A36 Structural Steel
A36 is a low-carbon structural steel specified by its minimum yield strength rather than a fixed chemistry, used for plate, structural shapes and weldments.
- Family /
- Carbon Steels
- Machinability /
- ~72%
- Condition /
- Hot rolled plate and structural shapes
- Also called /
- a thirty six
A36 is a low-carbon structural steel specified by its minimum yield strength rather than a fixed chemistry, used for plate, structural shapes and weldments.
Machinability is approximate and rated against free-machining 1212 steel at 100%. Higher is easier to cut.
What it is
Unlike AISI grades, A36 is a performance specification: it guarantees a minimum yield of 36,000 psi and weldability, but the exact chemistry can vary between mills within that.
How it cuts
Machines like a mild steel — soft, somewhat gummy, and less consistent than 1018 because the chemistry is not tightly fixed. Surface scale on hot rolled plate is abrasive and hard on tooling for the first cut.
What catches people out
Because chemistry varies within the spec, machining behaviour and finish can differ noticeably between batches. It is the wrong choice for a part where consistency matters more than cost.
A36 Structural Steel — Common Questions
Is A36 the same as 1018?
- No. 1018 is a specific chemistry; A36 is a strength and weldability specification whose chemistry can vary between mills. For machined parts needing consistency, 1018 is more predictable.
Other carbon steels
Got a part for A36 Structural Steel?
Send the drawing or the sample. We will tell you straight what it will take to make.