304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Composition, Corrosion Resistance, and Why the Price Gap Nearly Doubled in 2026
The short answer to 304 vs 316 stainless steel: 316 adds 2-3% molybdenum that 304 doesn’t have, which buys real pitting and crevice resistance in chloride environments — salt water, de-icing salt, chlorinated cleaning agents — for roughly 25-90%+ more money depending on the market and the month. What’s changed in 2026 is how big
