Note: Mild steel = 55 ksi = 55,000 psi (some people use 60 ksi for easier calculation)
How to use this tensile strength of metals information for bending aluminum or stainless steel:
Divide 55 ksi by the tensile strength number associated with the type of aluminum or stainless steel you use (the answer will be >1 for aluminum and <1 for stainless steel). Multiply the answer by the mild steel capacity of your machine to get the corresponding capacity of the machine. Be sure to adjust the settings of your machine for the actual metal thickness you are bending. Extra room for a radius is required when bending with a hand brake or hydraulic leaf brake.
Read More: Plate Rolling Machine, Sheet Metal, Steel Plate Bending Roll
Tensile Strengths of Stainless Steel
| ASTM / AISI Grade | SAE Number | Material | Tensile Strength Ksi |
| 303 | 30303 | Annealed Bar | 85/95 |
| 304 | 30304 | Annealed Bar Sheet/Plate | 80/90 75 min |
| 304L | 30304L | Sheet/Plate | 70 min |
| 309 | 30309 | Sheet | 75 min |
| 316 | 30316 | Annealed Bar Sheet/Plate | 75/90 75 min |
| 316L | 30316L | Sheet/Plate Annealed Bar | 70 min 80/90 |
| 321 | 30321 | Sheet | 75 min 100 max |
| 416 | 51416 | Annealed Bar | 80/100 |
| 420 | 51420 | Annealed Bar | 95 |
| 430 | 51430 | Sheet | 65 min |
| 440F Se | 51440F Se | Annealed Bar | 100/120 |
| 630 (17 -4) C | ____ | Cond-A-Bar Cond-H900 Bar Cond-H1025 Bar | 150200170 |
May be slightly magnetic when cold worked Not stocked-typical properties. 1 ksi = 1000 psi
Tensile Strengths of Aluminum
| Alloy and Temper | Tensile Strength3 (ksi) |
| 1100-O | 13 |
| 1100-H12 | 16 |
| 1100-H14 | 18 |
| 1100-H16 | 21 |
| 1100-H18 | 24 |
| 1100-H19 | 27 |
| 2011-T3 | 55 |
| 2011-T451 | 40.6 |
| 2011-T8 | 59 |
| 2014-O | 27 |
| 2014-T4,-T451 | 62 |
| 2014-T6,-T651 | 70 |
| Alclad 2014-O | 25 |
| Alclad 2014-T3 | 63 |
| Alclad 2014-T4,-T451 | 61 |
| Alclad 2014-T6,-T651 | 68 |
| 2017-H13 | 35 |
| 2017-O | 26 |
| 2014-T4,-T451 | 62 |
| 2024-O | 27 |
| 2024-T3 | 70 |
| 2024-T361 | 72 |
| 2024-T4,-T351 | 68 |
| 2024-T6 | 69 |
| 2024-T81,-T851 | 70 |
| 2024-T861 | 75 |
| Alclad 2024-O | 26 |
| Alclad 2024-T3 | 65 |
| Alclad 2024-T361 | 67 |
| Alclad 2024- T4,-T351 | 64 |
| Alclad 2024- T81,-T85 | 65 |
| Alclad 2024-T861 | 70 |
| 3003-O | 16 |
| 3003-H12 | 19 |
| 3003-H14 | 22 |
| 3003-H16 | 26 |
| 3003-H18 | 29 |
| 3003-H22 | 23 |
| Alclad 3003-O | 16 |
| Alclad 3003-H12 | 19 |
| Alclad 3003-H14 | 22 |
| Alclad 3003-H16 | 26 |
| Alclad 3003-H18 | 29 |
| 3004-O | 26 |
| 3004-H32 | 31 |
| 3004-H34 | 35 |
| 3004H36 | 38 |
| 3004-H38 | 41 |
| Alclad 3004-O | 26 |
| Alclad 3004- H32 | 31 |
| Alclad 3004- H34 | 35 |
| Alclad 3004- H36 | 38 |
| Alclad 3004- H38 | 41 |
| 3105-H14 | 25 |
| 4032-T86 | 54 |
| 4032-T651 | 55 |
| 5005- O | 18 |
| 5005- H12 | 20 |
| 5005- H14 | 23 |
| 5005- H16 | 26 |
| 5005- H18 | 29 |
| 5005- H32 | 20 |
| 5005- H34 | 23 |
| 5005- H36 | 26 |
| 5005- H38 | 29 |
| 5050- O | 21 |
| 5052- O | 28 |
| 5052- H32 | 33 |
| 5052- H320 | 29 |
| 5052- H34 | 38 |
| 5052- H36 | 40 |
| 5052- H38 | 42 |
| 5083- O | 42 |
| 5083- H112 | 43 |
| 5083- H321,-H116 | 46 |
| 5083- H323 | 47 |
| 5083-H343 | 52 |
| 5086-O | 38 |
| 5086-H32,H116 | 42 |
| 5086- H34 | 47 |
| 5086-H36 | 50 |
| 5086-H112 | 39 |
| 5154-O | 35 |
| 5154-H112 | 35 |
| 5154- H32 | 39 |
| 5154-H34 | 42 |
| 5154- H36 | 45 |
| 5154- H38 | 48 |
| 5454- O | 36 |
| 5454- H32 | 40 |
| 5454- H34 | 44 |
| 5454- H112 | 36 |
| 5456- O | 45 |
| 5456- H112 | 45 |
| 5456- H321,-H116 | 51 |
| 5457- O | 19 |
| 5457- H25 | 26 |
| 5457- H28 | 30 |
| 5657- H25 | 23 |
| 6013- T8 | 64 |
| 6020- T9 | 58 |
| 6020- T651 | 45 |
| 6061-O | 18 |
| 6061-T4,-T451 | 35 |
| 6061-T6,-T651,-T6511 | 45 |
| 6061-T6511P | 42 |
| Alclad 6061-O | 17 |
| Alclad 6061-T4,-T451 | 33 |
| Alclad 6061-T6,-T651 | 42 |
| 6063-O | 13 |
| 6063-T1 | 22 |
| 6063-T4 | 25 |
| 6063-T5,-T52 | 27 |
| 6063-T6 | 35 |
| 6063-T83 | 37 |
| 6063-T831 | 30 |
| 6063-T832 | 42 |
| 6101-T61 | 32 |
| 6262-T6511 | 45 |
| 6262-T8 | 42 |
| 6262-T9 | 58 |
| 7075-O | 33 |
| 7075-T6,-T651 | 83 |
| Alclad 7075-O | 32 |
| Cast Tool And Jig Plates | 26 |
- Tempers T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively.
- For stress-relieved tempers, the characteristics and properties other than
those specified may differ somewhat from the corresponding characteristics
and properties of the material in the basic temper. - 1 ksi = 1000 psi
- Minimum Properties
Conversion chart that converts sheet metal gauge numbers into the metal thickness
| 26 gauge | 24 ga. | 22 ga. | 20 ga . | 18 ga. | 16 ga. | 14 ga. | 13 ga. | 12 ga. | 11 ga. | 10 ga. | 9 ga. | 8 ga. | 7 ga. | 6 ga. |
| .018 inch | .024″ | .030″ | .036″ | .048″ | .060″ | .075″ | .090″ | .105″ | .120″ | .135″ | .150″ | .164″ | .180″ | .194″ |
| .46mm | .61mm | .76mm | .91mm | 1.2mm | 1.5mm | 1.9mm | 2.3mm | 2.7mm | 3mm | 3.4mm | 3.8mm | 4mm | 4.6mm | 4.9mm |
Works Cited: Tensile Strength Properties of Aluminum and Stainless Steel
Click for a Bend Radius Chart for aluminum and stainless steel for recommended minimum bend radii.