Understanding the Differences Between 201 Stainless Steel Grades J1, J2, J3, J4, and J5

— A Practical Guide for International Buyers

When sourcing 201 stainless steel products such as coils, sheets, or decorative panels, buyers often come across grade names like J1, J2, J3, J4, and J5. Although they all belong to the 201 series, each grade has different chemical compositions, mechanical properties, surface performance, and price levels.

These differences will directly affect welding, forming, corrosion resistance, and ultimately the total cost of your project.
For example, J5 and J3 are the most economical options, mainly used for indoor decorative parts; J1 is the standard balanced grade, while J4 offers better corrosion resistance and formability at a slightly higher price, making it ideal for applications that require better performance without switching to 304.

This article will help you clearly understand the differences between 201 J1–J5, so you can select the right material for your project.

Related Products:

201 Stainless Steel Coil Stainless Steel Strip 201 Stainless Steel Sheet Seamless Stainless Steel Pipe Stainless Steel Welded Pipe Stainless Steel Angle Stainless Steel Flat Bar Stainless Steel Round Bars

1. Overview of 201 Stainless Steel

201 stainless steel is a Cr–Mn–Ni type austenitic stainless steel. Compared with 304, it uses manganese (Mn) and nitrogen (N) to partly replace nickel (Ni), making it a cost-effective alternative for decorative, household, and some industrial applications.

Main Features: Good formability, decent corrosion resistance, suitable for polishing and surface processing.
Common Forms: Coil, sheet, decorative plate, colored plate.
Applications: Elevators, kitchen equipment, interior decoration, construction, and general fabrication.

2. Chemical Composition Comparison

Grade	C %	Ni%	Cr %	Mn %	Cu %	Si %	P%	S %	N%	Mo %	remark
201	≤0.15	3.50-5.50	16.00-18.00	5.50-7.50	–	≤1.00	≤0.06	≤0.03	≤0.25	–	–
201 J1	0.104	1.21	13.92	10.07	0.81	0.41	0.036	0.003	–	–	Balanced composition, widely used
201 J2	0.128	1.37	13.29	9.57	0.33	0.49	0.045	0.001	0.155	–	Lower Ni, more Mn
201 J3	0.127	1.3	14.5	9.05	0.59	0.41	0.039	0.002	0.177	0.02	Economical version, lower cost
201 J4	0.06	1.27	14.86	9.33	1.57	0.39	0.036	0.002	–	–	Added Cu for better formability and corrosion resistance
201 J5	0.135	1.45	13.26	10.72	0.07	0.58	0.043	0.002	0.149	0.032	Very low Ni, lowest cost, mainly for non-critical uses

Note: The exact composition may vary slightly depending on the mill, but the trend above is industry-standard.

3. Key Differences Between J1–J5

Based on the data in the table above, the nickel and chromium levels across the J series (J1–J5) do not vary dramatically; the general trend shows a gradual decrease in nickel content from J1 to J5. However, the differences in copper and carbon contents are much more pronounced, which strongly influence the material’s formability, hardness, corrosion resistance, and ultimately, price.

Copper content: J4 > J1 > J3 > J2 > J5
Carbon content: J5 > J2 > J3 > J1 > J4
Hardness: J5 = J2 > J3 > J1 > J4

These variations in chemical composition lead to clear price differences among the 201 series grades, generally following this order:
J4 > J1 > J3 > J2 > J5

4. Products Usages

Stainless Steel 201 J1

J1 has a slightly higher carbon content and lower copper content compared with J4. As a result, its processing and deep drawing performance is not as good as J4, but it is still suitable for general forming and shallow deep-drawing applications, especially for products with larger angles or less demanding forming requirements — such as decorative panels and general indoor applications.

Stainless Steel 201 J2 & J5

For tubing, J2 and J5 are mainly used for simple decorative round pipes. Due to their high hardness (above 96°), the tubes exhibit excellent surface gloss after polishing, making them visually appealing.
However, their high hardness also makes them less suitable for square tubes or bending processes, where cracking or deformation may occur.

For flat products, J2 and J5 can undergo surface treatments such as frosting, polishing, or electroplating, thanks to their hardness and ability to achieve a good surface finish. These grades are typically used for cost-sensitive decorative applications.

Stainless Steel 201 J3

J3 is commonly used for decorative tubes and is suitable for simple fabrication processes. However, in some applications such as bending or shearing, there have been reports of internal seam cracking — especially in products like black titanium plates, colored sheets, and sanded sheets. When bending to 90°, issues like cracking along the internal weld seam may appear.
Therefore, J3 is better suited for light-duty decorative applications where complex forming is not required.

Stainless Steel 201 J4

J4 is the highest-performing grade in the 201 series in terms of formability and corrosion resistance, due to its higher copper content and balanced composition. It is well-suited for deep drawing applications with small angles, and can also pass salt spray tests more easily compared to other 201 grades.
Typical applications include sinks, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, kettles, thermos flasks, hinges, pots, and other products that require both deep drawing performance and good corrosion resistance.

5. How to Choose the Right Grade for Your Project

If your product requires polishing, deep drawing, or will be exposed to moisture, choose J1 or J4.
If your priority is cost and the application is indoors, J2 or J3 may be sufficient.
For projects with very low budgets, J5 can be used for purely decorative or non-functional parts.
For export markets, J1 and J4 are generally more accepted internationally because of their stable performance.

Orinoxsteel – Your Reliable 201 Series Supplier

At Orinoxsteel, we supply 201 J1, J2, J3, J4, and J5 stainless steel coils, sheets, and decorative plates with customized surface finishes such as 2B, BA, mirror, hairline, and colored sheets.
We offer:

Full thickness & width range (0.25–3.0mm × 1000/1219/1500mm)
Surface processing & color coating
Fast delivery from stock & production lines
Export experience to South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe

Contact us for a quotation or technical consultation.