304 vs 316 Stainless Steel
The definitive comparison for PMI inspectors and material engineers.
Key Differences
| Property | 304 | 316 |
|---|---|---|
| ---------- | ----- | ----- |
| Cr | ~18% | ~16–18% |
| Ni | ~8% | ~10–14% |
| Mo | — | ~2–3% |
| Chloride resistance | Good | Excellent |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
When to use 304
General corrosion resistance, food processing, architecture, and kitchen equipment where chloride exposure is limited.
When to use 316
Marine environments, pharmaceutical piping, chemical processing, and any application with chloride or salt exposure.
XRF Identification
316's molybdenum content is the key differentiator. Specelex XRF measures Mo in seconds to confirm 316 vs 304 in PMI workflows.
Use our [AI Material Expert](/en/ai) to identify grades from composition input like "Cr 18 Ni 8" or "Cr 17 Ni 10 Mo 2.5".