As two of the most highly sought after steel grades on the market, many experience confusion between the differences of 1018 steel and A36 steel. How different is A36 from 1018? Are they equivalent material grades? This in-depth comparison will provide you with all of the information you need to differentiate between the two.
1018 Steel Properties
1018 steel is a mild low-carbon steel with good ductility, toughness, and strength qualities. Compared to other steel grades, 1018 steel is relatively cost-effective. Also, thanks to its versatility, 1018 steel can be easily welded using most welding processes thus further making it a popular choice.
1018 steel can be produced in cold drawn or hot rolled forms, but it is more frequently purchased as a cold drawn product. It typically comes in bar form of various sizes and shapes. Capital Steel & Wire, for example, makes 1018 cold drawn bars in square, hexagon, round, and flat bar shapes and can cut it into any specified length to optimize its use for any operation.
For this comparison, we’ll assume that 1018 steel is in its cold drawn state.
A36 Steel Properties
ASTM A36 steel is one of the most widely manufactured grades of steel bar, as it has many different applications across many industries and provides an affordable option for steel solutions. Similar to 1018 steel, it can be hot rolled or cold drawn, but it is typically produced in hot rolled form. It comes in many different bar shapes including squares, rounds, and rectangles, and is also often manufactured into channels, angles, I-beams and H-beams, or as a steel plate product.
Again, for the sake of this comparison, we’ll assume that A36 steel is hot rolled.
Chemical Properties of A36 Steel & 1018 Steel
Chemically, A36 steel and 1018 steel are very similar. Please reference the table below for the exact chemical properties of the two steel grades.
| Element | A36 Steel | 1018 Steel |
| Iron, Fe | 99% | 98.81 – 99.26% |
| Carbon, C | 0.26% | 0.18% |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.75% | 0.6 – 0.9% |
| Phosphorus, P (max) | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Sulfur, S (max) | 0.05% | 0.05% |
Mechanical Properties of A36 Steel & 1018 Steel
Whether steel is hot rolled or cold drawn has a significant impact on the mechanical properties as noted in the table below. As a reminder, we are assuming that A36 steel is hot rolled and that 1018 steel is cold drawn.
| Property | A36 Steel | 1018 Steel |
| Tensile Strength | 58,000 psi | 63,000 psi |
| Yield Strength | 36,300 psi | 53,700 psi |
| Elongation (50 mm) | 20% | 15% |
Applications & Machinability of A36 Steel & 1018 Steel
1018 steel is used over A36 for applications that require machining, as it responds to machining fairly well. 1018 steel is most commonly used in high volume screw machine parts including shafts, spindles, pins and rods. A36 steel is often used as a mass steel product for the industrial and construction industries for making buildings, bridges, railroads, oil rigs and more. A36 steel is easy to weld with any standard welding methods, and with lower yield strengths than 1018 steel, it is easier to bend and manipulate its shape.
Cost of A36 Steel & 1018 Steel
Because cold drawing steel is more labor-intensive and time-consuming, cold drawn steel products cost significantly more than hot rolled products. However, the investment of cold drawn steel is worthwhile for projects that demand high strength and durability. For products that do not require higher quality finishes or high strength and machinability characteristics, we recommend A36 steel over 1018 steel simply for the reduced cost alone.
Summary of A36 Steel vs 1018 Steel
In summary, 1018 steel surpasses A36 steel in regards to its strength, chemical composition, and machinability. However, A36 steel triumphs in overall cost-effectiveness. When deciding between the two steels, take into consideration the end application and the quantity that your operation mandates.
| A36 Steel | 1018 Steel | |
| Strength | ✓ | |
| Machinability | ✓ | |
| Surface Finish | ✓ | |
| Cost | ✓ |
Choose Capital Steel for Your Steel Needs
Beginning in 2001, Capital Steel proudly manufactures, supplies, and distributes a wide selection of steel grades and forms. Our team of steel experts is always happy and ready to assist with any questions or inquiries regarding steel solutions.
