TISCO Stainless Steel Sheet & Coil Sizes:
Supply Capability, Edge Conditions & RFQ Guide
Stainless steel size availability cannot be judged by width alone. Grade, thickness, rolling route, surface finish, edge condition, tolerance and order quantity all affect whether a sheet or coil specification is practical. This guide helps buyers define those variables before requesting a TISCO quotation.
I. Quick answer: a stainless steel size is more than width × thickness
Buyers often search for a simple list of stainless steel sheet sizes, but that list is only a starting point. Two quotations for “304 2B, 1.5 × 1219 mm” may represent different products if one supplier quotes mill-edge coil and another quotes a finished slit width. The same nominal dimension can therefore carry different processing costs, usable yields and tolerances.
TISCOCO recommends treating dimensions as a production route, not just a number. First identify whether the material should be supplied as coil, cut-to-length sheet or plate. Then confirm whether the requested width is a parent-mill width, a slit finished width or a cut plate dimension.
II. TISCO stainless steel supply feasibility: the six variables buyers should confirm together
A width can be easy to supply in one grade and difficult in another. Likewise, the same grade can have different practical ranges in cold-rolled 2B, BA, hot-rolled No.1 or polished sheet. Before committing to a drawing or purchase order, evaluate these six variables together.
- 304 / 304L / 316L mainstream austenitic grades
- 430 ferritic stainless steel
- 321 / 309S / 310S heat-service grades
- 2205 / 2507 / 904L special corrosion-resistant grades
- Mother coil
- Slit coil / strip
- Cut-to-length sheet
- Hot-rolled or processed plate
- Cold rolled for thin gauge and smoother finish
- Hot rolled for heavier gauges
- Annealed / pickled as required
- Further polishing or brushing after rolling
- 2B / BA / 2D
- No.1 hot-rolled finish
- No.4 / HL decorative finish
- Protective film where required
- Mill edge or slit edge
- Finished width tolerance
- Thickness tolerance
- Flatness / squareness for sheet or plate
- Quantity and MOQ
- Coil ID / OD / max coil weight
- Processing and packing
- Lead time and destination
III. Common stainless steel sheet and coil widths in China-based supply
The widths below are common commercial enquiry points in international stainless steel procurement. They are useful for RFQ planning, but they should not be interpreted as a universal mill-production guarantee. Exact availability depends on the full specification.
| Width | Market Meaning | Typical Procurement Question | Buyer Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 mm | Common metric width | Is the width mill edge or a slit finished width? | Confirm edge and tolerance. |
| 1219 mm | 48 in / 4 ft equivalent | Is 1219 mm the finished usable width? | State finished width and edge condition explicitly. |
| 1250 mm | Common metric parent / finished width | Will the material be used as supplied or slit narrower? | Compare parent width and finished yield. |
| 1500 mm | Common metric wide sheet / coil request | Does the application require exactly 1500 mm or imperial 5 ft? | Do not substitute 1500 mm for 1524 mm without approval. |
| 1800 mm | Wider industrial requirement | Is the grade / finish regularly available at this width? | Confirm production route, MOQ and lead time. |
| 2000 mm | Wide industrial sheet / coil requirement | Is coil required, or would plate be acceptable? | Confirm product form before price comparison. |
| > 2000 mm | Extra-wide project requirement | Which mill route, thickness and product form can meet it? | Request a technical feasibility review; plate may be more practical. |
Dimensional and tolerance requirements should be tied to the applicable purchase standard. Useful references include ASTM A240/A240M for stainless flat products and ISO 9445 for dimensional and form tolerances on continuously cold-rolled stainless steel.
IV. Grade, finish and product form change what “available size” means
A size chart without grade and finish context can mislead buyers. Mainstream grades usually provide more sourcing flexibility, while heat-resistant, duplex and high-alloy grades may require different MOQs, production schedules or product forms. Use the matrix below as a specification-planning tool rather than a fixed stock list.
| Grade Group | Common Buyer Forms | Common Finish Requests | Dimension Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 / 304L | Coil, sheet, plate, strip | 2B, BA, No.1, No.4, HL | Usually the best starting point for standard-size planning; still confirm thickness, width and edge together. |
| 316 / 316L | Coil, sheet, plate, strip | 2B, BA, No.1, No.4, HL | Confirm wide-width and polished-finish availability before fixing the drawing. |
| 430 | Cold-rolled coil, sheet, strip | 2B, BA, No.4 | Finish and forming requirements can be as important as nominal width. |
| 321 | Sheet, coil, plate | 2B, No.1 | Confirm thickness and heat-service specification before assuming the same range as 304. |
| 309S / 310S | Sheet, plate, coil depending on gauge | No.1, 2B where applicable | For heavy or wide high-temperature applications, plate may be a more practical route. |
| 2205 / 2507 | Plate, sheet, coil by specification | No.1, 2B where applicable | Do not assume austenitic-grade stock patterns; confirm mill route, MOQ and certification. |
| 904L / other high-alloy grades | Plate, sheet, coil by project | No.1, 2B where applicable | Project-specific size, MOQ and lead-time confirmation is especially important. |
V. Mill edge vs. slit edge: specify the finished width basis
- Natural edge from the rolling process
- May retain edge shape variation
- Suitable when downstream trimming is available
- Often avoids an additional slitting operation
- Finished by slitting or trimming
- Provides a defined usable width
- Adds processing and yield considerations
- Can be important for tight fabrication setups
- State finished width
- State width tolerance
- State ME or SE / TE
- State burr / edge-quality requirement if critical
VI. 1219 mm vs. 1250 mm: the specification difference buyers often miss
1219 mm is the metric equivalent of 48 inches, while 1250 mm is a separate metric width. They should not be treated as interchangeable dimensions in a purchase order.
In some processing routes, a 1219 mm finished slit width can be produced from a wider parent coil such as 1250 mm. In other cases, 1219 mm material may be available directly on a different production basis. Therefore, the correct RFQ is not simply “1219 mm or 1250 mm?” but “What is the parent width, what is the finished width, what edge is supplied, and what tolerance applies?”
VII. Extra-wide stainless steel: when should buyers choose coil, sheet or plate?
The wider the requested material becomes, the more important it is to confirm the actual production route. Wide stainless steel may be technically possible in some grade/thickness combinations but impractical in another. Coil availability, flatness, surface requirements, transport and downstream processing capacity all influence the decision.
Have an extra-wide drawing or non-standard size?
Send the grade, thickness, finished width, tolerance, surface and required quantity. TISCOCO can review the most practical coil, sheet or plate route before you lock the purchase specification.
VIII. Thickness, width tolerance and finish should be specified together
A nominal size is not enough for manufacturing. The accepted thickness tolerance may affect actual weight and processing performance, while width tolerance controls whether the material fits slitting, stamping, laser cutting or forming equipment. Surface finish can also restrict which rolling and finishing route is practical at a given size.
| Field | Weak RFQ | Better RFQ | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.5 mm | 1.50 mm, tolerance to agreed ASTM / EN / ISO requirement | Controls actual gauge, weight and fabrication behaviour. |
| Width | 1219 mm | 1219 mm ± 1 mm finished width | Separates nominal width from usable delivered width. |
| Edge | Not stated | Slit edge, burr controlled | Defines processing route and downstream suitability. |
| Finish | Polished | No.4, one-side finish, PVC protected | Avoids visual and protective-film disputes. |
| Flatness | Good flatness | State required standard or project limit | Important for laser cutting, cladding and large panels. |
IX. Complete RFQ format for TISCO stainless steel sheet, coil or plate
A good RFQ should allow two suppliers to quote the same product on the same basis. The following fields eliminate most of the ambiguity that causes price revisions after technical review.
Copy-ready RFQ example
Send a specification, not just a size
Attach your drawing, BOM or current purchase specification. A complete RFQ makes grade, width, edge, finish and processing costs comparable from the first quotation.
X. MTC, inspection and traceability: size compliance must match the material identity
Dimensional compliance is only one part of receiving inspection. For industrial orders, the delivered bundle or coil identification should be traceable to the relevant material documentation. Buyers should define documentation requirements before the order, especially when the material will be used for pressure equipment, welded fabrication, food processing, chemical service or project work.
| Check | What to Verify | When It Matters Most |
|---|---|---|
| MTC / 3.1 | Grade, heat number, chemistry, mechanical properties and applicable standard | Industrial, project and specification-controlled orders |
| Heat / coil identification | Labels and markings correspond with the supplied documents | Any order requiring traceability |
| PMI | Material grade verification where requested | 316L, duplex, high-alloy or mixed-grade projects |
| Dimensional inspection | Thickness, finished width, length, edge and flatness against the PO | Tight-tolerance fabrication and automated processing |
| Surface inspection | Finish, scratches, protective film, dents and handling marks | Decorative, appliance, elevator and visible applications |
XI. Buyer decision matrix: choose the most economical supply route
- You operate slitting or cut-to-length equipment
- High volume is required
- You can manage mill-edge or parent-width material
- Coil handling equipment matches ID and weight
- You need a defined finished width
- Clean, controlled edges matter
- You want to reduce in-house processing
- Cut length or film can be specified before shipment
- Gauge or width pushes beyond practical coil routing
- Project sizes are piece-based
- Heavy fabrication is the end use
- Plate logistics fit the project better than coils
XII. Frequently Asked Questions
What stainless steel sheet and coil widths are commonly requested from Chinese suppliers?
Common commercial enquiry widths include 1000 mm, 1219 mm, 1250 mm, 1500 mm, 1800 mm and 2000 mm. Actual availability depends on grade, thickness, rolling route, finish, edge condition and the specific production program. Treat these values as RFQ reference points rather than a universal stock guarantee.
Is 1219 mm stainless steel the same as 1250 mm stainless steel?
No. 1219 mm is the metric equivalent of 48 inches, while 1250 mm is a different width. A 1219 mm finished slit width may sometimes be processed from a wider parent coil such as 1250 mm, but the exact production route should be confirmed in the quotation.
Should I specify mill edge or slit edge in the RFQ?
Yes. Edge condition affects usable width, processing route, tolerance, yield and price. State finished width, width tolerance and whether the required edge is mill edge or slit / trimmed edge.
Can I order 1524 mm (5 ft) stainless steel instead of 1500 mm?
1524 mm and 1500 mm are not the same dimension. If the drawing requires a true 60-inch finished width, specify 1524 mm and the accepted tolerance. Do not allow a supplier to substitute 1500 mm unless your engineering team has approved the change.
Can stainless steel wider than 2000 mm be supplied?
Wide material can be available, but supply above common coil widths becomes increasingly dependent on mill capability, grade, thickness and product form. In many projects, hot-rolled plate is the more practical route. Request a feasibility review instead of assuming the material is automatically available or unavailable in coil form.
What should a stainless steel sheet or coil RFQ include?
Specify grade, standard, product form, thickness and tolerance, finished width and tolerance, edge condition, length or coil parameters, surface finish, quantity, inspection or MTC requirements, packaging, destination and Incoterm.
Does a tighter width tolerance increase cost?
It can. Tighter tolerances may require a controlled slitting or trimming route, additional inspection and more restrictive yield. The commercial impact depends on the starting width, required tolerance and processing method.
Which grades should be confirmed carefully for wide or special-size orders?
Special grades such as 309S, 310S, 2205, 2507 and 904L should be checked against the required thickness, width, finish, certification and quantity before the drawing is frozen. Their sourcing pattern may differ from mainstream 304 or 316L.
Conclusion: define the production basis before comparing stainless steel prices
A reliable stainless steel quotation starts with the complete product definition. Width is important, but width without grade, thickness, finish, tolerance, edge condition and product form is still incomplete. This is especially true for 1219 mm vs. 1250 mm, imperial 5-foot requirements, extra-wide material and special alloy grades.
For TISCO stainless steel sheet, coil or plate enquiries, send the final usable dimensions and the required processing condition. That allows the supplier to identify the parent material, processing route, inspection basis and packing method before price comparison.
Need a size and grade feasibility check?
Send your drawing or RFQ with grade, thickness, finished width, edge, finish, quantity and destination. TISCOCO can review the most practical supply route before quotation.
Technical references: ASTM A240/A240M · ISO 9445 . Always confirm the current revision and the exact dimensional standard required by the purchase order.
