches. | Grain has a direction. Specify grain direction on your blanks so panels match. |
| BA and #8 mirror | Bright, reflective faces for signage, trim and decorative panels. | Shows every scratch and weld. Keep the film on until install. |
Common stainless sheet sizes
| Gauge | Nominal thickness | Common sheet sizes |
|---|---|---|
| 26 ga | 0.018 in | 36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120 |
| 24 ga | 0.024 in | 36 x 96, 48 x 96, 48 x 120 |
| 22 ga | 0.030 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120 |
| 20 ga | 0.036 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 18 ga | 0.048 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 16 ga | 0.060 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 14 ga | 0.075 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 12 ga | 0.105 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 11 ga | 0.120 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 10 ga | 0.135 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
| 7 ga | 0.188 in | 48 x 96, 48 x 120, 60 x 120 |
Sizes only. Metal prices move daily, so every order is quoted. Stainless gauges run slightly different from carbon steel gauges; see the sheet metal gauge chart. #4 and mirror finishes are not offered in every gauge.
Cut-to-size options for stainless sheet
Straight blanks and strips are sheared. It is fast and leaves a clean square edge, and on light gauge it holds size within about a thirty-second of an inch. For shapes, holes and nested parts, laser cutting holds tolerances in the range of a few thousandths on thin sheet and leaves a narrow edge that needs little cleanup. Nitrogen-assist laser cuts leave a bright, oxide-free edge that welds without grinding.
Waterjet cutting makes sense on thicker gauges or when you need zero heat on the edge, for example a polished panel that cannot discolor. We arrange every cut through our supply network and quote it with the material, so you are not chasing a second vendor for processing.
What to include in your stainless sheet quote request
- Grade: 304, 304L, 316, 316L or 430
- Gauge or decimal thickness
- Finish, and whether one or both sides, with or without PVC film
- Blank size or part drawing (DXF or PDF), plus grain direction for #4
- Quantity per size
- Mill certs, if you need them with the order
- Delivery city or ZIP