DD11 vs S235JR: differences explained
DD11 vs S235JR: EN 10111 forming sheet against EN 10025-2 structural steel — a yield range of 170–360 MPa with no minimum, against a guaranteed 235 MPa.
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Overview
These two look interchangeable on a stock list and are not. S235JR is a structural steel to EN 10025-2: the mill guarantees a minimum yield of 235 MPa, because the number is what an engineer designs against. DD11 is a forming steel to EN 10111: the mill guarantees elongation and a yield *ceiling* of 170–360 MPa, because what matters is that the sheet bends and draws without cracking or springing back unpredictably.
The practical consequence is blunt. You cannot substitute DD11 into a structural calculation, because there is no minimum yield to calculate with. You can usually substitute S235JR into a forming job, but it will spring back more and may crack at the tight radii DD11 tolerates.
DD11 vs S235JR side by side
| Property | DD11 | S235JR |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | EN 10111:2008 | EN 10025-2:2019 |
| Material number | 1.0332 | 1.0038 |
| Purpose | Hot-rolled sheet and strip for cold forming | Hot-rolled structural steel |
| Old name | StW22, St W 22 | St37-2, Fe360B |
| Yield ReH | 170–360 MPa (range, not a minimum) | 235 MPa minimum, ≤ 16 mm |
| Tensile Rm | 440 MPa maximum | 360–510 MPa |
| Elongation A80 / A | 24 % min. (t < 3 mm) / 28 % min. | 26 % min. (≥ 3 mm) |
| Max C | 0.12 % | 0.17 % |
| Max Mn | 0.60 % | 1.40 % |
| Max P / S | 0.045 / 0.045 % | 0.035 / 0.035 % |
| Impact test | Not required | 27 J at +20 °C (JR) |
| Delivery forms | Sheet, strip, coil, 1.5–11 mm typical | Sections, plate, bar, hollow sections, sheet |
| Surface | Pickled or black, oiled on request | Mill scale, pickled on request |
| Bend radius, transverse | 0.5–1 × thickness | 1.5–2 × thickness |
| Designed against | Formability — draw, bend, roll | Yield strength — beams, frames, brackets |
| Structural design use | Not permitted: no guaranteed minimum yield | Yes, EN 1993 design value 235 MPa |
| Family above it | DD12, DD13, DD14 (progressively better forming) | S275JR, S355JR (progressively stronger) |
| JIS closest | SPHC / SPHD | SS400 / SM400A |
| ASTM closest | A1011 CS Type B / A569 (withdrawn) | A283 Gr C, A36 with caveats |
| Typical price | Baseline for hot-rolled sheet | 0–3 % over DD11 in sheet, same coil |
Which should you choose?
DD11 for anything that gets bent, rolled or drawn — tube and profile mills, enclosure panels, brackets pressed in a die, silo bodies. S235JR for anything that has to carry a calculated load, because it is the grade the structural code recognises. Where a part is both formed and structural, the honest answer is neither: specify S235JR with a bend test agreed at order, or move up to a forming grade with a guaranteed minimum yield such as S315MC in EN 10149-2.
- Roll forming and tube making, where springback consistency decides the tooling setup
- Deep drawing and pressing with tight inside radii — DD13 and DD14 tighten it further
- Parts where the surface after forming matters and the tighter carbon range keeps it clean
- Enclosures, silos, ducting, agricultural bodies — formed but not load-rated
- When the drawing quotes StW22, the withdrawn DIN 1614 name for exactly this steel
- Any member sized by a structural engineer to EN 1993 or an equivalent code
- Welded frames, brackets and bases where the weld design assumes a yield value
- Anything CE marked under EN 1090 — the declaration of performance needs a structural grade
- Sections, plate and hollow sections, where DD11 simply is not a delivery form
- Work where a Charpy value has to appear on the certificate
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DD11 and S235JR?
DD11 is a forming steel with a yield *range* of 170–360 MPa and no guaranteed minimum; S235JR is a structural steel with a guaranteed minimum yield of 235 MPa and a Charpy test at +20 °C. DD11 bends more readily, S235JR is what structural design uses.
Can I use DD11 instead of S235JR?
Not in a structural calculation. A DD11 coil can legitimately be delivered at 180 MPa yield, which is below the 235 MPa the design assumes. For non-structural formed parts the substitution is normal.
Can I use S235JR instead of DD11?
Usually yes for mild forming, but expect more springback and a larger minimum bend radius; the higher manganese and carbon make the steel stiffer in the die. For deep drawing, use DD13 or DD14.
Is DD11 the same as StW22?
Yes. StW22 is the withdrawn DIN 1614 designation; EN 10111 replaced it with DD11 and the material number 1.0332 carried over.
What is DD11 used for?
Welded tube and hollow sections, roll-formed profiles, pressed enclosures, silo and tank bodies, automotive brackets and agricultural equipment panels — anything shaped cold from hot-rolled sheet.
Is DD11 weldable?
Very. Carbon is capped at 0.12 % and manganese at 0.60 %, so the carbon equivalent sits around 0.15–0.25 and no preheat is needed in normal thicknesses.
Related comparisons
Verified against EN 10111:2008 · EN 10025-2:2019. Last checked: October 2026.