Metal Melting Points: The Complete Guide & Full Metal Melting Point Chart (F + C)
- November 24, 2025
- 6:00 pm
- 2440
Updated 2025 — Authoritative Industry Reference
Understanding the melting point of metals is essential for engineers, fabricators, metallurgists, foundries, manufacturers, and anyone working in high-temperature industrial environments. Whether your application involves metal casting, forging, welding, heat treatment, aerospace components, or energy systems, knowing the exact temperature at which metals transition from solid to liquid determines performance, safety, and process efficiency.
This comprehensive guide provides the complete melting point chart for metals, evaluates how and why metals melt at different temperatures, explains the melting behavior of steel and stainless steel, addresses popular misconceptions (including the famous “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams” topic), and provides practical guidance for industrial use.
This article is written for professionals who require highly accurate, engineering-grade melting point data and a clear explanation of the science behind it.
A. What Is a Melting Point? (1.0)
The melting point of a metal is the exact temperature at which it transitions from a solid to a liquid under standard atmospheric pressure. This phase change occurs when the metal’s internal atomic bonds receive enough thermal energy to break free from their fixed crystalline arrangement.
Key points:
Pure metals have sharp melting points
They melt at one specific temperature.Alloys do not
Most alloys—including steel, stainless steel, nickel alloys, brass, and bronze—melt over a range, not a single point. This range is called the solidus-to-liquidus interval, where the metal begins to soften before fully liquifying.Crystal structure influences melting behavior
For example:FCC metals (Al, Cu, Ni) typically melt more predictably
BCC metals (Fe, Cr, Mo) maintain strength longer before melting
Melting point vs. softening point
Softening occurs earlier than melting, which is important for structural stability.
B. Why Metal Melting Points Matter in Industry (2.0)
Melting temperature directly affects:
2.1 Manufacturing Processes
Casting
Forging
Welding
Brazing
Heat treatment
Additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing)
2.2 Material Selection
For example:
Aluminum melts at 1220°F (660°C) → unsuitable for high-heat structural components
Stainless steel melts at roughly 2,500°F (1370°C) → much more heat-resistant
Tungsten melts at 6,192°F (3,422°C) → ideal for extreme environments
2.3 Safety
Structural collapse, furnace failure, and heat-induced deformation often occur well below melting temperatures.
C. Full Metal Melting Point Chart (Fahrenheit + Celsius) (3.0)
Below is one of the most complete metal melting point tables available online. All temperatures shown are typical pure-metal melting points unless otherwise specified.
3.1 Melting Point of Common Metals
| Metal | Melting Point (°F) | Melting Point (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 1220°F | 660°C |
| Aluminum Alloys | 865–1,240°F | 463–671°C |
| Brass | 1,650–1,720°F | 900–940°C |
| Bronze | 1,670–1,880°F | 910–1,025°C |
| Copper | 1,984°F | 1,085°C |
| Iron | 2,800°F | 1,538°C |
| Lead | 621°F | 327°C |
| Magnesium | 1,202°F | 650°C |
| Nickel | 2,651°F | 1,455°C |
| Silver | 1,763°F | 962°C |
| Tin | 449°F | 232°C |
| Titanium | 3,034°F | 1,668°C |
| Zinc | 787°F | 419°C |
3.2 Melting Point of Steel, Stainless Steel & Mild Steel
| Material | Melting Point (°F) | Melting Point (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | 2,500–2,800°F | 1,370–1,538°C |
| Mild Steel (Low-Carbon) | 2,600–2,750°F | 1,425–1,510°C |
| Alloy Steel | 2,500–2,700°F | 1,370–1,480°C |
| Stainless Steel (General) | 2,500–2,750°F | 1,370–1,510°C |
| 304 Stainless Steel | 2,550–2,650°F | 1,399–1,454°C |
| 316 Stainless Steel | 2,500–2,550°F | 1,370–1,399°C |
| Structural Steel | ~2,700°F | ~1,482°C |
3.3 Melting Point of High-Performance Metals
| Metal / Alloy | Melting Point (°F) | Melting Point (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Inconel Alloys | 2,350–2,460°F | 1,287–1,349°C |
| Monel Alloys | 2,370–2,460°F | 1,298–1,349°C |
| Hastelloy | 2,410–2,460°F | 1,321–1,349°C |
| Chromium | 3,465°F | 1,907°C |
| Cobalt | 2,723°F | 1,495°C |
| Tungsten | 6,192°F | 3,422°C |
| Tantalum | 5,425°F | 2,996°C |
| Molybdenum | 4,753°F | 2,623°C |
| Vanadium | 3,470°F | 1,910°C |
D. What Temperature Does Steel Melt? (4.0)
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in metallurgy.
4.1 Short Answer (Featured Snippet Level):
Steel melts at approximately 2,500–2,800°F (1,370–1,538°C), depending on alloy and carbon content.
4.2 Why Steel Has a Melting RANGE, Not a Point
Steel is not a pure metal. It contains:
Carbon
Manganese
Chromium (stainless steels)
Nickel (austenitic grades)
Molybdenum
Silicon
Trace elements
Because it is an alloy, it melts gradually between a solidus (start melting) and liquidus (fully molten) temperature.
E. Does Jet Fuel Melt Steel Beams? (5.0)
A highly searched topic.
5.1 The Scientific Answer
No. Jet fuel burns at around 980–1,500°F (527–815°C) under typical conditions.
Steel melts at 2,500°F+ (1,370°C+).
5.2 But Steel Does Not Need to Melt to Lose Structural Strength
At 1,000°F (538°C) steel can lose up to 50% of its strength.
At 1,200°F–1,300°F (649–704°C) structural steel loses most of its load-bearing ability.
Meaning:
🔥 Jet fuel fire temperatures are fully capable of causing structural failure
❌ even though they are not hot enough to melt steel.
This clarifies the engineering reality.
F. Why Different Metals Have Different Melting Points (6.0)
Melting points depend on:
6.1 Bond Strength
Metals with strong metallic bonds melt at higher temperatures:
Tungsten
Molybdenum
Tantalum
6.2 Atomic Structure
BCC metals → higher melting points
FCC metals → lower melting points
6.3 Alloying Elements
Nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and carbon all raise melting temperature in steels.
6.4 Purity
More impurities = wider melting range.
G. Applications of Melting Points in Industry (7.0)
7.1 Casting and Foundry Operations
Precise melt temperature ensures:
Fluidity
Mold filling
Grain structure control
Reduced porosity
7.2 Welding and Brazing
Understanding melting points prevents:
Burn-through
Heat-affected zone cracking
Overheating
Oxidation
7.3 Heat Treatment
Annealing, quenching, and tempering all rely on the temperature relative to melting onset.
7.4 High-Temperature Service Material Selection
Aerospace | Petrochemical | Marine | Energy
→ All require metals that remain stable well below melting temperature.
H. Metal With the Highest & Lowest Melting Points (8.0)
8.1 Highest Melting Point Metal
🏆 Tungsten
6,192°F (3,422°C) — highest of all pure metals.
8.2 Lowest Melting Point Metal
Mercury (liquid at room temperature)
–38.83°C (–37.89°F)
For common industrial metals, Tin (232°C, 449°F) has the lowest.
I. Aluminum vs. Steel Melting Point (9.0)
| Property | Aluminum | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 1,220°F (660°C) | 2,500–2,800°F (1,370–1,538°C) |
| Heat Resistance | Low | High |
| Structural Use | Light-duty | Heavy-duty |
Thus aluminum is never used where high heat resistance is essential.
Tungsten, at 6,192°F (3,422°C).
Mercury. For solids, tin has one of the lowest.
No, but it weakens steel below its melting point.
2,500–2,800°F (1,370–1,538°C).
About 2,600–2,750°F (1,425–1,510°C).
Not significantly—most melt at 2,500–2,750°F.
No. Its melting point is only 1,220°F (660°C).
Because their elements melt at different temperatures.
1,984°F (1,085°C).
Atomic bond strength and crystal structure.
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