The short answer
Use 304 for general industrial, food and dry indoor work — it's the workhorse grade and costs less. Step up to 316 when there are chlorides, salt, marine or coastal air, or aggressive chemicals, because its molybdenum content resists pitting that would attack 304. If you're unsure, the deciding question is simple: what is the mesh exposed to?
The composition difference
Both are austenitic stainless steels with chromium and nickel. The key difference is that 316 adds about 2–3% molybdenum, which sharply improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion from chlorides. That single addition is what you're paying extra for, and why 316 is the default for marine and chemical service.
Corrosion resistance — where it actually matters
In clean, dry or mildly humid conditions both grades resist corrosion well and 304 is plenty. The gap opens up in the presence of chlorides — seawater, coastal air, swimming pools, de-icing salt, and many process chemicals. There, 304 can pit and stain while 316 holds up. For high-chloride or warm chemical environments, 316 (or 316L) is the safe specification.
The cost difference — and when 304 is the smart choice
316 typically costs noticeably more than 304 because of the molybdenum and higher nickel. Specifying 316 "to be safe" on a dry indoor application is just spending money you don't need to. For filtration, sieving and screening that isn't exposed to chlorides or aggressive chemicals, 304 gives the same mechanical performance at a better price.
304 vs 304L vs 316 vs 316L
| Grade | Key trait | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 304 | General-purpose stainless | Food, dairy, general industrial, dry/indoor |
| 304L | Low carbon — better for welding | Welded 304 parts, to avoid weld-zone corrosion |
| 316 | Molybdenum-bearing | Marine, coastal, chemical, high-chloride |
| 316L | Low carbon + moly | Welded parts in corrosive service |
Typical applications by grade
- 304 / 304L — food and beverage sieving, general filtration, sugar and flour screens, indoor architectural mesh, insect screens.
- 316 / 316L — pharma and chemical filtration, marine and coastal fittings, salt and fertiliser handling, effluent and water treatment.
How to specify when you order
A complete wire-mesh spec is grade + mesh count + wire diameter (or the micron opening you need), plus the weave and form. If you know the opening but not the count, our mesh-to-micron chart will get you there. Then see the full SS wire mesh range, or for screening duty, the crusher and vibrating screen mesh.