SS 304 vs SS 430 Stainless Steel: Difference, Magnetism, Composition & Which to Choose (India)

SS 304 is austenitic and packs 8–10% nickel, which is why it's essentially non-magnetic and holds up so well against corrosion. SS 430 skips the nickel entirely. It's ferritic, magnetic, cheaper, and best suited to dry indoor settings or decorative trim. Go with 304 when durability matters, or when the piece will sit outdoors or touch food. Pick 430 when you want to save money and the corrosion risk is minimal. That nickel gap is what the whole 304 vs 430 stainless steel comparison turns on.

Jindal Stainless (JSL) makes both grades on this page as genuine flat products, not Jindal SAW, JSPL or JSW pipe or carbon-steel material. This guide covers ss 304 vs ss 430 (also written ss304 vs ss430, 304 vs 430 ss, and asked as the 304 430 grade difference) as sheet, coil and circle. It answers the common jindal ss 304 vs 430 / jindal 304 430 buying question directly: which grade do you actually order, and where.

By the Relinox Technical Team, Jindal Stainless MoU Partner, based at Ajmeri Gate, one of Delhi's main stainless steel markets.

What's the difference between SS 304 and SS 430?

Stainless 304 and 430 split on two things: nickel content and crystal structure.

304 is austenitic. Roughly 18% chromium, 8–10% nickel, the old "18/8" mix. That nickel is what makes it non-magnetic, easy to form and tough against corrosion.

430 goes the other way. It's ferritic: 16–18% chromium, basically no nickel at all. Drop the nickel and you get a grade that's magnetic, harder to shape, weaker against rust, but cheaper to buy.

That's really the whole story behind the ferritic versus austenitic split people mean when they say 304 430.

In Hindi-market terms, 304 aur 430 me antar, or 304 430 me farak, the short version:

• SS 304, austenitic, 18/8, nickel-bearing, non-magnetic, best all-round corrosion resistance and formability.
• SS 430, ferritic, ~17% Cr, nickel-free, magnetic, cheaper, suited to dry indoor and decorative work.
• Nickel is the differentiator: remove it and the steel turns magnetic, cheaper and less rust-resistant.

SS 304 vs SS 430: side-by-side comparison table

For the full owned specification of each grade, see full SS 304 composition & properties and the SS 430 grade specification & price.

Is 430 magnetic? 304 vs 430 magnetism

430 stainless steel is magnetic, yes. Ask why, or whether, and the answer comes down to its ferritic structure. With almost no nickel in the mix, 430 holds onto the body-centred-cubic iron structure, and that structure responds to a magnet. A magnet sticks to it strongly. It's the first thing buyers check about 430 stainless steel, and for good reason.

Annealed SS 304 is essentially non-magnetic, which is exactly what the is 304 magnetic vs 430 question comes down to. The everyday shorthand 304 non magnetic 430 magnetic holds up broadly: put a magnet on both, and 430 grabs while 304 barely responds. There's one caveat, though. Heavily cold-worked 304 (deep-drawn or hard-bent) can turn mildly magnetic. So a magnet test confirms that 430 isn't 304, but it does not prove a non-magnetic sheet is genuine 304 rather than a cold-worked piece or a 200-series grade. For that, read the mill test certificate.

Chemical composition compared: 304 vs 430 composition

Here's the 304 vs 430 composition at the element level, using standard published ranges per ASTM A240 (mirrored by IS 6911). Nickel content is what actually separates 304 from 430; chromium and nickel are bolded below.

Jindal's SS 304 runs about 8.00 g/cm³, while SS 430 sits closer to 7.70 g/cm³, so a 430 sheet of the same size weighs a bit less. That's the nickel content at work again: it's why 304 gets the nickname 18/8, roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel, whereas 430 is a straight ferritic grade with about 17% chromium and no nickel at all. These figures reflect standard specification limits. For the actual heat analysis, check the mill test certificate, or MTC, that ships with each Jindal coil.

Corrosion resistance & rust: where 304 wins

When it comes to corrosion resistance, 304 beats 430, and it isn't close. More chromium and the addition of nickel give it a tougher passive film that actually heals itself, which is why 304 holds up in atmospheric exposure, humidity, coastal air, fresh water and food-contact settings. SS 430 has less chromium and no nickel at all. It'll do fine, but only indoors, and only where things stay dry.

430 rust? In a dry, clean indoor setting, it holds up just fine. But SS 430 can stain or rust when things get humid, coastal or chloride-heavy, bathrooms, seafronts, salty air, dishwashers running harsh detergents. So the practical rule on 304 vs 430 rust comes down to this: 304 for anything wet, outdoor or exposed to chlorides; 430 only where it stays dry. If corrosion is a real concern for your job, specify 304.

Formability, welding & strength

Formability. Austenitic 304 is far more ductile than ferritic 430, it deep-draws and cold-forms readily, which is why sinks, hollowware and deep-drawn parts get made from it. 430 has limited deep draw capability and springs back more. For bending and shallow forming work, 430 suits flat panels and simple bends. Complex draws are another matter; that's where 304 wins.

Welding. Where 304 vs 430 welding is concerned, and weldability more broadly, 304 takes to standard TIG/MIG practice without fuss. SS 430 is a tougher case. Its ferritic structure grows coarse grains and turns brittle in the weld zone, so the job calls for care: controlled heat, sometimes preheat or post-weld handling. On structural welds, it just doesn't forgive mistakes the way 304 does.

304 vs 430 strength, hardness and mechanical properties put the two grades closer than most people expect at yield. But 304 pulls well ahead on ductility. Heat tells a similar story: neither grade is meant for anything beyond moderate continuous service temperatures, with published figures putting 304 at roughly 870 °C and 430 at about 815 °C. That gap is one more reason 430 stays on cooler-running trim pieces instead of parts that see sustained high heat. Standard annealed-sheet figures are listed in the table.

Mechanical values stick to the standard limits set out in ASTM A240 (and IS 6911). Want to compare the weight of either grade? Check our sheet weight calculator, 430 comes in a touch lighter for the same size.

Cost & price difference: is 430 cheaper than 304?

On the 430 vs 304 price question, is 430 cheaper than 304, yes. The 304 vs 430 cost gap exists because 304 carries 8–10% nickel, an LME-linked alloy whose price swings with the market, while 430 has no nickel. That makes 430 both cheaper and more price-stable, whereas 304's rate tracks the nickel/LME market and moves more.

We do not print a fixed rate here because it moves daily. For the price today and rate per kg, see the dated indicative list on today's SS 304 sheet rate per kg, and for 430 see the SS 430 grade page (430 pricing is folded there), or send your requirement via the RFQ form to confirm today's rate for your size and quantity.

Applications: which grade for which job in India

Match the grade to the environment. The table below covers the usual 304 vs 430 comparison for kitchen work, utensils and cookware; outdoor, architectural and trim jobs; and appliances, panels and dishwasher skins, where 430 earns its lower cost.

On 304 vs 430 food grade and food safe: 430 is used for some non-critical, dry food-contact items, but SS 304 (18/8) is the standard food-grade choice for kitchen equipment and utensils, do not treat 430 as a general food-grade equal of 304. The full split is in our which stainless is food grade guide. Application deep-dives: kitchen equipment, utensils & kitchenware and wall cladding & interiors.

How to tell 304 and 430 apart

For how to tell 304 from 430, the magnet test 304 430 buyers rely on, a magnet is a genuinely useful first step here, unlike with 304-vs-316.

• Magnet test, 430 is magnetic and grabs hard; annealed 304 barely responds at all. It's a quick way to tell the two apart out in the field.
• Limit of the magnet, a non-magnetic result doesn't prove you've got genuine 304, though. It could just as easily be cold-worked stock or a 200-series grade. Only the paperwork settles that.
• Mill test certificate (MTC), check the heat analysis. 304 runs 8–10% nickel; 430 has none. That's the proof you can actually trust.

For the full step-by-step method, including how to spot re-rolled bazaar stock, see how to test genuine 304 stainless.

Which should you choose? 304 or 430

The verdict on which is better, 304 or 430 (or 304 vs. 430, if you prefer that framing), depends entirely on the job at hand. There's no universal winner here.

Choose SS 304 for anything outdoor, humid, coastal or food-related, water tanks, formed parts, welded parts. It's the durable, all-round default.

Choose SS 430 when you want to save money on dry indoor work: decorative panels, cladding skins, trim. This makes sense where corrosion isn't a real concern and forming stays simple.

Rule of thumb: default to 304 for anything wet, formed, or built for the long haul. Drop to 430 only when you're trying to shave cost on dry, indoor, decorative work.

Buy genuine Jindal 304 & 430 from Relinox

Relinox Stainless is a Jindal Stainless MoU partner: an authorized channel for genuine JSL-melted material, not re-rolled bazaar stock. We operate as a stainless 304 vs 430 stainless steel dealer and distributor, and we work hands-on as a supplier, stockist and trader. Both grades sit in our stock as verified Jindal flat product, ready to move. Buyers searching for a 304 430 sheet dealer in delhi, a price today, or a rate per kg enquiry can order both grades in:

• 304 vs 430 sheet and coil, see 304 & 430 sheet and stainless steel coils.
• 304 vs 430 plate (304) and circles, see stainless steel plates and stainless steel circles.
• Patta-patti and cut-to-size, all on genuine Jindal base.

Jindal Stainless makes the steel we ship, and every dispatch carries a mill test certificate (MTC) confirming conformance to ASTM A240 / IS 6911. We're a distributor and stockist based at Ajmeri Gate, one of Delhi's main stainless steel markets, and we dispatch pan-India.

Send your requirement through the RFQ form if you want a quote with MTC, or open a dealer pricing enquiry if you're reselling. For background on the partnership itself, see Jindal Stainless MoU partnership, and check our quality & mill test certificates while you're at it.

Related comparisons & resources

• 304 vs 316, the marine-grade comparison, when chlorides and salt are in play.
• Other grade comparisons: 202 vs 304, 201 vs 304, J4 vs 304.
• Stainless steel vs mild steel, the step below stainless altogether.
• Which stainless is food grade · how to test genuine 304 stainless.
• Standards: ASTM A240 · IS 6911 · Grades hub: all stainless grades · Guides hub: all guides.
• Tools: calculate sheet weight in kg · SS sheet weight chart.

Frequently asked questions