301
High-strength / spring route
Often supplied cold worked or full hard for thin spring shims, clips and applications needing higher strength.
Product form hub · Precision shim stock
Stainless Steel Shim Stock
Specify stainless steel shim stock by grade, thickness, width, temper, form, edge condition and required tolerance. This page gives buyers a practical route from thin-gauge stock selection to a quote-ready specification for alignment, spacing and precision adjustment.
301 / 302 / 304 / 316
0.025–3.18 mm common reference
Roll / sheet / strip stock
0.001–0.125 in common gauge range
Precision stainless shim stock · product visual
Common grades301 / 302 / 304 / 316
Common thickness0.001–0.125 in reference range
Common formsRolls / sheets / slit strips
Build the specification
01Choose grade
02Set thickness
03Set width / form
04Choose temper
05Confirm tolerance
06Send RFQ
Product overview
What to define before buying stainless steel shim stock
Shim stock is thin, accurately rolled material used to correct gaps, align machinery, set clearances and build controlled spacing. Thickness accuracy matters first, but buyers should also state alloy, temper, width, stock form, edge condition and the way the material will be cut or installed.
General purpose302 / 304 shim stock
Common choices for maintenance, alignment, spacing, tooling, fabrication and general corrosion-resistant adjustment work.
Corrosion route316 shim stock
Selected where moisture, chloride exposure or chemical environments require improved corrosion resistance.
Spring route301 full-hard stock
Useful where high strength, spring response or a hard thin strip is required rather than soft alignment stock.
DimensionThickness × width × form
These should be stated together, followed by temper, tolerance and any cutting or edge requirement.
M03 · Grade selection
Choose shim stock grade from corrosion, strength and adjustment needs
For many alignment and spacing jobs, 302/304 is the practical starting point. 316 is used when the environment is more corrosive, while 301 or 302 full-hard stock is chosen when a harder spring-like condition is useful.
302 / 304
General-purpose shim stock
Widely used for machine alignment, tooling, spacing, repair, fabrication and general precision adjustment.
316
Higher corrosion resistance
A common option for marine-adjacent, chemical, food-process and wet-service environments where 304 may be less suitable.
321
Heat-service option
Used in selected elevated-temperature assemblies where stabilized austenitic stainless is required by the design.
M04 · Technical data
Common stainless steel shim stock thickness reference
Commercial shim stock is commonly sold in inch gauges, especially for maintenance and alignment work. The table below gives widely used reference thicknesses with metric conversions.
| Thickness | Metric equivalent | Common form | Typical width / size | Typical grades | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.001 in | 0.025 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in roll or small sheet | 302 / 304 / 316 | Fine alignment corrections, precision spacing and tolerance adjustment |
| 0.002 in | 0.051 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in roll or small sheet | 302 / 304 / 316 | Fine machine alignment and stack-up correction |
| 0.003 in | 0.076 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in roll or small sheet | 302 / 304 | General precision shimming and setup work |
| 0.005 in | 0.127 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in roll, cut sheet | 302 / 304 / 316 | Machinery alignment, tooling and repair |
| 0.010 in | 0.254 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in × 50 in roll common | 302 / 304 / 316 | General-purpose shim stock and field cutting |
| 0.015 in | 0.381 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in × 50 in roll common | 302 / 304 / 316 | Heavier alignment and spacing corrections |
| 0.020 in | 0.508 mm | Roll / sheet | 6 in roll / cut stock | 302 / 304 | Machine bases, fixtures, tooling and assembly spacing |
| 0.025 in | 0.635 mm | Sheet / strip | 6–12 in width common | 304 / 316 | Structural spacing, leveling and fabricated shims |
| 0.050 in | 1.27 mm | Sheet / strip | Cut sheet / strip | 304 / 316 | Heavy shims, spacers and fabricated adjustment pieces |
| 0.125 in | 3.18 mm | Sheet / plate-like shim stock | Cut to width / shape | 304 / 316 | Heavy alignment packs and thicker custom shims |
Common stock programmes often cover about 0.001–0.125 in (0.025–3.18 mm), while some custom shim suppliers work with stainless from approximately 0.001 in up to 0.250 in or thicker. Exact thickness tolerance, width, temper and available roll length depend on the selected material route.
M05 · Dimensions and condition
Define thickness, form, temper and tolerance together
Shim stock is selected for controlled spacing, so the nominal thickness should always be paired with the required tolerance and the way the material will be handled or cut.
Thickness & width
- Nominal thickness in inch and/or mm
- Thickness tolerance if critical
- Roll or sheet width
- Length, roll length or sheet size
- Custom slit width if required
Temper & hardness
- Annealed / soft stock
- Cold rolled / hard condition
- Full hard for selected grades
- Hardness or tensile requirement if needed
- Flatness requirement for cut pieces
Form & edge
- Roll / coil shim stock
- Sheet / strip stock
- Slit or sheared edge
- Burr direction or maximum burr if critical
- Protective packaging for thin gauges
Roll stockEfficient for maintenance shops and field work where shims are cut as needed.
Sheet stockUseful for flat layouts, laser / waterjet cutting, stamping and custom fabricated shim shapes.
AnnealedPreferred when easy cutting, forming or softer contact is more important than spring strength.
Full hardUseful when a thin shim must resist deformation or provide spring-like mechanical behaviour.
M06 · Selection guide
Match shim stock to the adjustment method and service environment
Start with the required gap correction, then choose thickness increments, alloy and temper. For critical alignment work, it is usually better to build a controlled stack from a few known gauges than rely on an unspecified mixed pack.
Machine alignmentUse accurately marked gauges with good flatness and corrosion resistance; 304 is a common starting point.
Wet / chloride exposure316 is a common choice where moisture, salt or process chemistry makes improved corrosion resistance useful.
Spring shim301 or 302 full-hard material is often selected when elastic response and higher strength matter.
Custom cut shimConfirm cutting method, edge burr, hole geometry and flatness before production if the shim will be fabricated from stock.
Thickness conversion
Shim stock is often specified in thousandths of an inch. One thousandth of an inch equals 0.001 in, which is approximately 0.0254 mm.
0.001 in0.0254 mm
0.002 in0.0508 mm
0.005 in0.127 mm
0.010 in0.254 mm
0.020 in0.508 mm
Worked example
Example of a clear stainless shim stock specification
A complete description makes it easier to confirm stock form, gauge accuracy, temper and suitability for the intended alignment or fabrication method.
Do not send only “304 stainless shim stock.”
State the material, thickness, width, form, temper, tolerance and quantity.
MaterialType 304 stainless steel
Thickness0.010 in / 0.254 mm
Width6 in / 152.4 mm
FormRoll stock, approximately 50 in length or agreed equivalent
ConditionHard / standard commercial shim-stock condition
ToleranceState required thickness tolerance if the alignment stack is critical
EdgeClean slit edge suitable for hand cutting / fabrication
QuantityState rolls, sheets or total area required
M08 · Applications
Where stainless steel shim stock is commonly used
Machinery alignment
Motor, pump, gearbox, turbine and rotating-equipment alignment where controlled vertical correction is required.
Tooling & fixtures
Die setup, jigs, fixtures, moulds and machine tools where a precise gap or height adjustment is needed.
Assembly spacing
Bearing seats, housings, brackets, enclosures and mechanical assemblies requiring controlled spacing.
Maintenance & repair
Field correction, wear compensation and temporary or permanent adjustment in maintenance environments.
Custom fabricated shims
Laser-, waterjet-, EDM- or mechanically cut shims produced from sheet or strip stock to a drawing.
Spring / precision components
Selected hard grades for spring shims, clips, thin spacers and precision components where strength matters.
Important limitation: shim stock thickness does not by itself define load capacity, fatigue life, bearing stress or machine-alignment quality. Thin stock can crease, buckle or develop edge burr during cutting. Critical assemblies should verify the finished shim geometry, stacking method, contact area and service load.
M10 · Standards
Standards and purchasing references
Shim stock is normally sourced from stainless sheet or strip standards. The purchase order should still state the exact grade, temper, gauge, tolerance and form required for the application.
Common reference for annealed and normally required cold-worked austenitic stainless sheet, strip, plate and flat bar.
Common stainless plate, sheet and strip specification used as a material reference for grades such as 304 and 316.
General requirements covering ordering, dimensions, tolerances and other provisions for stainless plate, sheet and strip.
M11 · FAQ
Stainless steel shim stock FAQ
What thicknesses are common for stainless shim stock?
Common commercial gauges include 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.010, 0.015, 0.020, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100 and 0.125 in. Availability varies by alloy, width and stock form.
What grade is most common for stainless shim stock?
302/304 is a common general-purpose route for alignment and maintenance. 316 is often selected for more corrosive environments, while 301 or 302 full-hard material is useful for spring-like shims.
Should I buy shim stock in rolls or sheets?
Rolls are convenient for maintenance work and repeated field cutting. Sheets or flat strips are often easier for CNC cutting, stamping, laser cutting or larger custom shim shapes.
How do I convert thousandths of an inch to millimetres?
Multiply inches by 25.4. For example, 0.010 in is 0.254 mm and 0.020 in is 0.508 mm.
What information should be included in a shim stock RFQ?
Include grade, thickness, thickness tolerance, width, roll or sheet form, temper, edge requirement, quantity, destination and whether the stock will be hand cut, stamped, laser cut or otherwise fabricated.
Product details
What buyers usually verify visually
Replace these three visual areas with your own stainless shim stock roll, sheet / thickness-detail and packing images when your product media is ready.
Shim stock rollRoll width, gauge marking, coil condition and general surface
Thickness & edgeGauge, flatness, slit edge, burr and surface condition
PackingRoll / sheet protection, labels, moisture protection and delivery packaging
Shim stock 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 shim stock guide
This page combines stainless sheet-and-strip standards with common commercial shim stock gauges, widths, grades and roll / sheet formats. Actual availability and thickness tolerance should be confirmed against the final order requirement.
M14 · RFQ
Request a technical quote
For a faster review, include the grade, thickness, width, roll or sheet form, temper, tolerance, quantity, destination and any cutting or alignment requirement.
- Grade / material designation
- Thickness and thickness tolerance
- Width / roll or sheet size
- Temper / edge / fabrication route
- Quantity and destination