Engineering · Tool 06
Material Grade Equivalents Across Standards
ASTM/SAE · EN/DIN · IS · JIS · GB
Pick the standard and grade you have, and see the nearest equivalent in the other four — plus the typical yield, tensile strength and where the grade is normally used.
Nearest equivalent, not identical. No two national standards specify exactly the same chemistry and mechanical limits — these are commonly cited practical matches. Confirm against the actual mill certificate for anything load- or pressure-critical.
Find Equivalent Grades
Select the standard you're starting from, then the grade.
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Common use
Full Cross-Reference Table
| Material group | ASTM / SAE | EN / DIN | IS | JIS | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild / Low-Carbon Structural Steel ~235–250 MPa yield | A36 | S235JR (old DIN St37-2) | E250 (IS 2062, Gr A) | SS400 | Q235 |
| Higher-Strength Structural Steel ~345–355 MPa yield | A572 Grade 50 | S355JR (old DIN St52-3) | E350 (IS 2062, Gr B/C) | SM490 | Q345 |
| Medium-Carbon Steel (C45 type) Through-hardening grade | 1045 | C45E (DIN Ck45) | C45 (IS 1570) | S45C | 45# |
| Low-Carbon Case-Hardening Steel (C15 type) Carburizing grade | 1018 | C15E (DIN Ck15) | C14 (IS 1570) | S15C | 15# |
| Chromoly Alloy Steel (4140 type) High-strength Q&T grade | 4140 | 42CrMo4 | — | SCM440 | 42CrMo |
| Austenitic Stainless Steel (304 type) General-purpose stainless | 304 (UNS S30400) | 1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10) | 04Cr18Ni10 (IS 6911) | SUS304 | 06Cr19Ni10 |
| Austenitic Stainless Steel (316 type) Marine/chemical-grade stainless | 316 (UNS S31600) | 1.4401 (X5CrNiMo17-12-2) | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 (IS 6911) | SUS316 | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 |
Explanatory Notes
"Equivalent" means closest match, not identical
ASTM A36, EN S235JR, IS E250, JIS SS400 and GB Q235 all sit in the same strength class and get treated as interchangeable in casual conversation — but each standard allows a slightly different chemistry window and impact-toughness requirement. For general fabrication the difference rarely matters; for anything requiring a specific certified property, it can.
Old DIN designations still show up
Germany's DIN steel designations (St37-2, St52-3, Ck45, Ck15) were formally superseded by EN 10025/10083 designations (S235JR, S355JR, C45E, C15E) decades ago, but the old names are still printed on mill certificates and used verbally on shop floors across many countries — both are shown here together for that reason.
Alloy steel strength depends on heat treatment
Unlike the structural steel groups, 4140/42CrMo4-type alloy steel's strength isn't fixed by the grade alone — the same bar stock can range from roughly 655 MPa to over 1000 MPa yield depending entirely on the quench-and-temper condition it's supplied or heat-treated to. Always specify the condition, not just the grade.
Cross-reference with the other tools
Once a grade is confirmed, the Bolt Grades tool covers fastener property classes specifically (a different numbering system from structural steel grades), and Friction Coefficient Finder covers how these materials behave in sliding or rolling contact.
Basis: commonly cited nearest-equivalent groupings compiled from published steel standard cross-reference tables (ASTM/SAE, EN 10025/10083, IS 2062/1570/6911, JIS G3101/G4051/G4303, GB/T 700/699/1220). Mechanical properties are typical/representative ranges, not guaranteed values for any specific mill run — always confirm against the mill certificate for load- or pressure-critical work.