Stainless Steel Finishes
Stainless steel flat product finishes are specified through designation systems such as BS EN 10088-2 and ASTM A480. This page compares EN and ASTM finish names, separates ex-mill hot and cold rolled finishes from special finishes, and lists checks for specification and handling.
Representative view: four stainless steel samples showing dull No.1, satin 2B, brushed and reflective BA surfaces side by side.
Finish Designations Identify the Production Route
The most common definitions of cold rolled surface finishes are provided by ASTM A480 and EN 10088. In both standards, the cold rolled manufacturing method is specified, rather than specific, measurable characteristics about the surface. BS EN 10088-2:2024 uses a coding system for surface finishes based on the manufacturing process. A finish designation therefore identifies the production route, not an appearance measurement.
Finish Designation Systems in BS EN 10088-2
Surface finishes for stainless steel sheet (coil, strip) and plates are specified in Table 6 of BS EN 10088-2:2024, 'Stainless steels - Technical delivery conditions for sheet/plate and strip of corrosion resisting steels for general purposes.' The surface finish definitions do not express surface finish in terms of Ra values, apart from the 1K and 2K special finishes.
Ex-mill hot rolled
Finish codes with the prefix 1.
Ex-mill cold rolled
Finish codes with the prefix 2.
Special finishes
Value added finishes to achieve specific aesthetic effects.
EN and ASTM Names Compared
The BSSA comparison of finish specifying systems uses BS EN 10088-2:2024 and ASTM A480. The designations below are cross-references only; they are not equivalents and must not be treated as interchangeable on an order.
| BS EN 10088-2 finish | ASTM A480 finish | Product form |
|---|---|---|
| 2R (cold rolled, bright annealed) | BA | cold rolled flat products |
| 2B (cold rolled, heat treated, pickled, skin passed) | 2B | cold rolled flat products |
| 2D (cold rolled, heat treated, pickled) | 2D | cold rolled flat products |
| 1D (hot rolled, heat treated, pickled) | 1 | hot rolled flat products |
| 2G (ground) | No.3 | flat products |
| 2J (brushed or dull polished) | No.4 | flat products |
| 2K (satin polished) | No.6 | flat products |
| 2P (bright polished) | No.8 | flat products |
Check the standard named on the purchase order and specify the finish in that standard; do not treat a cross-reference as a substitute.
Common Mill Finishes
Common mill finishes are designated under BS EN 10088-2 or ASTM A480. Ra figures shown are typical values based on manufacturers' and surface finishing contractors' data, not BS EN 10088-2 values.
1D and No. 1 Finish
BS EN 10088-2 1D is hot rolled, heat treated and pickled, with a typical Ra of 4-7 micrometres; ASTM A480 No. 1 is hot rolled, annealed and pickled and is used where a smooth decorative finish is not important.
2D Finish
BS EN 10088-2 2D is cold rolled, heat treated and pickled, with a typical Ra of 0.4-1.0 micrometres; ASTM A480 No. 2D is a smooth, non-reflective finish favourable for retaining lubricants in deep drawing, and its low reflectivity suits roofing.
2B Finish
BS EN 10088-2 2B is described as the most common cold rolled finish, cold rolled, heat treated, pickled and skin passed, with a typical Ra of 0.1-0.5 micrometres; ASTM A480 No. 2B is a smooth, moderately reflective finish produced by a final light cold-rolled pass using large diameter polished rolls.
2R / BA Finish
BS EN 10088-2 2R is cold rolled and bright annealed, a highly reflective mirror finish with a typical Ra of 0.05-0.1 micrometres and often supplied with plastic coatings for pressings; ASTM A480 Bright Annealed (BA) is smooth, bright and reflective, produced by cold rolling followed by annealing in a protective atmosphere.
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Polished and Special Finishes
Use these finish families when a polished or special finish designation appears on a stainless steel flat product order. Check substrate, texture and Ra basis alongside the designation.
Ground finish (1G or 2G)
BS EN 10088-2 special finish 1G or 2G is ground, can be based on either a 1 or 2 ex-mill finish, and has a unidirectional texture that is not very reflective.
Brushed or dull polished (1J or 2J)
BS EN 10088-2 special finish 1J or 2J is brushed or dull polished, can be based on either a 1 or 2 ex-mill finish, is smoother than G, and has a typical Ra of 0.2-1.5 micrometres.
Bright polished (1P or 2P)
BS EN 10088-2 special finish 1P or 2P is bright polished, a mechanically polished reflective finish that can be a mirror finish, with typical Ra less than 0.1 micrometres.
ASTM polished finishes
ASTM No. 3 and No. 4 finishes are produced by mechanically polishing a No. 2B finish substrate using an emery cloth belt, and an ASTM No. 8 finish is produced by polishing with successively higher grit abrasives and buffing for a mirror finish; by ASTM standards No. 8 is the most reflective of all finishes.
How to Specify a Finish
Finish terminology is not uniform across suppliers. Use these checks to define the surface requirement on an order before release.
- Verify supplier finish namesNot all suppliers use the same terminology to refer to the same finish, so confirm the finish name against the intended surface.
- Plan special finish consultationUnder BS EN 10088-2:2024, precisely defining a special finish with a specific aesthetic texture or appearance usually involves close consultation with specialist finishers, as surface characteristics can vary.
- Set reference swatch acceptanceOnce the finishing grit is defined, set final acceptance of special finishes using reference swatch samples.
- Specify roughness in Ra or RzFor custom surface finishes, specify the required surface roughness in Ra or Rz.
- Confirm BA finish availabilityFor flat products, confirm BA finish availability in the grade and thickness on the order, since it is common in some grades and thicknesses but not all.
Handling Mill Finishes
Use these checks when mill produced finishes are part of the order.
- Treat surface damage as permanentScratches, grinding marks or spatter on mill produced finishes cannot be matched by polishing with abrasives or etching with chemicals.
- Confirm pickling in cold rolled processAll cold rolled processes include a pickling stage that removes high temperature scale, the adjacent low chromium layer of metal, manganese sulphide inclusions and other contamination.
- Allow for slight rougheningPickling results in a very clean, highly corrosion resistant surface but will slightly roughen the surface.
Finish Pages
Finish questions split into single-finish references, finish comparisons, and procurement checks. Choose the page that matches the finish name on the order or the check you need to run.
- Finish
2B Stainless Steel Finish
2B is a cold rolled, heat treated, pickled and skin-passed finish for stainless steel sheet and coil, with definitions in ASTM A480 and BS EN 10088-2, and 2B coil supplied by ZIVO STEEL.
- Finish
BA Stainless Steel Finish
BA finish in ASTM A480 and 2R in BS EN 10088-2: production, acceptance and the BA coil ZIVO STEEL supplies.
- Finish
No.1 Stainless Steel Finish: Specify the Hot-Rolled Surface
Specify a No.1 hot-rolled stainless surface by its final use, material form, agreed reference and receiving method; a finish name alone is not an appearance contract.
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