Most Popular Stamping Steel Grades: A Guide for Buyers and Engineers

Steel stamping is a foundational process across the manufacturing landscape, playing a critical role in industries like automotive, appliance, electrical, and general industrial production. Whether you're forming shallow parts or deep-drawn components, selecting the right steel grade is key to maximizing efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring product performance. 

At Mill Steel Company, we understand that the success of your operations starts with the right material. This guide highlights the most commonly used steel grades for stamping, what makes them ideal, and where they’re most frequently applied. 

What Makes a Steel Grade Ideal for Stamping? 

Steel selected for stamping typically needs to have: 

• Excellent formability
• Consistent surface finish
• Tight gauge tolerances
• Predictable mechanical properties 

Depending on the complexity of the part and forming depth, buyers may choose from ultra-low carbon steels to high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) grades. Surface coatings (like galvanized or aluminized finishes) may also be required for corrosion resistance or specific industry specs. 

 Most Popular Steel Grades for Stamping 

1. Commercial Steel (CS Type A & B) 

• Type: Low Carbon, available in Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled
• Carbon Content: Typically < 0.10%
• Why It’s Popular: A versatile, cost-effective material for simple forming or shallow drawn parts.
• Common Applications: Brackets, panels, electrical enclosures, appliance backings
• Key Advantage: Good balance of formability and strength for general-purpose stamping needs. 

2. Drawing Steel (DS Type B) 

• Type: Cold Rolled, Low Carbon Steel
• Carbon Content: ~0.02–0.06%
• Why It’s Popular: Offers improved formability over Commercial Steel, ideal for moderate stamping and drawing.
• Common Applications: Automotive outer body panels, appliance fronts, and enclosures
• Key Advantage: More ductile than CS grades, making it suitable for complex shapes and bends. 

3. Deep Drawing Steel (DDS) / Extra Deep Drawing Steel (EDDS) 

• Type: Ultra Low Carbon Cold Rolled Steel
• Carbon Content: Often < 0.02%
• Why It’s Popular: Designed for parts requiring deep draws without cracking, tearing, or wrinkling.
• Common Applications: Automotive inner panels, cookware, HVAC components, complex housings
• Key Advantage: Superior elongation and drawability for high-performance stamping operations. 

4. AISI 1008 / 1010 

• Type: Low Carbon Steel, Cold Rolled
• Carbon Content:
  • 1008: ~0.08%
  • 1010: ~0.10%
• Why It’s Popular: These are some of the most common low carbon grades used for precision stampings, offering great ductility and surface finish.
• Common Applications: Electrical components, light brackets, roll-formed products, and automotive clips
• Key Advantage: Reliable performance in stamping and secondary machining operations. 

5. High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) – e.g., 50ksi Grade 

• Type: Low Alloy Carbon Steel with added elements (e.g., Mn, Si, Nb)
• Yield Strength: 50,000 psi and above
• Why It’s Popular: Combines high strength with good formability, allowing for lighter gauge material with equal structural performance.
• Common Applications: Automotive structural reinforcements, heavy-duty stampings, frame components
• Key Advantage: Reduces weight while maintaining strength—ideal for safety-critical parts in automotive and equipment manufacturing. 

6. Galvanized, Galvannealed, and Aluminized Coated Steels 

• Types Available: CS, DS, DDS with zinc or aluminum-silicon coatings
• Why It’s Popular: These materials provide corrosion protection while maintaining formability, often required by OEM specs.
• Common Applications: Automotive body and chassis parts, appliance housings, HVAC ducting
• Key Advantage: Combine formability with corrosion resistance—especially important in automotive and appliance markets. 

Choosing the Right Steel for Your Stamping Needs 

Selecting the correct stamping steel depends on several factors: 

• Part complexity and draw depth
• Strength requirements
• Surface finish expectations
• Coating or corrosion resistance needs
• Weldability and downstream processing 

As a national steel service center, Mill Steel specializes in supplying flat-rolled carbon steel products ideal for stamping applications, including cold rolled, coated, and HSLA materials. 

Partner With Mill Steel for Your Stamping Steel Supply 

From coil processing to just-in-time delivery, Mill Steel supports stamping manufacturers with the quality, consistency, and speed they need to stay competitive. With a wide range of stocking grades and finishes, we help customers reduce downtime and streamline production. 

Need help selecting a grade? Contact our metallurgists today to discuss your project requirements and explore material options. Know what you need? Shop our online store.