The surface finish of stainless steel affects much more than just its aesthetic — performance, reliability, and other factors can be greatly impacted.

No matter the application or end-use of the stainless steel, its surface finish should be carefully chosen to best meet the requirements at hand. That's because, in addition to providing the desired visual appeal, the choice of finish affects corrosion resistance, characteristics such as electrical properties, impacts weldability, manufacturing operations, and contributes to various economic considerations.

Some applications, such as superconductor components or flexible metal hoses, demand stainless steel with a specific finish for the end-use product to perform as designed.

It's also important to note that not all suppliers use the same terminology to refer to the same finish. Keep reading to learn the subtle differences between each finish to understand better how suppliers may differ.

What Is a Stainless-Steel Surface Finish?

What Are the Different Types of Stainless-Steel Surface Finishes?

Mill Finishes

NO. 1 FINISH

NO. 2D FINISH

NO. 2B FINISH

BRIGHT ANNEALED (BA) FINISH

Mechanically Polished Finishes

NO. 3 & NO. 4 FINISHES

NO. 6 FINISH

NO. 7 FINISH

NO. 8 FINISH

Other Finishes
CUSTOM FINISHES

TR (TEMPER ROLLED) FINISH

ARCHITECTURAL FINISH

ABEL BLACK

XL BLEND S

What is the Surface Roughness of Stainless Steel?