Compare carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum by the job they need to do. Then choose the thickness and quote your actual part.
Strength & everyday value
Corrosion resistance & clean finish
Light weight & easy handling
Start with the environment, weight, and finish your part needs. Compare the actual quote before deciding.
On a small screen, scroll the table to compare all three materials.
| What matters | A1011 CS Type B | 304 2B stainless | 3003 aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|
| A useful starting point | Brackets, fixtures, guards | Parts where corrosion resistance matters | Covers, panels, enclosures |
| Weight at the same size and thickness | Reference | Slightly heavier than carbon steel | About one-third of carbon steel |
| Exposure | Plan protection where rust matters | Check the actual environment; stainless can still corrode | Consider the environment and contact with other metals |
| Supplied surface | Mill finish; specify any coating | 2B mill finish | Mill finish |
| Cost considerations | A cost-conscious starting point; coating adds work | Material and cutting costs differ from carbon steel | Lower weight does not guarantee the lowest part price |
| Design consideration | Account for weight and finish requirements | Confirm surface and corrosion requirements | Check stiffness and strength before changing from steel |
Price follows the part. Material, thickness, cut geometry, quantity, bends, and secondary operations all contribute. Upload your file to compare actual part pricing.
Consider carbon steel for brackets, fixtures, mounting plates, and guards, especially when the part will be painted. Include the intended coating in your requirements, and account for the weight when handling larger parts.
Consider: Rust protection and the finished surface.
Carbon steel detailsConsider 304 stainless when the part's environment makes corrosion resistance a priority. Specify a brushed, polished, or other appearance requirement separately, and have the shop review demanding exposure conditions.
Consider: The environment, cleaning conditions, and surface requirements.
Stainless steel detailsConsider 3003 for covers, panels, and enclosures where lower weight helps installation and handling. This general-purpose alloy has moderate strength and good workability. Confirm that the design's stiffness and strength requirements suit it.
Consider: Required strength, stiffness, and the formed geometry.
Aluminum detailsUse decimal inches to specify thickness. All three online materials share these selectable values. Match the selection to the thickness your design needs.
Selectable thicknesses, in inches:
Confirm the actual thickness. Gauge names vary by material. For formed parts, match the decimal thickness to your CAD model. A selectable thickness does not guarantee forming fit: the model, bend length, tooling, and required tonnage also matter.
When Ahner supplies material under .060 inches, the quote includes thin-material pricing and additional sourcing lead time. Review the current price and estimated timing shown on your quote.
View technical limitsMill finish describes the supplied surface. The stainless option is 2B mill finish. Include brushed, polished, or other appearance requirements for shop review, and choose available secondary operations in the quote.
Explore secondary operationsPractical answers about material, thickness, and finish.
Yes. Set the material for each uploaded part, and confirm its thickness. Check every part row before ordering.
A selectable thickness does not guarantee forming fit. The quote checks the actual STEP model, tooling, bend length, and tonnage. Parts outside the online rules need shop review. Read the formed-part review guide.
Ahner-supplied material below .060 inches uses thin-material pricing and adds sourcing lead time. Use the price and timing shown on the quote for your order.
2B is a mill finish. If a brushed, polished, or other specific appearance is required, include that requirement for shop review before ordering.
The online quote supports the three materials and listed thicknesses above. For a different requirement, send a print or PDF request with the exact grade, thickness, quantity, and any finish requirements so the shop can review it.
Yes. Change the selected material for a part and review its refreshed quote. Recheck pricing, estimated timing, and any forming or review findings. A material change should still meet the design's strength, fit, and environment requirements.
Upload a DXF or STEP file, confirm each part's material and thickness, and review pricing and estimated timing.