Difference Between Plates and Sheets and Flat Bars

Difference Between Plates and Sheets and Flat Bars

There is a fine line between stainless steel sheets and stainless steel plates. That line is the amount of thickness involved. We will often receive orders for sheet metal that should clearly be a plate and vice versa, so to clear that up, here is a disclaimer.

Stainless Steel Sheet – Sheet is available in a thickness less than .250″- .018” thick. Stainless sheet is usually ordered by gauge thickness width and length. Width starts at 48” wide and length can be 144” long. Custom width and lengths available upon request.

Stainless Steel Plate – Plates are when the thickness of the metal are thicker than 3/16″ to 6″ which may have a #1 HRAP finish. Plate starts at 48” wide the length can be 30’ long. We offer custom sizes.

Stainless Steel Bars – Stainless steel bar stock is often produced in different grains than plates and sheets and are not as wide. The width or length of the bar is what would determine a flat bar to be qualified as plate or bar.