ER308L
304 / 304L family
Widely used for welding 18Cr-8Ni austenitic stainless steels such as 304 and 304L.
Product form hub · Welding wire
Stainless Steel Welding Wire
Specify stainless steel welding wire by filler-metal classification, welding process, diameter, delivery form, base material and service condition. Use the grade and size references below to build a clear RFQ for MIG/GMAW, TIG/GTAW or related stainless welding applications.
ER308L / ER309L / ER316L
AWS A5.9 / ISO 14343
MIG spool · TIG cut length
Solid stainless filler wire
Spool / cut-length wire · product visual
Common classificationsER308L / ER309L / ER316L
Common MIG diameters0.8 / 0.9 / 1.0 / 1.2 / 1.6 mm
Common TIG diameters1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4 / 3.2 / 4.0 mm
Build the specification
01Choose filler grade
02Choose process
03Set diameter
04Set package / length
05Confirm base metal
06Send RFQ
Product overview
What to define before buying stainless steel welding wire
A useful welding-wire RFQ should identify the filler classification, process, wire diameter, delivery form, base metal, joint or application and any required approval or documentation. “Stainless wire” alone is not enough because the correct filler depends on the weld chemistry and service environment.
Filler gradeER308L family
Common for joining 304 / 304L-type austenitic stainless steels and similar compositions.
Filler gradeER316L family
Mo-bearing filler commonly selected for 316 / 316L and more demanding corrosion environments.
ProcessMIG / GMAW
Continuous solid wire supplied on spools or drums in common production diameters.
ProcessTIG / GTAW
Straight cut-length filler rod in larger diameters for manual or mechanized GTAW applications.
M03 · Grade selection
Match the filler classification to the base material and service
The filler classification should follow the welding procedure, base-material chemistry, corrosion requirement and service temperature. Common stainless welding-wire families are shown below as a practical starting point.
ER308LSi
Higher silicon
A 308L-type filler with higher silicon content, commonly used where improved wetting and bead appearance are helpful in GMAW.
ER309L
Dissimilar / buffer layer
Higher-alloy filler often considered for stainless-to-carbon or low-alloy steel joints and buffer-layer applications.
ER316L
Mo-bearing corrosion route
Commonly used for 316 / 316L fabrication where molybdenum-bearing weld metal and improved pitting resistance are required.
ER316LSiHigher-silicon 316L-type filler used where flow, wetting and bead profile are important.
ER347Nb-stabilized filler route commonly associated with stabilized austenitic stainless grades and elevated-temperature fabrication requirements.
ER2209Duplex stainless filler used for compatible duplex base materials when the qualified welding procedure calls for it.
Other classifications309LSi, 310, 312, 410NiMo and other stainless fillers may be required for specific base materials or procedures.
M04 · Technical data
Common welding-wire diameter and delivery-form reference
The table uses common commercial stainless filler-wire patterns for early RFQ preparation. Exact diameter, spool weight, drum size, cut length and grade availability vary by manufacturer and process.
| Process / form | Common diameter reference | Common classifications | Typical delivery form | Buying note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMAW / MIG | 0.8 mm | ER308L / ER308LSi / ER316L | Spool | Common for lighter sheet and general fabrication |
| GMAW / MIG | 0.9 mm | ER308L / ER316L | Spool | Common inch-market equivalent around 0.035 in |
| GMAW / MIG | 1.0 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L | Spool / drum by supplier | General fabrication and production welding |
| GMAW / MIG | 1.2 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L / Si variants | Spool / drum | Very common production-wire diameter |
| GMAW / MIG | 1.6 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L | Spool / drum | Higher-deposition production applications |
| GTAW / TIG rod | 1.6 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L | Straight cut length | Common manual TIG filler size |
| GTAW / TIG rod | 2.0 / 2.4 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L / ER347 | Straight cut length | Common general-purpose TIG filler family |
| GTAW / TIG rod | 3.2 mm | ER308L / ER309L / ER316L | Straight cut length | Used for heavier TIG weld deposits |
| GTAW / TIG rod | 4.0 mm | Supplier-dependent | Straight cut length | Confirm process, grade and packaging |
| SAW / mechanized routes | Approx. 2.4–5.0 mm by system | Procedure-dependent | Coil / spool / drum | Confirm flux system and qualified procedure |
Common market references show MIG stainless wire around 0.8–1.6 mm for mainstream spool products, while TIG cut-length filler commonly spans roughly 1.6–4.0 mm. Some suppliers extend beyond these sizes. Use the welding procedure and actual equipment setup as the final control.
M05 · Form & delivery
Define the wire form, package and welding process
A filler-metal classification is only part of the order. The physical delivery form needs to match the welding equipment and production method.
MIG / GMAW spool wire
- Continuous solid wire
- Common diameters 0.8–1.6 mm
- Spool size / hub type should match feeder
- Confirm shielding-gas and WPS requirements
TIG / GTAW cut length
- Straight filler rod
- Common diameters 1.6–4.0 mm
- 1 m cut lengths are common in the market
- Keep clean, dry and segregated by classification
Bulk / mechanized supply
- Drum or larger package where available
- For automated GMAW or high-volume production
- Confirm pay-off, liner and feeder compatibility
- Package weight is supplier-specific
M06 · Selection guide
Match the filler route to the welding job
The table below is a practical routing guide only. A qualified WPS, engineering specification or approved filler-metal list should control production welding.
304 / 304L fabricationER308L or ER308LSi is a common starting route for compatible 304-series base materials.
316 / 316L fabricationER316L or ER316LSi is commonly selected when a molybdenum-bearing filler is required.
Dissimilar stainless-to-carbon steelER309L-type fillers are commonly considered, but the actual joint design and procedure should govern.
Duplex stainlessUse a duplex-compatible filler such as ER2209 only when it matches the base material and qualified welding procedure.
Specification example
Example of a clear stainless welding-wire specification
A normal RFQ can be concise as long as the filler classification, process, diameter and delivery form are explicit.
Example only
For a production MIG welding job on 304L stainless sheet, the buyer may define an ER308LSi solid wire, 1.0 mm diameter, spool delivery, with required lot identification and product documentation.
ClassificationAWS ER308LSi or project-approved equivalent
ProcessGMAW / MIG
Diameter1.0 mm
Delivery formSpool compatible with the specified wire feeder
Base material304L stainless steel
DocumentsClassification / lot identification and requested quality documents
M08 · Applications
Where stainless steel welding wire is commonly used
Food & beverage equipment
Stainless tanks, frames, piping and fabricated equipment where compatible stainless filler is required.
Process piping & vessels
Austenitic and selected duplex stainless fabrication under qualified welding procedures.
Architectural fabrication
Rails, frames, facades and visible stainless assemblies where bead appearance can matter.
General manufacturing
Stainless machine guards, cabinets, frames, enclosures and fabricated components.
Marine / coastal fabrication
316L-family filler is frequently considered where compatible base metal and chloride exposure require it.
Dissimilar joints & overlays
309L-type routes may be used for selected stainless-to-carbon steel joints or buffer layers when the WPS permits.
Important limitation: filler-metal grade alone does not qualify a weld. Base materials, joint design, heat input, shielding gas, interpass temperature, ferrite control, corrosion service and the approved welding procedure can all affect the final result. For production work, the WPS / project specification should govern.
M10 · Standards
Standards and classification references
Use the revision required by the project or welding procedure. Standard numbers below are technical references only and are intentionally not linked to external websites.
Classification requirements for bare stainless steel welding electrodes, wire, strip and rods used in multiple fusion-welding processes.
Classification system for wire electrodes, strip electrodes, wires and rods for arc welding of stainless and heat-resisting steels.
The approved welding procedure and project specification should control filler grade, process, diameter, shielding gas, lot traceability and required documentation.
M11 · FAQ
Stainless steel welding wire FAQ
What is the difference between ER308L and ER316L welding wire?
ER308L is a common filler for 304 / 304L-type stainless steels. ER316L contains molybdenum and is commonly paired with 316 / 316L applications where the procedure requires a Mo-bearing weld-metal chemistry.
What wire diameter is common for stainless MIG welding?
Commercial stainless MIG wire is commonly offered around 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.6 mm. The best diameter depends on material thickness, power source, wire feeder, transfer mode and welding procedure.
Is TIG filler the same alloy as MIG wire?
The classification family may be the same, for example ER308L or ER316L, but the delivery form is different. MIG uses continuously fed wire, while TIG commonly uses straight cut-length filler rods.
When is ER309L used?
ER309L-type filler is often used for selected dissimilar joints, stainless overlays or buffer layers because of its higher alloy content. The actual joint and qualified WPS should determine whether it is appropriate.
Which standard covers bare stainless steel welding wire?
AWS A5.9/A5.9M is a primary U.S. classification reference for bare stainless welding electrodes and rods. ISO 14343 provides an international classification route. Use the edition required by the project specification.
Product details
What buyers usually verify visually
These three areas are ready for your own welding-wire photos. Later you only need to replace the background images; the page layout and content can remain unchanged.
Wire surface & windingClean wire surface, consistent diameter and even layer winding
Spool / packageHub type, label, classification and production-lot identification
TIG cut lengthsStraightness, diameter, tube packaging and grade identification
Welding wire resources
Continue from specification to purchase
M13 · Technical reference
Reference basis for this welding-wire guide
The page uses current AWS and ISO classification scopes together with common commercial stainless welding-wire diameters and delivery forms. Exact grade availability, package size, approvals and welding parameters should be confirmed for the actual order and welding procedure.
M14 · RFQ
Request a technical quote
For a faster review, include the filler classification, welding process, wire diameter, delivery form, quantity, base material, destination and any approval or document requirement.
- Filler classification / grade
- GMAW, GTAW or other process
- Wire diameter and package / cut length
- Base material and application
- Quantity, destination and required documents