What is 2B finish and No.4 finish on stainless steel?

2B is a smooth, mildly reflective cold-rolled mill finish — the standard for most industrial sheet. No.4 is a brushed satin finish produced by polishing with abrasive belts, used for architectural, kitchen and decorative applications. We stock SS sheet in 2B, No.4 and mirror (BA) finishes, supplied in protective sheet packets.

Which SS plate grade should I choose — 304, 316, 310, 410 or 317?

SS 304/304L suits general and food-grade use. SS 316/316L adds molybdenum for chloride and marine resistance. SS 310 is for high-temperature service up to ~1100°C. SS 410 is a hardenable martensitic grade for wear and moderate corrosion. SS 317 offers higher molybdenum for severe chemical service. We help match the grade to your application.

Material GuideJune 2026 · 8 min read

Stainless Steel Sheet & Plate — Grades, Finishes & Sizes Guide

Q: What is the difference between SS sheet and SS plate?

The difference is thickness. Stainless steel sheet is generally up to about 6mm thick and is supplied cold-rolled with finishes like 2B, BA or No.4. Stainless steel plate is above 6mm (5mm to 150mm) and is hot-rolled, used for heavier fabrication. Creative Metal Industries stocks both SS sheet and SS plate in 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 310, 317 and 410 grades.

Stainless steel sheet and stainless steel plate are the most versatile SS products — used everywhere from kitchen equipment to chemical reactors. This guide covers the key grades (SS 304, SS 304L, SS 316, SS 310, SS 317, SS 410), the common finishes (2B and No.4), thickness ranges and sizing. As a leading SS sheet and plate supplier in Vadodara, Creative Metal Industries stocks all grades cut-to-size with mill test certificates.

SS Sheet vs SS Plate — What's the Difference?

The distinction is thickness and rolling route. SS sheet is cold-rolled, generally up to ~6mm, and carries a defined surface finish (2B, BA, No.4). It is supplied in protective sheet packets to prevent scratches. SS plate is hot-rolled, from 5mm to 150mm thick, used for structural and heavy fabrication. Both are conformed to ASTM A240 / A480 for chemical and mechanical properties.

Grades — SS 304, 304L, 316, 310, 317, 410

Grade	Type	Key Property	Best For
SS 304	Austenitic	18/8, general corrosion resistance	Food, dairy, general fabrication
SS 304L	Austenitic	Low carbon — weld-friendly	Welded tanks & vessels
SS 316	Austenitic	Molybdenum added	Marine, chemical, coastal
SS 316L	Austenitic	Low carbon + Mo	Welded chemical equipment
SS 310	Austenitic	High Cr-Ni	High-temp furnace parts (~1100°C)
SS 317	Austenitic	Higher molybdenum	Severe chemical service
SS 410	Martensitic	Hardenable	Wear parts, cutlery, valves

We stock SS 304 plate, SS 316 plate, SS 304L sheet, SS 310 plate & sheet, SS 410 plate & sheet and SS 317 sheet in a wide range of thicknesses — all to ASTM A240.

Surface Finishes — 2B, No.4 & Mirror (BA)

2B finish: Smooth, mildly reflective cold-rolled mill finish — the default for industrial and process sheet
No.4 finish: Brushed satin finish from abrasive-belt polishing — architectural, kitchen and decorative use
BA / Mirror finish: Bright annealed, highly reflective — premium decorative and hygienic applications
No.1 / HR finish: Hot-rolled, annealed and pickled — for plate and heavy fabrication
Sheet packets: Sheets are supplied in protected packets with PVC/film to avoid surface scratches in transit

Sizes & Thickness

SS sheets are available 0.4mm to 6mm thick in standard sizes 1219×2438mm, 1219×3048mm and 1500×3000mm. SS plates run 5mm to 150mm thick, in widths to 3000mm. All can be sheared, plasma or laser cut-to-size to your drawing, reducing fabrication waste on site.

Why Source SS Sheet & Plate from Creative Metal Industries?

All grades in stock: SS 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 310, 317, 410 sheet and plate
All finishes: 2B, No.4, BA/mirror and HR No.1 — supplied in protective sheet packets
Mill brands: Jindal, POSCO, Aperam, Outokumpu with full ASTM A240 MTC
Cut-to-size: Shearing, plasma and laser cutting to your exact drawing
Vadodara stock: Same-day dispatch across Gujarat and pan-India supply

Frequently Asked Questions — SS Sheet & Plate

What is the difference between SS sheet and SS plate?

Thickness. SS sheet is up to ~6mm, cold-rolled with 2B/No.4/BA finishes. SS plate is 5–150mm, hot-rolled for heavy fabrication. We stock both in 304, 304L, 316, 310, 317 and 410 grades.

What is 2B finish and No.4 finish?

2B is a smooth, mildly reflective mill finish for industrial sheet. No.4 is a brushed satin finish for architectural and kitchen use. We also stock BA/mirror finish, supplied in protective sheet packets.

Which SS plate grade should I choose?

304/304L for general and food use, 316/316L for marine and chemical, 310 for high temperature, 410 for wear/hardenable parts, 317 for severe chemical service. We help match the grade to your application.