Carbon steel roller chain rusts. On a wash-down food line, a deck winch or a pharmaceutical conveyor, that is more than a maintenance nuisance. It means contamination risk or unplanned downtime. Stainless steel roller chain solves the corrosion problem, but it gives up a large share of load capacity to do it. That trade-off is easy to miss until the chain is already on the drawing.
This guide covers the ANSI sizes LILY Bearing stocks in stainless, how their working loads compare with carbon steel at the same pitch, how solid-pin and hollow-pin construction differ, and where each type belongs.
Quick Answer
Stainless steel roller chain matches carbon steel chain in pitch and roller dimensions but carries far less load. Use it where corrosion or contamination is the problem, not where strength is.
Stainless vs. Carbon Steel Roller Chain: What Actually Changes
Stainless chain follows the same ASME/ANSI B29.1 dimensions as its carbon steel counterpart for pitch, roller diameter and roller width. A #40 stainless chain still runs on a #40 sprocket. What changes is the material behind those dimensions:
Corrosion resistance. Stainless steel resists rust and most food acids without a coating. Carbon steel relies on zinc or nickel plating, and the plating wears off first at the pin and bushing joints. Stainless is not immune, though. Chloride-heavy environments, such as saltwater or chlorine-based sanitizers, can still cause pitting, particularly in 304-type stainless.
Working load. This is the figure most spec sheets bury. At the same ANSI size, stainless is rated far below carbon steel: 95 lbf for #40 stainless versus 940 lbf for #40 carbon steel in this catalog. The exact ratio varies by manufacturer and by how working load is defined and tested. The chain maker iwis, for example, states that the permitted load of its stainless chains is about one-third of comparable standard chains. Compare ratings from the same source, and confirm the figure on the product page for your exact SKU.
Magnetism and temperature. Austenitic stainless is largely non-magnetic, although cold working can leave a slight magnetic response. It also keeps its toughness at low temperatures, where carbon steel turns brittle. Both points help in sensor-equipped machinery and cold-storage conveyors.
Lubrication. Stainless does not need oil to stop rust. That is why it suits food and pharmaceutical lines, where lubricant contamination is a compliance concern. It can still benefit from a light lubricant to limit wear.
The takeaway: stainless earns its place on corrosion resistance and hygiene, not strength. If the application has no corrosion or contamination problem, carbon steel chain offers roughly 9 to 14 times the working load at the same size and is almost always the better specification.
Available Sizes: ANSI #25 Through #60
As of October 2026, LILY Bearing stocks standard-pitch stainless roller chain in five ANSI sizes, #25 through #60. No standard-pitch stainless #80 or larger is stocked. At that scale, the stainless option is double-pitch chain, covered below the table.
ANSI No. | Pitch | Roller Diameter | Roller Width | Working Load (Stainless) | Working Load (Carbon Steel, Same Size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#25 | 0.250" | 0.130" | 0.125" | 15 lbf | 140 lbf |
#35 | 0.375" | 0.200" | 0.1875" | 40 lbf | 560 lbf |
#40 | 0.500" | 0.312" | 0.3125" | 95 lbf | 940 lbf |
#50 | 0.625" | 0.400" | 0.375" | 150 lbf | 1,620 lbf |
#60 | 0.750" | 0.469" | 0.500" | 190 lbf | 2,470 lbf |
Working loads come from current LILY Bearing product listings. The #60 figure shown is for standard solid-pin chain. Hollow-pin #60 is rated higher, at 230 lbf (see the next section). ANSI #25 and #35 are bushed chains without rollers, so the diameter shown for them is the bushing diameter. Always check the product page for the exact SKU before finalizing a design.
For slow conveyors, double-pitch chain is stocked in corrosion-resistant versions built on #40, #50, #60 and #80 dimensions. Their pitches are 1.0", 1.25", 1.5" and 2.0", with working loads of 95, 150, 230 and 390 lbf. A double-pitch chain has fewer links per foot, which reduces weight and cost on slow, lightly loaded runs.
Standard vs. Hollow-Pin Stainless Chain
Stainless chain in this catalog comes in two constructions. The difference matters when you need to mount attachments.
Standard (solid-pin) chain is the general-purpose option, available in #25 through #60. Use it for open conveying and light power transmission where nothing bolts to the chain.
Hollow-pin chain, stocked in #40, #50 and #60, uses a tubular pin bored through its length. A bolt or screw passes through the bore, so you can fit flights, pushers or brackets directly to the chain without a separate attachment link. You can also move attachments without cutting the chain. Bore diameters are 0.157" at #40, 0.202" at #50 and 0.236" at #60. It suits conveyors and packaging lines where attachment spacing changes between product runs.
The two constructions carry different ratings. Hollow-pin #60 is rated at 230 lbf here, against 190 lbf for standard #60. "Stainless roller chain" is a family of products, not one spec, so read the rating on the exact product page rather than carrying a number over from another listing.
Where Stainless Roller Chain Belongs
Stainless earns its cost where carbon steel, even plated, would corrode or contaminate the product:
Food and beverage processing covers bottling lines, packaging conveyors and equipment washed down daily. Check your sanitizer first, because chlorine-based cleaners can pit 304-type stainless.
Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing includes cleanroom conveyors where corrosion particles or lubricant residue are a contamination risk.
Marine and outdoor equipment includes deck winches, dock equipment and anything exposed to saltwater spray. 316 is the safer grade here (see the FAQ).
Chemical processing means mild acidic or caustic duty where carbon steel corrodes quickly. Verify compatibility with the specific chemical.
Instrumentation and low-load precision drives fit where low magnetic response matters more than strength.
Where It Doesn't Belong
Given the working-load gap shown above, stainless is a poor fit for:
Heavy-duty power transmission. Agricultural equipment, industrial gearboxes and high-torque drives depend on the load capacity carbon steel offers at a given pitch.
High-speed drives. Stainless chain is generally rated for lower speeds than carbon steel, because the material is softer and more prone to wear and galling. Confirm the speed limit for your size before specifying it.
Projects with no corrosion exposure. Paying for corrosion resistance you don't need, while giving up most of the load capacity, is a common misapplication of stainless chain.
Roller Chain Materials Compared
Stainless is one of three common choices. Plated carbon steel sits between the other two.
Material | Corrosion resistance | Load capacity | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
Carbon steel (uncoated) | Low; relies on oil | Highest | Heavy power transmission in dry, lubricated drives |
Nickel- or zinc-plated carbon steel | Moderate; plating wears at the joints | Close to uncoated carbon steel; check the published rating | Humid or outdoor drives with light corrosion |
Stainless steel (austenitic, 304 or 316 type) | High; 316 resists chlorides better | Lowest of the three | Wash-down, food, pharmaceutical and marine duty |
Choosing the Right Size
Match the sprocket first.The chain pitch must equal the sprocket pitch. The chain's roller width and number of strands must also fit the sprocket's tooth width.
Compare against working load, with a service factor. Work from the rated working load, not tensile (breaking) strength. The rating already includes a safety margin, but it assumes smooth, steady operation. If the drive has shock loads, frequent starts or a heavy duty cycle, apply a service factor to your calculated chain tension before you compare it with the rating.
Confirm the grade. Check whether the chain is 304 or 316 before ordering for chloride exposure.
Decide between solid-pin and hollow-pin before ordering, because switching later means replacing the whole chain, not adding a link.
If the load exceeds what stainless can carry at the size you need, move up a size or consider plated carbon steel chain. Plated chain typically keeps most of its load rating and resists light corrosion at a lower cost than stainless. Check the rating for the plated product.
FAQ
Does stainless steel roller chain need lubrication?
Yes, a little. A light lubricant at the pin and bushing joint reduces wear and helps prevent galling, a cold-welding effect that austenitic stainless is prone to under some conditions (source). Where lubricant is not allowed, such as some food or cleanroom lines, ask the manufacturer for a dry-running rating and expect a shorter service life.
Can I run stainless chain on carbon steel sprockets?
Mechanically, yes, if pitch, tooth count and width match. In a corrosive environment the carbon steel sprocket will still rust, which defeats the point of the stainless chain and can shed rust onto the product. For wash-down or marine duty, pair the chain with stainless or otherwise corrosion-protected sprockets.
Why is the working load so much lower than carbon steel at the same size?
Stainless alloys used in chain generally have lower strength than hardened carbon steel. Austenitic stainless also cannot be hardened by heat treatment (source). Its strength comes only from cold working, so the surface stays softer than a heat-treated steel pin or bushing. That trade-off is what buys the corrosion resistance.
Is the chain 304 or 316 stainless?
Both are austenitic grades. 316 adds molybdenum, which improves resistance to chloride pitting but does not fully prevent it. Grade is not listed on every stainless roller chain page in this catalog. For saltwater or chlorine exposure, confirm the grade on the product listing or with support before ordering.
Can I swap stainless chain into a drive that currently uses carbon steel chain?
Only if the load allows it. Same-pitch stainless chain fits the same sprockets, but at the same size it carries a fraction of the load. Recalculate chain tension for your drive and compare it with the stainless rating, with a service factor applied. If the rating falls short, you will need a larger pitch and new sprockets, or a lower-load design.
Get the Right Chain the First Time
Pitch and roller diameter tell you whether a chain fits your sprocket. Working load and construction tell you whether it will survive the application. Get either wrong and you are reordering, or dealing with early failure on a line that cannot afford downtime.
Browse the full stainless and carbon steel roller chain lineup, including hollow-pin and double-pitch options in the sizes covered above, or check compatible sprockets for the size you have settled on. This guide covers the stainless range only. For dimensions and capacity across all 14 carbon steel ANSI sizes, including #80 and up, see the Roller Chain Size Chart. For general background on selecting chains and sprockets, see Industrial Chains and Sprockets.
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