1020 steel equivalents
1020 steel is nearest to EN 1.0402 (C22), JIS S20C and China GB 20. These are nearest equivalents, not identical grades: the governing standard or mill certificate decides.
- AISI / ASTM / SAE US
- 1020
- EN steel number EN 10027-2
- 1.0402
- EN steel name EN 10027-1
- C22
- JIS Japan
- S20C
- GB China
- 20
- Family
- Low-carbon steel
About 1020
Low-carbon steel. General characteristics; check the standard and the supplier for anything critical.
What it is
A low-carbon plain carbon steel. It is easy to weld, bend and form, and can be case-hardened by carburising, but it does not through-harden.
Typical uses
Lightly loaded shafts, pins, brackets, fixtures, welded fabrications and carburised wear parts.
Machining notes
Machines readily but can be gummy and leave a built-up edge; cold-drawn bar machines better than hot-rolled. Use sharp tools and higher speeds.
Related grades
Grades people often compare with this one.
Fasteners and tapping
Bolts made from this steel
A bolt's property class comes from heat treatment and testing to ISO 898-1 or SAE J429, not from the steel grade alone. A part made from this steel is not automatically equivalent to class 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9, or to grade 5 or 8.
Bolt torque chartTap drills
For mild and alloy steel, 65–75 % thread is the usual target. The tap drill chart lists the standard drill and the thread percentage it leaves for every size.
Tap drill chartAll carbon and alloy steel grades
Nearest equivalents across the five designation systems.
| AISI / ASTM | EN name | EN number | JIS | China GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1020 | C22 | 1.0402 | S20C | 20 |
| 1045 | C45 | 1.0503 | S45C | 45 |
| 4130 | 25CrMo4 | 1.7218 | SCM430 | 30CrMo |
| 4140 | 42CrMo4 | 1.7225 | SCM440 | 42CrMo |
| 8620 | 20NiCrMo2-2 | 1.6523 | SNCM220 | 20CrNiMo |
| 52100 | 100Cr6 | 1.3505 | SUJ2 | GCr15 |
| A36 | S235JR | 1.0038 | SS400 | Q235B |
| A572 Gr 50 | S355JR | 1.0045 | SM490A | Q355B |
Common questions
What is the European equivalent of 1020 steel?
The nearest EN grade is 1.0402, steel name C22.
What is the JIS equivalent of 1020 steel?
The nearest Japanese grade is S20C.
What is the Chinese GB equivalent of 1020 steel?
The nearest Chinese GB grade is 20.
Is 1.0402 the same as 1020?
1.0402 (C22) is the nearest European equivalent of 1020, not an identical grade. Composition limits and required properties differ in detail, so check the governing standard or the mill certificate when it matters.
What is 1020 used for?
Lightly loaded shafts, pins, brackets, fixtures, welded fabrications and carburised wear parts.