Our stainless steel sheet is grade 304 austenitic stainless steel sheet metal in a full 8x4 (2500 x 1250mm) size with a 2B mill finish, stocked in five thicknesses from 0.9mm up to 3mm. Grade 304 delivers excellent corrosion resistance, a hygienic non-porous surface, easy fabrication and long life across UK indoor and outdoor use — the standard specification for splashbacks, cladding, food-preparation surfaces, catering fabrication, chemical and sanitary applications, and industrial or decorative work. Free UK mainland delivery in 3–5 working days.
304 Stainless Steel Sheet — Grade & Specification
Grade 304 (also known as 1.4301 in European designation) is the most widely specified austenitic 304 stainless steel sheet. It contains typically 18% chromium and 8% nickel, giving it exceptional corrosion resistance, excellent formability and outstanding weldability. It resists oxidation and rust across a wide range of indoor and outdoor environments, requires minimal maintenance, and is fully food-grade suitable — the go-to specification for kitchen splashbacks, food-processing equipment, catering surfaces, and any application where hygiene and durability matter.
2B Finish — Standard Mill Finish
Our sheets are supplied with a 2B finish — the smooth, dull, lightly reflective standard mill finish for general fabrication work. 2B is the result of cold-rolling, annealing, pickling and a final light skin-pass through polished rolls. It gives a uniform, consistent surface that fabricators can polish further to a brighter finish (BA, No.4 brushed, mirror) if needed, or use as supplied for splashbacks, cladding and industrial applications where a bright finish isn't essential. If your project needs a decorative finish (No.4 brush, satin, or mirror polish), 2B sheet is the base material — finishing is done after fabrication.
Stainless Steel Sheet Thicknesses — Choosing the Right Gauge
- 0.9mm — the lightest gauge, ideal for splashbacks, wall cladding panels, signage and decorative wraps where structural strength isn't the requirement.
- 1.2mm — general-purpose stainless sheet metal, used for kitchen worktops, catering surfaces, appliance cladding and fabricated panels.
- 1.5mm — stronger sheet for worktops, fabricated tanks, machinery panels and heavier splashbacks.
- 2mm — semi-structural gauge for industrial fabrication, tanks, machinery housings and heavy-duty catering equipment.
- 3mm — the heaviest sheet gauge before crossing into stainless plate territory. Used for structural fabrication, tanks and machinery bases where you need real stiffness.
Common Uses — Stainless Steel Sheet Metal
Grade 304 stainless steel sheet metal is used for kitchen splashbacks and worktops, food-processing and catering equipment, wall cladding and decorative panels, fabrication for machinery and housings, chemical and sanitary applications, medical and laboratory environments, marine and coastal fabrication, and general industrial work. Its non-porous, hygienic surface makes it particularly suited to food-grade and medical environments where cleanability is critical.
Stainless Steel Sheet vs Mild Steel & Aluminium
Compared to mild steel sheet, 304 stainless offers vastly superior corrosion resistance and a decorative finish without needing painting or galvanising — but at a higher price point. Compared to aluminium sheet (1050 H14), stainless is stronger and more heat-resistant, though aluminium is lighter and cheaper per sheet. Choose stainless where corrosion, hygiene or fire resistance matter; choose mild steel for structural work where surface finish isn't critical (and paint or galvanise it afterwards); choose aluminium where weight matters. For decorative anti-slip work see our aluminium chequer plate or mild steel durbar plate ranges.
Grade 304 vs 316 Stainless
Grade 304 is the standard specification for the majority of indoor and general outdoor UK applications. Grade 316 adds molybdenum for improved resistance to chlorides and marine environments — specified for coastal fabrication, swimming pool areas, industrial chemical exposure and marine work. If your application involves salt spray, chloride exposure or a marine environment, specify 316. For a full comparison, read our 304 vs 316 stainless steel guide.
Cutting, Welding & Fabrication
Grade 304 stainless steel can be cut, drilled, punched, bent, formed and welded using standard steelwork tools and methods. It welds cleanly with TIG or MIG using appropriate 308 filler wire. When cutting, use stainless-specific tooling to avoid cross-contamination that can cause corrosion on the sheet. This sheet is supplied as a full 8x4 (2500 x 1250mm) sheet — we do not cut sheet to size.
Related Stainless Sections
Building a frame to match? See our 304/316 stainless round tube, box & rectangle section, equal angle, square bar and round bar.
Technical Specification
| Material | Grade 304 stainless steel (1.4301) |
| Finish | 2B (smooth dull mill finish) |
| Sheet size | 2500 x 1250mm (8x4) |
| Thicknesses available | 0.9mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent — indoor and outdoor |
| Hygiene | Non-porous, food-grade suitable |
| Weldability | Excellent — TIG/MIG with 308 filler |
| Supplied as | Full 8x4 sheet — not cut to size |
| Delivery | Free UK mainland, 3–5 working days |
Stainless Steel Sheet Weight Chart (304, 8x4)
Approximate weight for a full 2500 x 1250mm sheet. Weights calculated from published sheet densities (mild/galvanised steel 7.85, 304 stainless 7.90, aluminium 2.71 g/cm³) to BS EN 10088 / EN standard figures. Sheets over 25kg need help to offload.
| Thickness | Weight (kg/m²) | Per sheet (2500 x 1250mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.9mm | 7.11 kg/m² | 22.2 kg |
| 1.2mm | 9.48 kg/m² | 29.6 kg |
| 1.5mm | 11.85 kg/m² | 37.0 kg |
| 2.0mm | 15.8 kg/m² | 49.4 kg |
| 3.0mm | 23.7 kg/m² | 74.1 kg |
Compare Our Full Sheet Metal Range
Not sure which sheet is right for your job? Compare the full Rackerman sheet metal range:
- Mild steel sheet & plate — CR4 cold-rolled and S275 structural plate
- Galvanised steel sheet — hot-dip zinc coated for outdoor use
- Zintec sheet — electro-zinc coated, smooth and paint-ready
- 304 stainless steel sheet — 240 grit brushed
- 304 stainless steel sheet — mirror finish
- Aluminium sheet — 1050 H14
- Aluminium chequer plate
- Mild steel durbar / checker plate
Need to convert gauge or estimate weight? See our sheet metal gauge to mm chart and metal weight calculator.
Delivery Information
Free UK mainland delivery, 3–5 working day lead time. Larger and thicker sheets are heavy items — please ensure suitable delivery access is available and assistance with unloading may be needed on arrival. Contact us for a custom quote on bulk or trade quantities.