Stainless Steel 305 · supply condition
Stainless Steel 305 Cold Drawn
Properties of the Cold Drawn condition, compared with the other 305 tempers.
Pick for straight bar and wire needing better surface, tighter tolerance and modest strength gain while keeping heading ductility.
What is 305 Cold Drawn?
305 Cold Drawn is 305 supplied in the Cold Drawn condition — pick for straight bar and wire needing better surface, tighter tolerance and modest strength gain while keeping heading ductility. 305 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 67% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi). 305 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F). Annealed is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Drawn is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 220 MPa·√m (200.2 ksi·√in), better than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 82/100, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades
305 Cold Drawn properties
Typical room-temperature values for 305 Cold Drawn — 36 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 305 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the stainless steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
305 Cold Drawn has a density of 7.93 g/cm³ (0.286 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,400°C (2,552 °F).
Mechanical16
305 Cold Drawn has a yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 67% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 193 GPa (28 Msi).
Thermal6
305 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous service to 760°C (1,400 °F). It conducts heat at 16.2 W/m·K (9.36 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 17.3 µm/m·K (9.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
305 Cold Drawn conducts electricity at 2.4 % IACS, better than 67% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (63/100), better than 52% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 305 Cold Drawn takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
305 Cold Drawn's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability good (65/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 305 tempers and conditions
305 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 305 overview.
- AnnealedDefaultDefault stock condition for sheet, plate, coil and cold-heading wire; maximum ductility for drawing, spinning and multi-blow heading.260 MPa yield · 150 HB
- Cold DrawnPick for straight bar and wire needing better surface, tighter tolerance and modest strength gain while keeping heading ductility.430 MPa yield · 200 HB
- Hot FinishedHot-rolled/hot-forged and solution-annealed 305 bar: soft, fully austenitic, non-magnetic condition supplied for further forming or machining.250 MPa yield · 150 HB
Working with 305 Cold Drawn
Is 305 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305 be welded?
Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
Can 305 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What surface finishes work on 305?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
305 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A240/A276 | ≤ 0.12 | 0.06 |
| SiEN 1.4303 allows ≤1.00 | ≤ 0.75 | 0.45 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 1.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cr | 17 – 19 | 18 |
| Nihigh Ni stabilises austenite, lowers n-value | 10.5 – 13 | 11.75 |
| NEN 1.4303 limit | ≤ 0.1 | 0.04 |
| Fe | balance | — |
305 Cold Drawn — frequently asked
What is 305 Cold Drawn used for?
305 Cold Drawn is typically used for sinks, hollowware and spinning cones. In short: deep-drawing austenitic stainless.
What is the yield strength of 305 Cold Drawn?
305 Cold Drawn has a typical yield strength of 430 MPa (62.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 655 MPa (95 ksi) — stronger than 67% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 305 Cold Drawn easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 84% of stainless steel grades). Gummy and stringy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, 0.15 mm+ feed to break the chip, rigid setup and flood coolant; expect ~40 % of AISI 1212 rates.
Can 305 Cold Drawn be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Weld with GTAW/GMAW using 308L/308LSi filler; low-ferrite 305 weld metal is hot-crack sensitive, so limit heat input, avoid restraint and skip preheat.
What surface finishes work on 305 Cold Drawn?
Passivate per ASTM A967 or electropolish after forming; takes BA and No.8 mirror polish well, and stays non-magnetic so magnetic-particle-free assemblies are possible.
Can 305 Cold Drawn be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding for deep drawing, spinning and 4–6 blow cold heading thanks to a low work-hardening exponent; intermediate anneals are rarely needed.
What is the maximum service temperature of 305 Cold Drawn?
305 Cold Drawn is rated for continuous use to about 760°C (1,400 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 305 Cold Drawn?
Yes — 305 Cold Drawn is available for sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM A240/A240M — Cr and Cr-Ni stainless plate, sheet and strip — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM A276/A276M — Stainless steel bars and shapes — ASTM International (2023)
- EN 10088-1/-2 — Stainless steels, grade 1.4303 — CEN (2014)
- JIS G 4305 / G 4303 — SUS305 — JSA (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- ASM Handbook Vol.16 — Machining — ASM International (1989)
- Austenitic cold-heading grade 305 wire data — Sandvik / Outokumpu (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.