Pick the right hinge once. Not the rusty one twice. Compare 304 and 316 stainless, size and load-rate any door, and match the right corrosion-resistant hinge to your job — marine, gate, cabinet, or commercial. Spec-first, sales-pitch-free.
Most hinge failures aren't about size. They're about putting 304 where 316 belonged. Here's the difference in one sheet.
| Spec | 304 — A2 / 18-8 | 316 — A4 / Marine |
|---|---|---|
| Key alloy | 18% Cr · 8% Ni | + 2–3% Mo |
| Best for | Indoor / dry | Salt, pool, coastal |
| Chloride resistance | Good | Excellent |
| Within 5 mi of salt? | Will pit | Use this one |
| Relative cost | $ baseline | $$ ~+30% |
Each guide matches hinges to one specific use case — weighing corrosion grade, load rating, and finish — then points you to real products that fit.
More guides: Best Outdoor Hinges · Best Rust-Resistant Hinges · Best Concealed Hinges · Best Piano Hinges · Best for Saltwater · see all →
Plug in your door or gate. Get the hinge quantity, size, and steel grade a pro would spec — in seconds.
Step-by-step guides for installing, aligning, and maintaining hinges — the jobs that keep a door swinging true.
Plain-language explainers on every common hinge type and how stainless stacks up against brass, zinc, and galvanized.
Inland and rinsed by rain, 304 holds up for years. Within a few miles of saltwater or in de-icing-salt zones, it will tea-stain and eventually pit — move to 316.
Rarely. For dry interior use 304 is fully adequate. Save 316 for chloride or chemical exposure where it actually earns its cost.
Both are austenitic and essentially non-magnetic when annealed. Heavy cold-working in the knuckle can induce slight magnetism — normal and harmless.
One page: 304 vs 316 at a glance, hinge counts by door height, and the load-rating rule of thumb. Built to keep by the workbench.