Reference

Metal Properties Comparison Chart

Tensile strength, yield, hardness, and density for the metals shops machine most, so you can pick the right material for strength, weight, and cost.

Choosing a metal is a trade-off between strength, weight, corrosion resistance, machinability, and cost. This chart compares the mechanical properties of the metals machine shops cut most often. As a starting point: 6061 aluminum for general lightweight parts, 7075 when you need aluminum near steel strength, 304/316 stainless for corrosion resistance, 1018 and A36 for low-cost steel, Ti-6Al-4V for the best strength-to-weight, and C360 brass when machinability and looks matter.

Common machining metals compared

Typical room-temperature values for the listed temper or condition. Actual properties vary with heat treatment, form, and supplier certification, so treat these as representative rather than guaranteed.

Metal	Tensile (MPa / ksi)	Yield (MPa / ksi)	Hardness	Density (g/cm3)	Notes / typical use
Aluminum 6061-T6	310 / 45	276 / 40	95 HB	2.70	Most common general-purpose aluminum; great machinability, weldable, anodizes cleanly
Aluminum 7075-T6	572 / 83	503 / 73	150 HB	2.81	High-strength aerospace aluminum; near mild-steel strength at a third the weight; not weldable
Stainless 304	515 / 75	205 / 30	~70 HRB (123 HB)	8.00	Most common austenitic stainless; excellent corrosion resistance, non-magnetic, tougher to machine
Stainless 316	515 / 75	205 / 30	~79 HRB (149 HB)	8.00	Adds molybdenum for chloride and marine corrosion resistance; common in medical and food
Steel 1018 (mild, cold drawn)	440 / 64	370 / 54	~126 HB	7.87	Low-carbon steel; easy to machine and weld, case-hardenable, low cost
Steel A36 (structural)	400-550 / 58-80	250 / 36	~119-159 HB	7.85	Hot-rolled structural steel and plate; weldable, inexpensive, loose tolerances
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Gr 5)	950 / 138	880 / 128	334 HB (36 HRC)	4.43	Best strength-to-weight; corrosion-resistant and biocompatible, but slow and costly to machine
Brass C360	470 / 68	360 / 52	~78 HRB	8.50	Free-machining brass; the highest machinability of any metal, decorative, corrosion-resistant

Typical values for the noted temper/condition. Stainless values are annealed; A36 tensile is the spec range; brass is half-hard rod and is highly temper-dependent. Confirm on your material certification before release.

How to read the numbers

Tensile strength is the stress a material takes before it breaks; yield strength is where it stops springing back and deforms permanently, and it is usually the number that governs design. Hardness (Brinell HB, Rockwell B/C) tracks wear and indentation resistance and correlates loosely with tensile strength in steels. Density drives part weight: aluminum (~2.7) is about a third the weight of steel (~7.85), and titanium (~4.43) splits the difference while matching steel-class strength.

Picking a metal for the job

Lead with the constraint that actually matters. For lightweight structural parts, 6061 aluminum is the default and 7075 is the upgrade. For corrosion or hygiene, reach for 304 or 316 stainless. For low-cost strength where weight and corrosion do not matter, 1018 or A36 steel wins. For the best strength-to-weight or biocompatibility, Ti-6Al-4V is worth its machining premium. For high-volume turned parts and fittings, C360 brass machines faster than anything else.

Values compiled from published datasheets (MatWeb, ASM, and material suppliers) for the noted temper or condition. Properties vary with heat treatment, form, and lot, so verify against your supplier's certification for load-bearing parts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is stronger, 6061 or 7075 aluminum?

7075-T6 is much stronger: about 572 MPa (83 ksi) tensile and 503 MPa (73 ksi) yield, versus roughly 310 MPa (45 ksi) tensile and 276 MPa (40 ksi) yield for 6061-T6. 7075 approaches mild-steel strength but is harder to machine and is not readily weldable, so 6061 stays the general-purpose default.

What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel?

Their mechanical properties are nearly identical, roughly 515 MPa tensile and 205 MPa yield when annealed. The difference is corrosion resistance: 316 adds about 2-3% molybdenum, which greatly improves resistance to chlorides and salt water, so it is preferred for marine, medical, and food applications.

Why is titanium used when steel is stronger?

Ti-6Al-4V has a similar strength to many steels (about 950 MPa tensile) at roughly half the density (4.43 vs 7.85 g/cm3), giving it a much better strength-to-weight ratio. It is also corrosion-resistant and biocompatible. The trade-off is cost and slower machining, so it is reserved for parts where weight or corrosion truly matter.

Which metal machines the easiest?

C360 free-machining brass has the highest machinability rating of any common metal and turns very fast with excellent finish. Among aluminums, 6061 machines well; among steels, 1018 is easy. Stainless steels and titanium are the slowest and most tool-wearing of this group.

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