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LINEAR THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENT FOR METALS
Linear thermal expansion coefficients (CTE, symbol α) for common metals and alloys are listed below.
Values are room-temperature averages expressed as 10−6/°C and 10−6/°F.
Use the calculator to convert units or estimate change in length (ΔL).
Quick CTE values (room temperature):
Aluminum 6061: ~23.6 × 10−6/°C (13.1 × 10−6/°F) ·
Carbon steel (A36/1020): ~11.7 × 10−6/°C (6.5 × 10−6/°F) ·
Stainless 304: ~17.2 × 10−6/°C (9.6 × 10−6/°F)
Use the table below for more grades (stainless 316, brass, copper, titanium, Invar, etc.) and the calculator for ΔL.
For material-specific tables (aluminum, steel, titanium, copper), use the links above.
Aluminum thermal expansion coefficient (CTE)
If you searched for aluminum CTE or the coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum, typical room-temperature
values for common alloys are around 23 × 10−6/°C. For example, 6061 aluminum is
23.6 × 10−6/°C (≈ 13.1 × 10−6/°F).
Thermal expansion coefficient of steel
For steel thermal expansion coefficient searches, plain carbon and low-alloy steels are commonly
~11–13 × 10−6/°C at room temperature. Examples in the table: A36 and 1020
are 11.7 × 10−6/°C, and 4140 is 12.3 × 10−6/°C.
Stainless steel thermal expansion coefficient
If you need stainless steel CTE, austenitic grades like 304 and 316 are typically higher than
carbon steel: 304 is 17.2 × 10−6/°C and 316 is
15.9 × 10−6/°C (room-temperature averages).
Thermal expansion coefficient units
This table uses 10−6/°C and 10−6/°F (microstrain per degree).
Convert using: (10−6/°F) = (10−6/°C) ÷ 1.8.
CTE & Expansion Calculator
Auto-fills typical room-temperature α values.
Unit relation: α°F = α°C × 5⁄9 (and α°C = α°F × 9⁄5).
Thermal Expansion (ΔL = α · 10−6 · ΔT · L)
Heads-up on temperature range:
Room-temperature CTE values are shown. For most metals, α increases with temperature.
If you’re designing across a wide ΔT (e.g., cryogenic to 200–400 °C), use temperature-dependent
data or mean CTE over the relevant range from the material spec.
Worked Example: Expansion of 1 m 304 Stainless Steel bar from 20 °C to 70 °C
Given: 304 SS has α ≈ 17.2 × 10−6/°C at room temperature (see table).
Original length: L = 1000 mm (1 m). Temperature change: ΔT = 50 °C.
Use ΔL = α · 10−6 · ΔT · L
ΔL = (17.2 × 10−6) × (50) × (1000 mm) = 0.86 mm
So the 1 m bar grows to ~1000.86 mm at 70 °C. For tighter accuracy over a wide range, use
temperature-dependent α rather than a single room-temperature value.
Filter table
| Room Temperature Linear Thermal Expansion Coefficient Values for Metals |
| Aluminum Alloys |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Aluminum Alloy 1100 | 23.6 | 13.1 |
| Aluminum Alloy 2011 | 23.0 | 12.8 |
| Aluminum Alloy 2024 | 22.9 | 12.7 |
| Aluminum Alloy 5086 | 23.8 | 13.2 |
| Aluminum Alloy 6061 | 23.6 | 13.1 |
| Aluminum Alloy 7075 | 23.4 | 13.0 |
| Aluminum Alloy 356.0 | 21.5 | 11.9 |
| Copper-Base Alloys |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Copper Alloy C11000 (electrolytic tough pitch) | 17.0 | 9.4 |
| Copper Alloy C17200 (beryllium - copper) | 16.7 | 9.3 |
| Copper Alloy C22000 (Commercial bronze, 90%) | 18.4 | 10.2 |
| Copper Alloy C23000 (Red brass, 85 %) | 18.7 | 10.4 |
| Copper Alloy C26000 (cartridge brass) | 19.9 | 11.1 |
| Copper Alloy C27000 (Yellow Brass) | 20.3 | 11.3 |
| Copper Alloy C36000 (free - cutting brass) | 20.5 | 11.4 |
| Copper Alloy C51000 (Phosphor bronze, 5% A) | 17.8 | 9.9 |
| Copper Alloy C62300 (Aluminum bronze, 9%) | 16.2 | 9.0 |
| Copper Alloy C71500 (copper - nickel, 30%) | 16.2 | 9.0 |
| Copper Alloy C93200 (bearing bronze) | 18.0 | 10.0 |
| Cast Irons |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Gray Irons |
| Grade G1800 | 11.4 | 6.3 |
| Grade G3000 | 11.4 | 6.3 |
| Grade G4000 | 11.4 | 6.3 |
| Ductile Irons |
| Grade 60-40-18 | 11.2 | 6.2 |
| Grade 80-55-06 | 10.6 | 5.9 |
| Precious Metals |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Gold (commercially pure) | 14.2 | 7.9 |
| Silver (commercially pure) | 19.7 | 10.9 |
| Steels |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Plain Carbon and Low Alloy Steels |
| Steel Alloy A36 | 11.7 | 6.5 |
| Steel Alloy 1020 | 11.7 | 6.5 |
| Steel Alloy 1040 | 11.3 | 6.3 |
| Steel Alloy 4140 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Steel Alloy 4340 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Stainless Steels |
| Stainless Alloy 304 | 17.2 | 9.6 |
| Stainless Alloy 316 | 15.9 | 8.8 |
| Stainless Alloy 405 | 10.8 | 6.0 |
| Stainless Alloy 440A | 10.2 | 5.7 |
| Stainless Alloy 17-7PH | 11.0 | 6.1 |
| Titanium Alloys |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Commercially Pure (ASTM Grade 1) | 8.6 | 4.8 |
| Titanium Alloy Ti - 5Al - 2.5Sn | 9.4 | 5.2 |
| Titanium Alloy Ti - 6Al - 4V | 8.6 | 4.8 |
| Titanium Alloy Ti-8Mn | 10.8 | 6.0 |
| Various Metals |
| Material | 10−6/°C | 10−6/°F |
| Magnesium Alloy AZ31B | 26.0 | 14.4 |
| Nickel 200 | 13.3 | 7.4 |
| Inconel 625 | 12.8 | 7.1 |
| Inconel 718 | 13.0 | 7.2 |
| Monel | 15.7 | 8.7 |
| Monel 400 | 13.9 | 7.7 |
| Haynes Alloy 25 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Invar | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Super Invar | 0.72 | 0.40 |
| Kovar | 5.1 | 2.8 |
| Chemical Lead | 29.3 | 16.3 |
| Antimonial lead (6 %) | 27.2 | 15.1 |
| Tin (Commercially pure) | 23.8 | 13.2 |
| Lead - tin solder (60Sn - 40 Pb) | 24.0 | 13.3 |
| Zinc (Commercially pure) | 23.0 - 32.5 | 12.7 - 18.1 |
FAQ
What is the thermal expansion coefficient (CTE)?
CTE (α) is the change in length per unit length per degree of temperature change. For linear expansion: ΔL = α · L · ΔT.
Are these values temperature-dependent?
Yes. Most metals have higher α at higher temperatures. Use mean CTE over your temperature range for accuracy.
How do I convert between 10⁻⁶/°C and 10⁻⁶/°F?
Divide the 10⁻⁶/°C value by 1.8 to get 10⁻⁶/°F (or multiply 10⁻⁶/°F by 1.8 to get 10⁻⁶/°C).
Reference
- Callister, W. D., Jr. (2007). Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction. 7th ed., Wiley.
- Oberg, E., Jones, D. J., Holbrook, L. H., Ryffel, H. H. (2012). Machinery's Handbook. 29th ed., Industrial Press, pp. 376–377.
