---
title: "What Is Stainless steel (304 vs 316)? Cabinet Glossary"
description: "Stainless steel is a rust-resistant steel alloy, and the 316 grade resists salt and chlorides better than the common 304 grade."
url: https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/stainless-steel
publisher: Innovation Cabinetry
phone: +1-888-206-1088
find_a_dealer: https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/find-dealer
---

Outdoor

# Stainless steel (304 vs 316)

Stainless steel is a rust-resistant steel alloy, and the 316 grade resists salt and chlorides better than the common 304 grade.

Stainless steel gets its rust resistance from chromium. Grade 304 is the common choice for kitchens and outdoor hardware. Grade 316 adds molybdenum, which helps against salt air and pool chemicals. That makes 316 the usual pick near the sea.

This matters for outdoor kitchens in Florida, where salt and humidity attack metal. Hinges, legs and screws are the parts most at risk.

The Endura brochure lists "304 stainless steel 6-way adjustable hinges" with a soft-close mechanism and "Adjustable rust-resistant 304 stainless steel legs." The brochure for Maverick Garageworx lists heavy-duty stainless steel adjustable legs. The materials we have list grade 304, not 316, for Endura. See [Endura](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/endura), the [outdoor kitchen cabinet materials guide](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/outdoor-kitchen-cabinet-materials) and the entry for [adjustable leg](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/adjustable-leg).

[Related pageOutdoor kitchen cabinet materials compared](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/guides/outdoor-kitchen-cabinet-materials)

## Related terms

-   [Adjustable leg](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/adjustable-leg)
-   [HDPE](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/hdpe)
-   [Soft-close hinge](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/soft-close-hinge)
-   [Marine-grade polymer](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/glossary/marine-grade-polymer)

![Whisper Blue Urban shaker kitchen with an island and stools](https://innovationcabinetry.multisites.ai/_astro/ub-whisper-blue-gallery-image-1980x1080-1.4YXlLAS7_Z1qUWbv.webp)

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