Sheet Metal Enclosure Material Selector
Pick the use case and see the material we would start from, why, and its relative cost and weight. It is a starting point for a conversation — the final choice also depends on finish, volume and drawing. Cross-read the material selection guide for the full trade-offs.
Recommended starting material
Mild steel (SPCC)
Relative cost: 1 / 5
Relative weight: 3 / 5
Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. Guidance only, not a specification. Final material also depends on finish, thickness, volume and the drawing — compare grades in the 304 vs 316L guide, 5052 vs 6061 aluminium and cold-rolled vs galvanized steel.
From a starting point to a spec
- Cost and weight are relative to mild steel = 1
- Stainless and aluminium cost more per kg but weigh far less
- Finish (powder, anodize, zinc) changes corrosion and look
- Volume and tooling change the real landed cost
Material deep-dives
Read the grade comparisons — stainless steel, aluminium, cold-rolled and galvanized steel — and sanity-check cost with the enclosure cost estimator and the TCO guide.
Get a real quotationMaterial selector
For a mild outdoor climate, galvanized steel or aluminium with a good powder coat is common. For harsh or coastal sites (C4–C5), 316L stainless or aluminium with a marine-grade system is the safer start because corrosion, not cost, becomes the failure mode.
Aluminium is roughly one-third the density of steel, so for portable, wall-mounted or weight-sensitive enclosures it is usually the better start despite a higher price per kg. You trade material cost for lower shipping and easier handling.
316L stainless is the usual start for sterile or wet environments because it cleans well and resists corrosion; 304 or anodized aluminium suit drier, lower-risk equipment. Finish and geometry matter as much as the grade for cleanability.
No — it gives a sensible starting point from the use case. The final choice also depends on finish, thickness, EMC needs, volume and the drawing, so treat it as the opening of a conversation with the supplier, not the specification.
Tell us the use case, get the right metal
Describe where the enclosure lives and we will line up material, finish and the volume cost.