Aluminum vs. Cold Rolled Steel vs. Stainless Steel: What’s the Difference in Sheet Metal Fabrication?

When you’re starting a metal fabrication project, choosing the right material is just as important as the design itself. At Norco Precision, we work with a wide range of metals every day, but three materials stand out for their versatility and popularity: aluminum, cold rolled steel, and stainless steel.

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through the key differences so you can choose the best option for your next sheet metal job.

Quick Overview of Each Material

Aluminum

• Lightweight and corrosion-resistant

• Great for outdoor or high-humidity environments

• Easier to form and machine

• Common in aerospace, enclosures, signage, and transportation

Cold Rolled Steel (CRS)

• Low-cost and high-strength

• Very precise surface finish

• Best for indoor parts or powder-coated projects

• Used in brackets, panels, frames, and structural components

Stainless Steel

• Highly durable and corrosion-resistant

• Retains strength at high temperatures

• More expensive, but long-lasting

• Ideal for food-grade, medical, and cleanroom applications

How to Choose the Right Metal for Your Project

Here’s how these three metals compare in key categories:

• Aluminum

  • Weight: light

  • Corrosion resistance: excellent

  • Cost: medium

  • Strength: moderage

  • Workability: easy to machine

• Cold Rolled Steel

  • Weight: heavy

  • Corrosion resistance: poor, unless coated

  • Cost: low

  • Strength: high

  • Workability: good, but harder than aluminum

• Stainless Steel

  • Weight: heavy

  • Corrosion resistance: excellent

  • Cost: high

  • Strength: very high

  • Workability: harder than cold rolled steel

Why This Matters for Minneapolis Projects

In the Minneapolis–St. Paul region, we see a wide range of applications, from rugged outdoor enclosures for construction to sleek stainless panels used in clean manufacturing environments. Choosing the right metal upfront helps ensure:

• Durability in Minnesota weather

• Lower fabrication and maintenance costs

• Better performance based on use-case

At Norco Precision, we help customers throughout the Twin Cities get exactly what they need, whether it's corrosion resistance for an outdoor kiosk, or clean aesthetics for a medical device component.

Material Selection Is Built Into Our Process

We don’t just cut metal, we help you choose the right one. Our engineering and fabrication teams offer upfront guidance to make sure your parts are made from materials that match your goals, budget, and environment.

From initial prototypes to full-scale production, we’ve got your back.

Whether you’re building a durable cabinet, a precision-machined bracket, or a custom stainless panel, Norco Precision has the tools, and the team, to get it done right. Located right in Minneapolis, we make it easy to get high-quality, on-time metal fabrication with expert material recommendations.

Let’s talk about your next project - contact us today.