The hardness range of commonly used stainless steel plates is about 150-300HB.
Stainless steel plate hardness overview:
The hardness of stainless steel plate refers to the ability of the material to resist local plastic deformation. High hardness stainless steel surface is not easy to bend, cut or scratch. It also shows that it has high strength, good toughness and strong wear resistance.

Commonly used stainless steel plate hardness range:
1, austenitic stainless steel
Austenitic stainless steel is the most commonly used stainless steel material, with a hardness range of about 150-300HB. It is often used to make high-strength machine parts. The highest hardness of austenitic stainless steel is HRC38-39.
Different types of stainless steel have different hardness. Here are some reference hardness values for stainless steel:
304 stainless steel: HB≤187
316 stainless steel: HB≤187
409 Stainless steel: HB≤143
430 stainless steel: HB≤183
It should be reminded that the hardness value of stainless steel is affected by many factors such as temperature, pressure, processing technology, and the hardness value is for reference only.
2, ferritic stainless steel
The hardness range of solid stainless steel is low, about 100-220HB. The strength and toughness of ferritic stainless steel are low, but the corrosion resistance is good, and it is often used in the production of tableware and kitchenware.
3, martensitic stainless steel
Martensitic stainless steel has the highest hardness range, which can reach more than 600HB, and it usually needs to be processed before use due to its excellent performance. Martensitic stainless steel is mostly used to make mechanical parts such as steel balls.
Factors affecting the hardness of stainless steel plate:
In addition to changing the hardness of stainless steel plates by controlling the composition, material and processing technology during the material preparation process, its hardness is also affected by other factors.

Step 1: Temperature
As the temperature increases, the hardness of the stainless steel plate will decrease, because the temperature will increase the atomic gap, resulting in a decrease in the strength of the material.
Step 2: Deformation
The hardness of stainless steel plate will increase when cold working or hot working. Because in the process of processing, deformation and grain boundary slip will occur inside the material, resulting in tight organization of the material and stress concentration, thus increasing its hardness.
Test method:
There are three commonly used methods to measure the hardness of stainless steel: Brinell hardness test, Rockwell hardness test and Vickers hardness test. Among them, Brinell hardness test is more common. The test method is to press the hardness meter on the surface of stainless steel and read the test value.
Conclusion:
The hardness of stainless steel plate is one of its basic properties, and different hardness values correspond to different uses. When manufacturers and users choose stainless steel materials, they should start from their own needs and choose stainless steel plates that suit their needs.