Factory-direct steel gratings & stair treads, shipped worldwide
Grating Type
Types, spans, load classes and materials compared in one plain guide. No jargon.
Itemized quote within 24 hours · Free drawing review included
In-house weld & press lines
Electro-forging and press-locking under one roof
Certified & tested
Reports on request, MTC with every order
Samples in 5–7 days
Production in 15–25 working days
FOB Tianjin
Shipped worldwide, EXW / CIF negotiable
Quick answer
The Short Answer
Steel grating comes in four main types: welded, press-locked, swage-locked and stainless steel. Welded grating suits heavy loads and long spans, press-locked gives fine mesh and a smooth face, swage-locked is light and neat, and stainless serves corrosive or sanitary areas. This guide compares spans, loads and materials in plain terms.
The four types
What Are the Main Types of Steel Grating?
The forming process decides load behavior, mesh density and flatness. These four types cover almost every project, and three of them run on our in-house lines.
Welded grating
Bearing bars and cross bars resistance-welded at every joint. The default for platforms, walkways and heavy-duty floors.
Press-locked grating
Cross bars pressure-locked into the bearing bars without welds. Smooth finish and close mesh for fine and decorative work.
Swage-locked grating
Round or square bars locked into place for light, neat panels — a common market choice for architectural and light-access mesh.
Stainless steel grating
Welded or press-locked panels in SS304 / SS316 for food, chemical and marine areas where corrosion resistance matters.
Steel grating uses
Which Grating Type Is Best for Which Use?
Platforms and mezzanines take welded panels for strength; walkways over long runs take welded or press-locked with serrated tops for grip; trenches and drainage take welded panels cut to the channel; stair treads take cut, banded panels with nosing; and fine-mesh or facade work takes press-locked close mesh.
Spans and loads
How Do Spans and Load Classes Change the Choice?
The clear span between supports is the first number to fix. Longer spans need bigger bearing bars and closer centers, which points to welded construction. Load classes — from light pedestrian duty to heavy forklift traffic — are matched with bar size and spacing, and we issue a load table with your quote.
Maximum span lengths → · Heavy-duty grating →
Send Your Span and LoadMaterials
Which Materials Are Available?
Carbon steel in Q235B is the standard for welded and press-locked panels, usually hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A123 / ISO 1461 for outdoor life. Stainless steel in SS304 and SS316 covers corrosive and sanitary duty, with an MTC to EN 10204 Type 3.1 on every batch.
Q235 steel grating → · Hot-dip galvanized →
Ask About Materials
Comparison table
Types Compared at a Glance
One table to compare the four types by construction, span, load class and use — the fastest way to shortlist before you send drawings.
| Type | Construction | Typical spans | Load class | Common uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welded | Cross bars resistance-welded to bearing bars | Long | Heavy | Platforms, walkways, heavy-duty floors |
| Press-locked | Cross bars pressure-locked, no welds | Short to medium | Light to medium | Facades, tree pits, close-mesh panels |
| Swage-locked | Bars swage-locked into place | Short | Light | Architectural and light-access mesh |
| Stainless steel | Welded or press-locked in SS304 / SS316 | Matches base type | Matches base type | Food, chemical, marine |
We produce welded, press-locked and stainless steel grating on in-house lines; swage-locked appears here as a market comparison. Not sure which fits your loads? Send your drawings — we will spec it inside the 24-hour quote.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of steel grating is best for my project?
Welded grating is the default for platforms and walkways; press-locked grating suits fine-mesh and smooth-finish work; swage-locked grating suits light architectural panels; and stainless steel grating serves corrosive or sanitary duty. The deciding factors are span, load and the mesh you need.
What are the different types of steel grating and their uses?
Welded grating carries heavy loads over long spans; press-locked grating gives close spacing and a flush surface; swage-locked grating is light with neat bars; and stainless types serve food, chemical and marine areas. This guide compares spans, load classes and materials in plain terms.
What are your sample and production timelines?
Samples ship in 5–7 working days and mass production runs 15–25 working days after drawing confirmation, both including hot-dip galvanizing. Quote within 24 hours.
Free spec sheets
Get the Spec Guide
Read the guide, then order from the factory direct. Send your span, load and material — we reply within 24 hours with spec sheets matched to your project and an itemized quote.
- Spec sheets and load tables matched to your project
- DoC, MTC EN 10204 3.1 and inspection report with every order
- Small trial orders welcome — samples in 5–7 days
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp us or sales@dtsteelladder.com
Request your spec sheet
Five fields — we do the rest.
Related pages
Related Guides & Product Pages
How to Choose Steel Grating
Pick type, span, load class and material in four steps.
View page →Steel Grating Material
Q235B vs SS304 vs SS316 — when to pick which.
View page →What Is Bar Grating
The plain-language definition of bar grating to start from.
View page →Stainless Steel Grating Spec
SS304 / SS316 spec guide with bar sizes and spans.
View page →Welded Steel Grating
The workhorse panel behind most structural specs.
View page →Press-Locked Grating
Close mesh and smooth finish for fine and decorative work.
View page →