We find that 304 stainless steel wire mesh prices in 2025 vary widely by mesh type, wire diameter and region — typical factory (China) ranges for common woven/welded meshes sit roughly USD $3–$30 per m² (light to medium mesh counts), while specialty fine filters or heavy welded panels can be $30–$120+ per m². In kilogram terms typical 304 wire raw-material factory prices from China often quote ~$1.2–$3.0/kg for bulk wire (not finished mesh); finished mesh pricing includes labor, weaving/welding and testing surcharges. These ranges reflect raw-material drivers (notably nickel), production method, and supply-chain and logistics effects in 2025.

What is 304 stainless steel wire mesh?

304 (AISI / UNS 304; ~18% Cr / ~8% Ni) is the most used austenitic stainless grade for wire mesh. It balances corrosion resistance, formability and cost, so it appears across filtration, screening, fence panels, insect screens, sieving and architectural uses. 304L (low carbon) is used when welding is necessary to reduce carbide precipitation.

How mesh is specified

• Mesh count (or openings/inch): e.g., 20 mesh = 20 openings/inch.

• Aperture / micron: hole size expressed in mm or µm for filters.

• Wire diameter: gauge or mm (thicker wire → heavier per m²).

• Format: rolls, sheets, panels, or cut pieces; welded panels vs woven cloth.

• Finish: annealed / cold-finished; passivation or pickling after welding.
  Standards such as ISO 9044 and ISO 3310 define test methods and dimensional tolerances for industrial woven cloth and test sieves respectively.

Main manufacturing types and how they affect price

• Woven (plain/satin/twill): fine counts (100–400 mesh) require fine diameter wire and careful weaving → higher cost per m².

• Welded: faster production for heavy wire sizes and panels; cost depends on wire gauge and finishing.

• Knitted / knitted-welded (stainless demister, zoo mesh): specialized equipment and finishing → premium price.

• Expanded/perforated alternatives: different cost profile; expanded is cut/streched sheet, not woven wire.
  Labor, machine cycle time and scrap rate materially influence final price.

Standards & authoritative testing (why they matter)

Industry standards give buyers confidence on dimensions and mechanical properties. Key references:

• ASTM A580/A580M — specification for stainless steel wire (used for many wire forms).

• ISO 9044:2016 — industrial woven wire cloth technical requirements and tests.

• ISO 3310 / ISO 14315 — standards used for sieving mesh and welded/crimped screens.

Request copies of certificate of conformity and test reports from suppliers (mill certificates for chemical & mechanical analysis).

What controls price? (concise list)

1. Raw materials (nickel, chromium, iron): nickel is a significant cost driver for 304 — moves industry surcharges.

2. Mesh specification: finer mesh + thinner wire = more labor, lower production speed = higher unit cost.

3. Product form and finishing: welded panels cheaper per m² for coarse wire; fine woven filter cloth is costly.

4. Quantity and MOQ: unit price falls with volume; many Chinese factories offer bulk discounts.

5. Certifications & testing: audited factory/mill-cert and traceability add cost.

6. Logistics & trade terms: freight rates, port congestion, tariffs and surcharges alter landed cost.

7. Currency and payment terms: USD/CNY moves and LCs or open account terms influence offer pricing.

2025 macro context

Two market facts matter for 2025 pricing:

• Nickel price behaviour: in 2025 nickel has remained volatile but generally lower than the prior peak years, creating downward pressure on stainless alloy surcharges while local supply imbalances (Indonesia processing growth) keep volatility. This directly affects mills’ 304 surcharges.

• Regional production & shipping: China remains the dominant finished-mesh exporter with large capacity; supply-chain disruptions and freight spikes still intermittently affect CIF prices.

2025 global price comparison (typical ranges)

Note: these are typical market ranges observed in supplier price lists and marketplace listings during 2025. Exact quotes depend on mesh count, wire diameter, finish, MOQ, and incoterms. Sources are supplier pages and marketplace price lists.

Sources: marketplace listings (Alibaba, Made-in-China), local trade portals and distributor catalogs. These show the same structural pattern: China factory price ranges are generally the lowest for large orders; distributor pricing in developed markets is higher due to logistics, certification and smaller order sizes.

Worked examples (typical product cost math)

1. Simple insect screen (approx 18×16 mesh, common stainless): Chinese roll factory price ~ $3–$6/m²; small US distributor single-sheet price often $10–$25/m².

2. Filter cloth (200–400 mesh) for lab/industrial sieves: factory quotes typically $12–$60+/m² because of fine wire and lower throughput.

3. Welded fence panel (heavy wire): per-panel pricing depends on dimensions, but heavy gauge welded mesh will price at premium (often $30+/m² finished).

Conversion note: some Chinese factories quote per m², others per roll or per kg. If you have only kg price for wire (~$1.2–$3/kg factory), convert by calculating finished mesh weight (wire area × density × m²) — ask supplier for finished weight/m².

How Luokaiwei positions itself (what we offer)

We are a Chinese factory with:

• Factory pricing advantage: direct factory pricing (we emphasize 100% factory price advantage for standard stocked items).

• Custom services: custom mesh counts, cut-to-size, welded panels, passivation, and packaging.

• Stocked items: common mesh and panel sizes for fast dispatch; stock deliveries can ship within days for standard items.

• Quality: mill certificates on request, dimensional inspection reports, pre-shipment photos and third-party inspection available.

If you need MOQ, lead-time or a sample, we can provide transparent quotes showing EXW, FOB and CIF options and a finished weight/m² to help convert between per-kg and per-m² pricing.

Buying & specification checklist (short bullets)

• Provide mesh count, wire diameter, format (roll/sheet/panel), width × length, grade (304 vs 304L) and finish (annealed/passivated).

• Ask for mill certificate (chemical & mechanical) and conformity to ASTM A580 / ISO 9044 when needed.

• Request finished weight per m² (for parity between per-kg and per-m² quotes).

• Confirm packing, palletization, and shipping incoterm (EXW/FOB/CIF) to compare landed cost.

• For filters, ask for micron rating and air permeability test data.

Quality control & inspection (what to request)

• Certificate of Analysis (mill cert) for chemical composition — ensure Ni/Cr ranges for 304.

• Dimensional report: mesh count, aperture tolerances, wire diameter tolerances (ISO or supplier tolerance tables).

• Surface finish test: passivation / pickling record, if required.

• Mechanical tests (tensile if critical) or XRF spot checks for alloy confirmation.

• Third-party inspection before shipment (SGS / BV / Intertek) if buyer requires.

Logistics, surcharges and landed cost (brief)

A competitive factory price can be overtaken by:

• Ocean freight and containerization costs (spot freight volatility); consider grouping orders.

• Alloy surcharges and mill premiums tied to nickel and chromium markets.

• Customs duties, VAT and local handling — calculate CIF+import duty to compare apples-to-apples.
  Ask suppliers for a breakdown: product cost + packing + inland freight + ocean freight + insurance + duty.

Practical selection by application

• Insect/window screens / domestic: choose coarse woven 18×16 to 24×24; inexpensive and widely stocked.

• Industrial filtration: select fine woven cloth (mesh 100–400+) with controlled wire diameter and micron spec.

• Architectural / façade: heavy welded mesh or architectural woven patterns; ask for finishing and salt-spray testing.

• Sieving & lab test sieves: use ISO 3310-compliant meshes with certified aperture tolerances.

Sample ordering & MOQ realities

• Many China factories offer low MOQ samples (e.g., 1–5 m²) at higher unit price. Bulk orders (100–1000+ m²) unlock factory price tiers.

• For customized welded or passivated panels the lead time increases (machining/welding, passivation, packaging).

FAQs

Q1 — Is 304 mesh magnetic?
A: Annealed 304 is essentially non-magnetic (austenitic). Cold forming can impart slight magnetism. For applications requiring fully non-magnetic behaviour under all conditions, consider 316L or specific annealing/post-weld treatments.

Q2 — How do I convert per-kg wire price to per-m² mesh price?
A: Ask the supplier for the finished mesh weight per m² (g/m²). Multiply that weight by the per-kg wire cost (and add weaving/welding and finishing labor). Suppliers like Luokaiwei will supply finished weight so you can reconcile per-kg vs per-m² quotes.

Q3 — Are there standard tolerances I should expect?
A: Yes — ISO 9044 and supplier tolerance tables define allowable aperture and wire diameter tolerances. For sieving, ISO 3310 gives stricter aperture specs. Request the tolerance table with quotes.

Q4 — Do I need passivation?
A: For food, medical, or marine exposure applications, passivation and pickling improve corrosion resistance and aesthetic finish — this is an orderable extra and adds cost and time.

Q5 — Can Luokaiwei do custom mesh and quick delivery?
A: Yes — we support custom mesh counts, cut sizes and welded panels. For stocked SKUs, we can ship quickly; custom orders have standard factory lead times which we will quote per order.

Practical buying checklist

1. Write exact spec: mesh/opening, wire dia, length/width, grade (304/304L), finish.

2. Ask for finished weight/m² and sample.

3. Require mill cert (chemical & mechanical) and dimensional report.

4. Compare EXW vs FOB vs CIF landed costs.

5. Confirm lead time, packing and warranty terms.

6. For large projects, request a trial delivery and full inspection.

Final notes & how we can help

We aim to be a transparent partner. If you give us your exact mesh spec (mesh count, wire diameter, width/length, qty, finish and incoterm) we will promptly provide a factory quote showing per-m² and per-kg parity, lead time, sample options and photos of stock. Our strengths: 100% factory price advantage for stocked items, flexible customization, and fast dispatch for in-stock meshes.

Authoritative references