Stainless Steel Tubes
Tubes are hollow sections specified by exact outside diameter and wall thickness, with tighter tolerances than pipe. They're used for heat exchangers, boilers, instrumentation, hydraulics and mechanical parts, where precise dimensions and surface quality matter.
Choose a grade below for specifications, composition, sizes and weight charts.
Stainless Steel tubes by grade
| Grade | Specification | Key characteristic | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 201 Tubes | ASTM A554 | Lower nickel content than SS 304, so a lower and more stable price | Kitchenware, sinks and catering equipment |
| SS 202 Tubes | ASTM A554 | Economical austenitic grade with reduced nickel | Utensils, sinks and hotel ware |
| SS 304 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP304 | Balanced corrosion resistance, formability and cost | Food, dairy and beverage processing equipment |
| SS 304L Tubes | ASTM A213 TP304L | Carbon limited to 0.030% for weld-zone corrosion resistance | Welded process piping and headers |
| SS 304H Tubes | ASTM A213 TP304H | Carbon 0.04–0.10% for elevated-temperature strength | Superheater and reheater tubes |
| SS 309 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP309 | About 23% Cr / 13% Ni for scaling resistance | Furnace parts, muffles and retorts |
| SS 309S Tubes | ASTM A213 TP309S | Low carbon for better weldability | Furnace linings, doors and dampers |
| SS 310 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP310 | 25% Cr / 20% Ni for maximum scaling resistance among standard grades | Radiant tubes and furnace rolls |
| SS 310S Tubes | ASTM A213 TP310S | Low carbon for weldability | Furnace components, hearths and dampers |
| SS 316 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP316 | 2–3% molybdenum for chloride pitting resistance | Chemical and petrochemical process equipment |
| SS 316L Tubes | ASTM A213 TP316L | Carbon 0.030% max for weld-zone corrosion resistance | Chemical and fertiliser process piping |
| SS 316Ti Tubes | ASTM A213 TP316Ti | Titanium-stabilised against sensitisation | Heat exchangers and pressure vessels to EN / AD 2000 |
| SS 317 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP317 | 3–4% molybdenum for higher pitting resistance | Flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems |
| SS 317L Tubes | ASTM A213 TP317L | Low carbon for welded construction | FGD scrubbers and absorber towers |
| SS 321 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP321 | Titanium-stabilised: Ti ≥ 5×(C+N) | Exhaust systems and manifolds |
| SS 321H Tubes | ASTM A213 TP321H | Carbon 0.04–0.10% with Ti stabilisation | Refinery hydrocracker and reformer piping |
| SS 347 Tubes | ASTM A213 TP347 | Niobium-stabilised: Nb ≥ 10×C | Refinery piping and heater tubes |
| SS 347H Tubes | ASTM A213 TP347H | High creep-rupture strength | Superheater and reheater tubes (A213 TP347H / TP347HFG) |
| SS 409 Tubes | ASTM A268 TP409 | About 11% chromium: lowest-cost stainless | Automotive exhaust systems and mufflers |
| SS 430 Tubes | ASTM A268 TP430 | Nickel-free: lower, more stable price | Household appliances and dishwasher linings |
| SS 441 Tubes | ASTM A268 | 18% Cr, Ti + Nb stabilised | Automotive exhaust manifolds and front pipes |
| SS 446 Tubes | ASTM A268 TP446 | 23–27% chromium for scaling resistance | Furnace parts and annealing boxes |
| SS 904L Tubes | ASTM B677 / B674 | High Ni-Mo-Cu for sulphuric and phosphoric acids | Sulphuric acid plants and coolers |
| Duplex 2205 Tubes | ASTM A789 S32205 | Yield strength about 450 MPa: roughly twice that of SS 316L | Oil and gas flowlines, manifolds and process piping |
| Super Duplex 2507 Tubes | ASTM A789 S32750 | PREN ≥ 40: suitable for seawater | Seawater cooling and firewater piping |
| SS 253 MA Tubes | ASTM A213 / A249 S30815 | Lean alloy (21Cr-11Ni) with Si, N and Ce | Furnace components, muffles and radiant tubes |
| SS 254 SMO Tubes | ASTM A269 / A249 S31254 | 6% molybdenum super-austenitic | Seawater cooling and heat exchangers |
How stainless steel tubes are made, sized and tested
How it's madeSeamless tubes are hot-extruded or pierced and then cold-drawn or pilgered to size. Welded tubes are formed from strip, welded (TIG/laser/HF), bead-worked and drawn or sized. Heat-exchanger and boiler tubes are annealed after final forming, and U-tubes are bent and stress-relieved as required.
- Size range
- OD 3 mm to about 127 mm (¼" to 5") typical, wall 0.5 mm to 12 mm; BWG or mm; straight lengths up to about 30 m, U-bent to drawing
- Finish
- Annealed & pickled, bright annealed (BA), polished (sanitary), cold-drawn
- Ends
- Plain square-cut, deburred; U-bends with stress-relieved bends on request
Testing & documents
- Eddy-current and/or ultrasonic testing on each tube
- Hydrostatic or pneumatic test
- Flattening, flaring and flange tests
- Grain size (H grades), IGC and hardness when specified
- Surface roughness (Ra) for sanitary and instrumentation tube
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pipe and a tube?
Pipes are ordered by nominal size and schedule for carrying fluids. Tubes are ordered by exact OD and wall thickness, with tighter tolerances, for heat transfer, instrumentation and structural uses.
What is BWG?
Birmingham Wire Gauge, a traditional system for tube wall thickness. Higher numbers are thinner walls (for example 16 BWG = 1.65 mm).
Which stainless steel grades are available as tubes?
SS 201, SS 202, SS 304, SS 304L, SS 304H, SS 309, SS 309S, SS 310, SS 310S, SS 316, SS 316L, SS 316Ti, SS 317, SS 317L, SS 321, SS 321H, SS 347, SS 347H, SS 409, SS 430, SS 441, SS 446, SS 904L, Duplex 2205, Super Duplex 2507, SS 253 MA, SS 254 SMO.
Which specifications cover stainless steel tubes?
ASTM A554, ASTM A213, ASTM A268, ASTM B677, ASTM A789, ASTM A269, depending on grade.
Need stainless steel tubes?
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