Steel is the most widely stamped metal in the world. From automotive body panels and structural brackets to electrical enclosures and appliance housings, stamped steel parts are everywhere in modern products. But “steel” is not one material – it is a family of hundreds of grades, each with distinct mechanical properties that affect how it stamps, how it performs in service, and what it costs.
This guide covers the steel grades most commonly used in metal stamping, their key properties, and how to choose the right grade for your application.
Why Steel Dominates Metal Stamping
Steel accounts for roughly 60-70% of all metal stamped parts by tonnage. The reasons are straightforward:
- Cost – carbon steel costs $0.30-$0.80/lb depending on grade, far less than stainless steel or aluminum on a per-pound basis
- Strength – steel offers the highest strength-to-cost ratio of any structural metal
- Formability – low-carbon steel grades (1008, 1010) are among the most formable metals available, allowing deep draws and tight bends
- Availability – steel strip and coil stock are available in every thickness, width, and temper from dozens of service centers
- Weldability – most steel grades join readily by spot welding, MIG, TIG, or laser welding
- Finishing options – steel accepts plating, painting, powder coating, and heat treatment
Common Steel Grades for Stamping
Low-Carbon Steel (Mild Steel)
Low-carbon steels (0.05-0.25% carbon) are the default choice for most stamped parts. They combine excellent formability with adequate strength for structural applications.
| Grade | Carbon % | Tensile (ksi) | Yield (ksi) | Elongation % | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1006 | 0.06 | 43-50 | 24-32 | 35-42 | Deep draw parts, complex forms |
| 1008 | 0.08 | 44-52 | 26-34 | 33-40 | General stamping, brackets, clips |
| 1010 | 0.10 | 47-56 | 28-36 | 30-38 | Most common stamping grade |
| 1018 | 0.18 | 58-64 | 32-44 | 25-30 | Structural brackets, higher strength needs |
| 1020 | 0.20 | 60-68 | 34-46 | 23-28 | Gears, pins, moderate strength parts |
CRS (Cold Rolled Steel) in these grades offers superior surface finish and tighter thickness tolerances than HRS (Hot Rolled Steel), making CRS the standard for precision stampings. HRS is used where surface quality is less critical and material cost is the priority.
High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steel
HSLA steels achieve higher strength than plain carbon steel through small additions of alloying elements (niobium, vanadium, titanium) rather than higher carbon content. This means they maintain reasonable formability while delivering 50-80 ksi yield strength.
| Grade | Yield (ksi) | Elongation % | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSLA 50 | 50 min | 22-28 | Good formability with higher strength |
| HSLA 60 | 60 min | 18-24 | Structural automotive parts |
| HSLA 70 | 70 min | 14-20 | Chassis and frame components |
| HSLA 80 | 80 min | 12-18 | High-load structural applications |
HSLA steels are widely used in automotive metal stamping for structural brackets, cross-members, and reinforcements where weight savings are critical. Using HSLA allows thinner gauge material to carry the same load as thicker mild steel, reducing part weight by 15-30%.
Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS)
AHSS grades push the strength-to-weight boundary even further, achieving 80-200+ ksi tensile strength through specialized microstructures. These steels are critical for automotive crash-safety components.
- Dual Phase (DP) – DP590, DP780, DP980 – excellent combination of strength and formability for energy-absorbing structures
- TRIP (Transformation-Induced Plasticity) – TRIP590, TRIP780 – high energy absorption for crash zones
- Martensitic – M1200, M1500 – extremely high strength (170-220 ksi) for intrusion-resistant parts
- Press-Hardened (PHS) – 22MnB5 – hot-stamped at 900C then quenched in-die to achieve 200+ ksi
AHSS requires higher press tonnage, more robust tooling, and careful die design to manage springback. Servo presses are often preferred for AHSS stamping because their programmable slide motion allows optimized forming speeds.
Spring Steel
Spring steels (1050, 1065, 1074, 1095, 301 stainless) are medium-to-high carbon grades that can be heat treated or work hardened to high hardness while maintaining the elasticity needed for spring function.
- 1050-1065 – flat springs, retaining clips, snap rings
- 1074-1075 – the classic spring steel grade, used for flat springs, lock washers, and flex elements
- 1095 – high-carbon, used for high-stress springs and thin blades
Spring steel is typically stamped in the annealed or half-hard condition and then heat treated to final hardness after forming. Stamping fully hardened spring steel is possible but requires careful die clearances and lower forming severity.
Steel Surface Conditions and Coatings
Steel strip for stamping comes in several surface conditions that affect stampability, corrosion resistance, and downstream finishing:
| Surface | Description | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Rolled (CR) | Bright, smooth finish, tight tolerances | Standard for precision parts |
| Hot Rolled (HR) | Mill scale surface, wider tolerances | Structural parts, cost-driven |
| Hot-Dip Galvanized (HDG) | Zinc coating (G60, G90) for corrosion protection | Outdoor, automotive, construction |
| Electrogalvanized (EG) | Thin zinc coating, smooth surface | Painted automotive panels |
| Pre-painted (coil coated) | Paint or laminate applied to coil before stamping | Appliance panels, enclosures |
| Oiled | Rust-preventive oil applied at the mill | Standard shipping condition |
Galvanized steel is routinely stamped in progressive and transfer dies, though the zinc coating requires wider die clearances (the coating adds thickness) and more frequent die cleaning to prevent zinc buildup on tooling surfaces.
Steel Stamping Design Considerations
When designing stamped steel parts, keep these material-specific factors in mind:
- Grain direction – bending perpendicular to the rolling direction produces better results (less cracking risk). For critical bends, specify grain direction on the print.
- Minimum bend radius – mild steel bends to 1x material thickness (1T) minimum. HSLA and AHSS require larger radii: 1.5T to 3T depending on grade.
- Springback – higher strength steels spring back more. AHSS may require 5-10 degrees of overbend compensation versus 1-2 degrees for mild steel.
- Hole-to-edge distance – maintain at least 1.5x material thickness between a hole edge and the part edge or bend line.
- Burr direction – pierced holes have a burr on the die side. Specify which face is critical on your drawing.
Stamped Steel vs. Other Stamped Metals
| Property | Carbon Steel | Stainless Steel | Aluminum | Brass/Copper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost ($/lb) | $0.30-0.80 | $1.50-4.00 | $1.00-2.50 | $3.00-5.00 |
| Density (lb/in3) | 0.284 | 0.289 | 0.098 | 0.307-0.322 |
| Tensile (ksi) | 44-200+ | 75-200 | 13-45 | 40-80 |
| Formability | Excellent | Good | Good-Excellent | Very Good |
| Corrosion resistance | Poor (needs finish) | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Magnetic | Yes | Varies | No | No |
| Weldability | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good (solder/braze) |
Our Steel Stamping Capabilities
We stamp all carbon steel grades from 1006 through 1095, HSLA grades through 80 ksi, and AHSS including dual-phase and martensitic grades. Our press capacity from 25 to 400 tons handles material thickness from 0.004 to 0.250 inches. We work with galvanized, pre-plated, and bare steel coil stock, and offer secondary operations including deburring, heat treatment, plating, and powder coating.
Read more about our steel stamping services or explore our capabilities in sheet metal stamping.
Request a Quote for Steel Stamping
Send us your part drawing with material specification, quantity, and tolerance requirements. We will provide tooling and piece price quotes within 48 hours.
Email: duoshaomali@gmail.com | Phone/WhatsApp: +86 152-5047-1868
Work with an experienced metal stamping manufacturer. We deliver precision metal stamping for demanding industries worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is stamped steel?
Stamped steel is a specialized manufacturing process used to create precise metal components. Our team has over 25 years of experience delivering high-quality results for global clients across automotive, aerospace, electronics, and construction industries.
What tolerances can you achieve for stamped steel?
We achieve standard tolerances of ±0.05mm, with precision tolerances down to ±0.02mm for critical applications. All parts are inspected using CMM equipment with Cpk≥1.33 process capability.
What materials do you work with for stamped steel?
We work with a wide range of materials including aluminum (1100-6061), stainless steel (301-430), carbon steel, copper, brass, phosphor bronze, and specialty alloys. Material thickness ranges from 0.1mm to 12mm.
What is your minimum order quantity for stamped steel?
We accept prototype orders starting from 1 piece. For production runs, we recommend starting at 1,000 pieces for cost efficiency, though we accommodate various volumes based on project requirements.
How do I get a quote for stamped steel?
Submit your drawings (DWG, DXF, STEP, IGES, or PDF) via our contact form or email. We provide DFM feedback and pricing within 24 hours. Our engineering team reviews every inquiry for optimal manufacturability.
What quality certifications do you have for stamped steel?
We maintain ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 certifications with full traceability. Every shipment includes inspection reports, material certificates, and compliance documentation as required.