316 Stainless Steel Pipe Specifications: Grades, Standards, Sizes

316 stainless steel pipe is an austenitic stainless steel pipe containing chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. The addition of molybdenum provides good resistance to corrosion, especially in chloride-containing and other demanding environments.

316 stainless steel pipes are available in seamless and welded types, with different sizes, wall thicknesses, schedules, lengths, and surface finishes. This page provides the main 316 stainless steel pipe specifications, including grades, standards, sizes, schedules, and material properties.

1. 316 Stainless Steel Pipe Specifications

The following table provides a quick reference to the main specifications of 316 stainless steel pipe.

Item	Specification
Product Name	316 Stainless Steel Pipe
Material Grade	TP316 / TP316L
Material Type	Austenitic Stainless Steel
Product Type	Seamless pipe / Welded Pipe
Manufacturing Process	Hot Rolled, Cold Drawn, Welded
Standard	ASTM A312 / ASME SA312
Dimension Standard	ASME B36.19M
Size Range	NPS 1/8 and above according to customer requirements
Outside Diameter	According to ASME B36.19M
Wall Thickness	SCH 5S, SCH 10S, SCH 40S, SCH 80S and other schedules
Schedule	5S, 10S, 40S, 80S
Length	5.8 m, 6 m, 11.8 m, Customized
Surface Finish	Pickled, Annealed, Polished, Bright Annealed
End Type	Plain End, Beveled End, Threaded End (optional)
Heat Treatment	Solution Annealing
Inspection	Dimensional Inspection, Hydrostatic Test, NDT (as required)
Certification	Mill Test Certificate (MTC) EN 10204 3.1
Application	Chemical, Oil & Gas, Food Processing, Pharmaceutical, Marine

Note: Actual specifications depend on the applicable product standard, pipe type, size, schedule, and customer requirements.

 

2. 316 Stainless Steel Pipe Size Chart

316 stainless steel pipes are available in different outside diameters and wall thicknesses. The original page provides a welded-pipe size range of approximately 6–530 mm outside diameter, with wall thicknesses from 0.5–45 mm, depending on the product size and requirements.
For standard pipe dimensions, ASME B36.19M provides standardized outside diameters and wall thicknesses for stainless steel pipe. For a given nominal pipe size, the outside diameter generally remains standardized while the wall thickness changes with the selected schedule.

2.1 Typical 316 Stainless Steel Pipe Sizes

NPS	DN	Outside Diameter	Common Schedules
1/2"	DN15	21.3 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
1"	DN25	33.4 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
2"	DN50	60.3 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
3"	DN80	88.9 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
4"	DN100	114.3 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
6"	DN150	168.3 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
8"	DN200	219.1 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
10"	DN250	273.1 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S
12"	DN300	323.9 mm	5S / 10S / 40S / 80S

For a more complete reference covering stainless steel pipe dimensions, wall thickness, and theoretical weight, see the stainless steel pipe dimensions and weight chart.

3. 316 Stainless Steel Pipe Schedule and Wall Thickness

The pipe schedule indicates the wall-thickness series. For the same nominal pipe size, a higher schedule generally means a thicker wall and a smaller internal diameter. Stainless steel pipe schedules commonly include 5S, 10S, 40S, and 80S under ASME B36.19M.

Schedule	Wall Thickness	Typical Characteristics
5S	Thin	Lightweight piping applications
10S	Light	General industrial piping
40S	Medium	Higher wall thickness and strength
80S	Heavy	More demanding pressure and service conditions

The exact wall thickness depends on the nominal pipe size. For example, a 4-inch stainless steel pipe has an outside diameter of 114.3 mm; its wall thickness is 6.02 mm for 40S and 8.56 mm for 80S.

4. 316 vs 316L Stainless Steel Pipe

316 and 316L are closely related austenitic stainless steel grades. The main difference is carbon content, with 316L being the low-carbon version.

Item	316	316L
Carbon Content	Higher	Lower
Grade	TP316	TP316L
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent	Excellent
Weldability	Good	Better suited to welded applications
Common Use	General corrosion-resistant service	Welded and corrosion-sensitive applications

The appropriate grade should be selected according to the applicable standard, welding requirements, corrosion environment, and project specifications.

5. ASTM A312 TP316 Stainless Steel Pipe

ASTM A312 is a commonly specified standard for seamless, welded, and heavily cold-worked austenitic stainless steel pipe intended for high-temperature and general corrosive service.

316 stainless steel pipe may be supplied as ASTM A312 TP316, while the low-carbon version is commonly specified as ASTM A312 TP316L.

When purchasing 316 stainless steel pipe, buyers should confirm:

• Grade
• Product type
• Nominal size
• Schedule
• Length
• Surface finish
• Applicable standard
• Inspection and testing requirements

6. FAQs

What are the specifications of 316 stainless steel pipe?

316 stainless steel pipe specifications include the grade, standard, pipe type, size, schedule, wall thickness, length, and surface finish. Common grades include TP316 and TP316L.

What sizes are available for 316 stainless steel pipe?

316 stainless steel pipe is available in a wide range of nominal pipe sizes and outside diameters. The actual wall thickness depends on the selected pipe schedule and applicable standard.

What schedule is available for 316 stainless steel pipe?

Common stainless steel pipe schedules include 5S, 10S, 40S, and 80S. The available schedule depends on the pipe size and applicable dimensional standard.

What is the difference between 316 and 316L stainless steel pipe?

316L is the low-carbon version of 316 stainless steel. The lower carbon content makes 316L particularly suitable for applications involving welding.

What standard is used for 316 stainless steel pipe?

ASTM A312 is commonly used for austenitic stainless steel pipe, while ASME B36.19M is commonly used for stainless steel pipe dimensions and schedules.

Read more: 

304 and 316 Stainless Steel Pipes, Which One is Better?

Does 316 Stainless Steel Rust?

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