301
Spring / high-strength route
Useful for clips, springs, diaphragms and precision formed parts where cold-work strength is required.
Product form hub · Stainless foil
Stainless Steel Foil
Specify stainless steel foil by grade, thickness, width, temper, surface, edge condition, coil format and required tolerance. This page gives buyers a practical route from ultra-thin material selection to a quote-ready specification.
301 / 304 / 316L / 430
0.01–0.50 mm common reference
Coil / slit strip / cut foil
10–500 μm reference range
Precision-rolled stainless foil · product visual
Common grades301 / 304 / 316L / 430
Common thickness0.01–0.50 mm reference range
Common width5–600 mm reference range
Build the specification
01Choose grade
02Set thickness
03Set width / format
04Choose temper
05Confirm surface / edge
06Send RFQ
Product overview
What to define before buying stainless steel foil
For thin-gauge material, thickness tolerance, flatness, temper and edge quality can matter as much as alloy grade. A clear purchase description should state the foil thickness in millimetres or microns, slit width, coil or sheet format, surface condition and the downstream forming or stamping process.
General purpose304 stainless foil
A common choice for shims, spacers, electronics, formed parts, heat shields and general precision fabrication.
Corrosion route316 / 316L foil
Selected where improved chloride resistance or more demanding chemical and process environments are expected.
Spring route301 foil
Frequently used where cold-work strength, spring response and very thin formed sections are important.
DimensionThickness × width × temper
These three items should be stated together because they directly affect forming behaviour, flatness and slit-edge quality.
M03 · Grade selection
Choose the stainless foil grade from strength, corrosion and forming needs
Foil grade selection follows the same alloy logic as strip and sheet, but very thin sections make temper, work hardening and surface condition especially important.
304
General purpose
Widely used for precision shims, electronics, gaskets, formed components and general corrosion-resistant foil applications.
316L
Higher corrosion resistance
Common for chemical, marine-adjacent, medical, process and other applications where improved corrosion resistance is valuable.
430
Ferritic option
Used where a ferritic stainless route, magnetic response and cost-sensitive corrosion resistance fit the application.
M04 · Technical data
Common stainless steel foil thickness reference
Commercial stainless foil is often specified in microns as well as millimetres. The table below gives practical reference sizes used for precision strip, shims, electronics and formed foil components.
| Thickness | Microns | Common width reference | Common form | Typical grades | Typical buying use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01 mm | 10 μm | 5–300 mm | Precision slit coil | 304 / 316L | Electronics, sensors, precision laminations and research components |
| 0.02 mm | 20 μm | 5–300 mm | Coil / cut foil | 304 / 316L | Thin shims, battery / electrochemical components and micro-fabrication |
| 0.03 mm | 30 μm | 10–400 mm | Coil / slit strip | 301 / 304 / 316L | Diaphragms, formed parts and precision assemblies |
| 0.05 mm | 50 μm | 10–600 mm | Coil / strip | 301 / 304 / 316L / 430 | Shims, springs, heat shields, gaskets and stamped parts |
| 0.10 mm | 100 μm | 10–600 mm | Coil / strip / cut piece | 301 / 304 / 316 / 430 | General precision fabrication, clips and formed foil parts |
| 0.20 mm | 200 μm | 10–600 mm | Slit coil / cut strip | 301 / 304 / 316 / 430 | Gaskets, spacers, spring elements and light formed components |
| 0.30 mm | 300 μm | 10–600 mm | Slit coil / strip | 304 / 316 / 430 | Shims, covers, small formed parts and heat-management components |
| 0.50 mm | 500 μm | 10–600 mm | Strip / thin sheet | 304 / 316 / 430 | Heavier foil and thin-strip fabrication |
Common commercial reference ranges are approximately 0.01–0.50 mm thickness and 5–600 mm width. Ultra-thin material below 0.01 mm also exists in specialist supply routes. Exact minimum width, thickness tolerance, coil weight and surface condition depend on grade, temper and order quantity.
M05 · Dimensions and condition
Define thickness, temper, surface and coil geometry together
At foil gauge, small changes in temper or edge condition can strongly affect forming, springback, handling and dimensional consistency.
Thickness & width
- Nominal thickness in mm or μm
- Thickness tolerance where critical
- Slit width and width tolerance
- Coil, strip or cut-piece format
- Length requirement for cut foil
Temper & hardness
- Annealed / soft condition
- 1/4 hard / 1/2 hard / 3/4 hard
- Full hard or spring temper where applicable
- Hardness or tensile requirement if needed
- Forming direction relative to rolling direction
Surface & edge
- 2B / BA / bright rolled surface
- Slit edge or cut edge requirement
- Burr direction and maximum burr if critical
- Surface cleanliness / protective interleave
- Coil ID, OD and winding direction
AnnealedPreferred where ductility, deep forming or easy bending is the main requirement.
Cold workedUsed when higher strength, stiffness or spring behaviour is required.
BA / brightUseful when smooth surface quality, clean appearance or low surface roughness matters.
Precision slitImportant for narrow coils, stamping lines and assemblies that depend on consistent edge geometry.
M06 · Selection guide
Match foil condition to the finished component
Start from the component function, then select alloy, thickness and temper together. The same nominal thickness can behave very differently in a soft annealed condition and a cold-worked spring condition.
Precision shimPrioritize exact thickness, flatness, clean slit edges and a surface suitable for the assembly.
Spring / diaphragm301 and controlled cold-work temper are common routes when elastic response and fatigue behaviour matter.
Corrosive service316 / 316L is a common starting point when chloride or process-media exposure is more demanding.
Micro stampingConfirm rolling direction, hardness, edge burr, surface cleanliness and dimensional tolerance before production tooling.
Thickness conversion
Foil is often ordered in microns. One millimetre equals 1000 microns, so a 50 μm foil is 0.05 mm thick and a 100 μm foil is 0.10 mm thick.
10 μm0.01 mm
25 μm0.025 mm
50 μm0.05 mm
100 μm0.10 mm
500 μm0.50 mm
Worked example
Example of a clear stainless foil specification
A complete description helps the supplier review rolling range, slitting, temper and packing without unnecessary clarification.
Do not send only “304 stainless foil.”
State the material, thickness, width, temper, surface, edge, coil format and quantity.
MaterialType 304 stainless steel
Thickness0.05 mm / 50 μm
Width200 mm slit width
ConditionAnnealed / soft
SurfaceBright annealed or equivalent clean bright finish
EdgePrecision slit edge; burr controlled for downstream stamping
FormCoil, winding direction stated if important
QuantityState coil weight, total metres or total kilograms
M08 · Applications
Where stainless steel foil is commonly used
Precision shims & spacers
Thin adjustment layers, tolerance stacks, gaskets and spacing components where controlled thickness is essential.
Electronics & sensors
Thin conductive or structural elements, shielding parts, sensor components and precision assemblies.
Battery & electrochemical
Research, current-collector, separator-support and corrosion-resistant thin-metal applications where the project design permits stainless foil.
Springs & diaphragms
301 and other work-hardenable stainless routes for thin springs, clips, bellows and flexible formed components.
Heat shields & insulation
Thin metallic barriers, wraps and formed shields where oxidation resistance and low mass are useful.
Medical & precision fabrication
Small formed parts, instruments and precision components where alloy, finish and cleanliness are controlled by the project specification.
Important limitation: thin foil is sensitive to creasing, edge damage, burr, handling marks and residual stress. Nominal grade and thickness alone do not establish fatigue life, spring performance, battery compatibility, medical suitability or pressure-service approval. Critical applications should be verified against the finished component design and governing specification.
M10 · Standards
Standards and purchasing references
Stainless foil is commonly purchased through sheet-and-strip specifications. The purchase order should state the exact grade, condition, dimensions, tolerance and any project-specific requirement.
Common specification for chromium and chromium-nickel stainless plate, sheet and strip used for general and pressure-vessel-related applications.
Reference for annealed and normally required cold-worked austenitic stainless sheet, strip, plate and flat bar.
General requirements covering ordering, dimensions, tolerances and other provisions for stainless plate, sheet and strip.
M11 · FAQ
Stainless steel foil FAQ
What thickness is considered stainless steel foil?
There is no single universal commercial cut-off, but foil commonly refers to very thin cold-rolled stainless material. A practical market reference is about 0.01–0.50 mm, with specialist ultra-thin material available below 0.01 mm.
Which stainless grade is most common for foil?
304 is a common general-purpose grade. 301 is widely used for spring and high-strength thin parts, while 316 or 316L is often selected for more demanding corrosion environments.
Should I specify foil thickness in mm or microns?
Either can work, but stating both is useful for thin material. For example, 0.05 mm equals 50 μm and 0.10 mm equals 100 μm.
What temper should I order?
Use annealed or soft foil when formability is the priority. Use a controlled cold-worked temper when higher strength, stiffness or spring response is required. The correct temper depends on the finished component and forming method.
What information should be included in a foil RFQ?
Include grade, thickness, thickness tolerance, width, temper or hardness, surface, edge condition, coil or cut format, coil ID if relevant, quantity, destination and any stamping, forming or cleanliness requirement.
Product details
What buyers usually verify visually
Replace these three visual areas with your own stainless foil coil, surface-detail and packing images when first-party media is ready.
Foil coilCoil shape, slit width, winding and general material condition
Surface & edgeBright / 2B surface, slit edge, burr and cleanliness
PackingCoil protection, interleave, moisture protection and delivery packaging
Foil resources
Continue from technical research to purchase
Material hubStainless Steel
Review the parent material hub and related stainless steel product forms.
Open stainless steel hub → TechnicalTechnical ResourcesUse standards, comparisons and engineering references to clarify the purchase specification.
Open technical resources → SourcingRequest a QuoteMove from a reviewed specification to a purchasing conversation.
Open RFQ page →M13 · Technical reference
Reference basis for this stainless foil guide
This page combines stainless sheet-and-strip standards with common commercial foil thickness, width, grade and temper conventions. Actual availability, minimum rolling gauge and project-specific tolerance should be confirmed against the final order requirement.
M14 · RFQ
Request a technical quote
For a faster review, include the grade, thickness, width, temper, surface, edge condition, coil or cut format, quantity, destination and any tolerance or downstream forming requirement.
- Grade / material designation
- Thickness and width
- Temper / hardness / surface
- Edge / coil format / tolerance
- Quantity and destination