Why Buyers Need This Table
A steel grade is not written once and read everywhere. The same steel is called Q235B in China, SS400 in Japan, A36 in the US and S235JR in Europe. When your drawing, your national code and the mill’s test certificate use three different names, the risk of ordering the wrong material goes up fast.
This cross-reference table lets you:
- Translate a grade you know into a grade we can supply — so a specification written to JIS, DIN or GOST is not a dead end.
- Compare mechanical properties, not just names — equivalents are close on strength but can differ on chemistry, toughness and impact testing.
- Avoid claim disputes — agree on the exact standard, grade and tolerance before the contract, not after the container lands.
Important: "Equivalent" does not always mean "identical". The grades below are close on yield strength and application, but may differ in carbon/manganese limits, impact temperature and delivery tolerance. Always confirm the exact standard and grade your project requires.
Cross-Reference Table
| Chinese Standard | Japanese Standard | American Standard | European Standard | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q235B | SS400 | ASTM A36 | S235JR (EN 10025-2) | General structural steel — beams, columns, base plates |
| Q235B (St37-2 equivalent) | SS400 | ASTM A36 | St37-2 (DIN 17100) | Legacy drawings still specifying St37-2 |
| Q355B | SM490 | ASTM A572 Gr.50 | S355JR | High-strength structures, bridges, heavy machinery |
| Q355D | SM490YA | ASTM A572 Gr.50 | S355J2 / S355K2 | Low-temperature structures, cold climates |
| Q195 | SS330 | ASTM A283 Gr.C | S185 / S235JR | Light structural, general purpose, low carbon |
| SPHC | SPHC (JIS G3131) | SAE1006 / SAE1008 | DD11 (EN 10111) | Hot rolled commercial sheet for forming |
| SPCC | SPCC (JIS G3141) | ASTM A1008 CS | DC01 (EN 10130) | Cold rolled sheet — appliances, panels, furniture |
| SAE1008 / 08F | SWRM8 | AISI 1008 | C10C (EN 10084) | Wire rod for drawing, wire mesh, nails |
| SAE1006 | SWRM6 | AISI 1006 | 1006 | Low carbon wire rod, welding mesh |
| DX51D+Z | SGCC (JIS G3302) | ASTM A653 CS Type B | EN 10346 DX51D+Z | Galvanized sheet — roofing, ducts, appliances |
| DX52D+Z | SGCD1 | ASTM A653 FS | EN 10346 DX52D+Z | Drawing-grade galvanized sheet |
| PPGI (DX51D+Z + paint) | JIS G3312 CGCC | ASTM A755 | EN 10169 | Colour-coated roofing and wall cladding |
| HRB400 | SD390 | ASTM A615 Gr.60 | B500B (EN 10080) | Concrete reinforcement rebar |
| HRB500 | SD490 | ASTM A706 Gr.60/80 | B500C | High-strength and seismic rebar |
| GB/T 3091 (welded pipe, Q235B) | JIS G3444 STK400 | ASTM A53 Gr.A | EN 10255 | Water and gas piping, structural tube |
| GB/T 3091 (HDG pipe) | JIS G3444 | ASTM A53 Gr.A | EN 10255 | Galvanized pipe — fencing, scaffolding, handrail |
| 20# (seamless) | STPG370 | ASTM A106 Gr.B | P235GH (EN 10216-2) | Boiler and high-pressure fluid pipe |
| 45# / 40Cr (alloy bar) | S45C | AISI 1045 | C45 (EN 10083) | Machining — shafts, gears, fasteners |
| SWRH82B (PC wire rod) | SWRH82B | ASTM A421 | EN 10238 | Prestressed concrete strand wire |
| Q235B / Q355B (H-beam) | SM400B / SM490 | ASTM A36 / A572 | S235JR / S355JR | H-beam and I-beam structural framing |
| 8.8 grade bolt (GB/T 3098.1) | JIS B1180 / F10T | ASTM A325 | EN 14399-3 | Structural bolting |
| Galvanized wire (GB/T 343) | JIS G3547 | ASTM A641 | EN 10244-2 | Fencing, gabion, wire mesh |
| Q215 / Q235 (angle & channel) | SS330 / SS400 | ASTM A36 | S235JR | Frames, towers, light structural |
How to Read the Suffixes
Once you match the base grade, the letters after it decide what the steel can actually do:
- Z / Z275 — zinc coating weight on galvanized steel (Z275 = 275 g/m² total, both sides). Higher number = longer life in humid or coastal climates.
- JR / J2 / K2 — impact test temperature. JR = +20 °C, J0 = 0 °C, J2 = −20 °C, K2 = −40 °C. Cold-climate projects usually need J2 or lower.
- B / C / D — a quality grade under EN 10025, where D adds low-temperature toughness over B.
- Gr. — "Grade" in ASTM standards (A572 Gr.50 = 50 ksi yield).
Before You Order
Send us the standard and grade exactly as they appear on your drawing or in your national code. If you are not sure of the equivalent, send the drawing and we will identify the matching grade and confirm chemistry, mechanical properties and delivery tolerance in writing — before the order is placed.
Need a Quotation for Your Project?
Send us the grade or standard, size, quantity and destination port. Our export team replies with a full quotation, usually within 12 hours.