QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
What do 303, 304 and 316 stainless bar cost per pound?
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The editable small-lot inputs used here are $6.24/lb for 303, $6.87/lb for 304 and $8.99/lb for 316. These are quoting assumptions, not independently verified current distributor prices. A usable cut length, diameter, condition and certificate requirement are needed to turn a per-pound figure into a purchase.
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A pound price needs a bar size
The per-foot column uses exactly one-inch-diameter solid round, twelve inches long, with each grade's catalog density. It is a computed material equivalent at the small-lot rate; no supplier has offered that bar at this price. A larger diameter or a short cut can have a different effective pound rate because handling and cut fees are not proportional to weight.
The separate volume values are also application inputs. They illustrate a lower purchased-stock rate when sufficient full bars are consumed, not a verified distributor quantity schedule. Do not present them to a buyer as a promised discount. We could not independently verify dated cut-piece or full-bar offers for all three grades, so those offers are omitted rather than invented.
| Material | Small-lot $/lb | Volume $/lb | 1 in round, $/ft | Density g/cm³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless 303 | $6.24 | $4.37 | $17.00 | 8 |
| Stainless 304 | $6.87 | $4.75 | $18.72 | 8 |
| Stainless 316 | $8.99 | $6.25 | $24.49 | 8 |
Use a real blank in the part estimate
The worked 316 pin finishes at one-inch diameter and two inches long from 1.125-inch bar, without holes or outside processing. The engine's stock-purchase rules include its handling of minimum purchases and quantity allocation. Its material column therefore does not simply multiply finished weight by the listed rate. The table shows the resulting stock, setup and running contributions.
A short job can leave an expensive remnant. Quote the purchased bar and credit a usable drop only under a consistent policy. On a larger run, count usable lengths between kerfs and feeder remnants. Receiving documentation and cut labor need to be carried somewhere, but should not be charged twice if already included in the work-center rate.
| Qty | Setup min/lot | Run min/part at qty | Stock | Setup | Machine/labor | Outside | Markup + floor | Sell/part |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 115.8 | 3.40 | $27.66 | $168.24 | $4.63 | $0.00 | $60.16 | $260.69 |
| 10 | 115.8 | 3.40 | $5.28 | $16.82 | $4.64 | $0.00 | $8.02 | $34.76 |
| 100 | 115.8 | 3.40 | $4.85 | $1.68 | $4.63 | $0.00 | $3.35 | $14.51 |
Material selection is more than the cheapest row
Sandvik's material guidance emphasizes that stainless families and conditions differ in machinability and cutting behavior. The catalog accordingly gives 303, 304 and 316 different machining factors. Those factors are estimating inputs rather than a guarantee of a particular feed, tool life or surface finish on your machine.
Retain the specified grade and condition when comparing quotes. A free-machining alternative needs design approval where corrosion, welding or another application requirement controls the choice. A lower bar price is not a saving if it produces a part that cannot be accepted.
Before release, confirm the diameter tolerance of incoming bar, mill test report, heat-lot identification and available length. Put freight and saw cuts on the purchase comparison. Keep a dated vendor quote with the estimate and refresh that material line when the order is placed, rather than treating a 2026 heading as evidence of live inventory pricing.
Stainless material inputs
- • Catalog small-lot303/304/316 rates6.24/6.87/8.99 USD/lb, volume4.37/4.75/6.25; density8 g/cm³; not current supplier offers.
- • Conversion column:Ø1 in ×12 in. Worked pin:Ø1 ×2 in finished, Ø1.125 raw, ±0.005 in; 316 turning at$90/h, CAM95, bench55, inspection75.
- • Engine stock rules and quantity adjustment; 30% markup, no rules, $65 floor. No passivation, certs, cut fee, tax or freight.
| Material | Small-lot $/lb | Volume $/lb | 1 in round, $/ft | Density g/cm³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless 303 | $6.24 | $4.37 | $17.00 | 8 |
| Stainless 304 | $6.87 | $4.75 | $18.72 | 8 |
| Stainless 316 | $8.99 | $6.25 | $24.49 | 8 |
Sources and limits
Claims are dated where they can change. Product calculations are examples from the stated inputs, not a promise about a customer's quote. Competitor wording is attributed to the source shown.
- Sandvik explains that stainless material families and conditions affect machinability; the quoted catalog factors are separate estimating assumptions. — source (checked 2026-10-30)
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