Your drawing says 304, 1.4301 or SUS304 — our mill certificate says 06Cr19Ni10. Here is the complete cross-reference, what really differs, and when the GB equivalent is (and is not) a safe substitute.
Austenitic and ferritic stainless grades, mapped across the four standard systems buyers ask for.
| ASTM A240 (UNS) | EN 10088 | JIS | GB/T 4237 · GB/T 4238 (ISC No.) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 (S30400) | 1.4301 | SUS304 | 06Cr19Ni10 (S30408) | General corrosion, kitchen & architectural |
| 304L (S30403) | 1.4307 | SUS304L | 022Cr19Ni10 (S30403) | Heavy welding, no post-weld heat treatment |
| 304H (S30409) | 1.4948 | — * | 07Cr19Ni10 (S30409) | Boilers, pressure parts, high temperature |
| 316 (S31600) | 1.4401 | SUS316 | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 (S31608) | Chemical equipment |
| 316L (S31603) | 1.4404 | SUS316L | 022Cr17Ni12Mo2 (S31603) | Chloride & chemical service |
| 409L (S40900) | 1.4512 (X2CrTi12) | SUS409L / SUH409L | 022Cr11Ti (S11163) | Automotive exhaust, mufflers |
| 430 (S43000) | 1.4016 | SUS430 | 10Cr17 | Appliance trim, decorative |
* JIS does not list a SUS304H — high-carbon 304 for creep service is ordered as 304H (ASTM/ASME) or 1.4948 (EN). The GB designation (06Cr19Ni10 style) is defined in GB/T 20878; the sheet/coil product standards are GB/T 4237 (hot-rolled) and GB/T 4238 (cold-rolled).
The grades are near-identical on paper — the differences that matter are these five.
| Check Point | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Tensile minimum (304) | GB/T 4237 requires Rm ≥ 520 MPa vs ASTM A240's ≥ 515 MPa — the GB minimum is marginally stricter. Yield is ≥ 205 MPa in both. |
| 316L strength | GB minimums (Rm ≥ 480 MPa, Rp0.2 ≥ 175 MPa) sit close to ASTM A240 316L (≥ 485 / ≥ 170 MPa). Margins are small either way — confirm on the MTC. |
| 304H is its own grade | The H grade carries a controlled carbon window (0.04–0.10%) for creep strength. Never accept plain 304 as a substitute for 304H in boiler/pressure service — and we will not offer one. |
| 409L stabilization | The "L" is low carbon; titanium locks what remains. On the MTC, check both C and Ti — that is what exhaust-forming performance depends on. |
| Surface & tolerance | State the finish explicitly (2B, No.1, BA, 8K, hairline). GB tolerance classes are comparable to ASTM A480 / EN 10088-2 — name the class on the proforma invoice. |
Values are typical published minimums for annealed material — always confirm against the current standard edition and the actual mill test certificate for your heat.
We would rather lose an order than fake a certificate. Three tiers, honestly applied:
The GB grade with its foreign equivalent stated on the MTC is accepted by most buyers and inspectors.
We will tell you openly if a GB route cannot satisfy your documents — before you pay a deposit.
The same three-tier logic applies to carbon steel — e.g. Q235B's 235 MPa minimum yield vs A36's 250 MPa means key structural members step up to Q355B. See the full chart in our GB steel equivalents guide →
One standard system, stated honestly, documented completely.
Send these seven items with your inquiry and you will get an exact, no-surprises quotation:
Learn to read the paperwork: our mill test certificate guide → walks through every field, and the China buying guide → covers payment, inspection and shipping.
For most applications, yes. The chemistry ranges align closely and the GB minimum tensile is marginally higher (≥520 MPa vs ≥515 MPa). Check the MTC chemistry against your specification — for fabrication, kitchen equipment and architectural use, the GB grade is accepted worldwide.
We supply to Chinese GB standards and say so openly. Every order comes with the equivalent-grade cross-reference, a mill test certificate with full chemistry and mechanical results, and optional SGS/BV/TUV inspection — but not a foreign-standard certificate. If your project must have an ASTM/EN/JIS certificate, a GB supply route will not satisfy it, and we would rather tell you now than after the deposit.
Carbon. 316L (GB 022Cr17Ni12Mo2) caps carbon at 0.03% for weld corrosion resistance; 316 (GB 06Cr17Ni12Mo2) suits non-welded parts. Both carry 2.0–3.0% molybdenum.
GB 022Cr11Ti (S11163) — titanium-stabilized, low-carbon ferritic, equivalent to EN 1.4512 and JIS SUS409L. Check C and Ti on the MTC; for OEM programs confirm grade acceptance with your engineer first.
No. We label grades exactly as they test. 201 (GB 12Cr17Mn6Ni5N) is a cheaper Cr-Mn grade sometimes passed off as 304 — our certificates show actual chemistry so you can verify every heat.
Send your grade, size list and destination port — cross-reference and quotation within 24 hours.