forging die steel

H13 vs H11 Tool Steel, Which One Should You Choose?

Walk into any tool room, forging shop, or die manufacturing unit in India, and you’ll hear the same debate.

“Should this die be made from H13 or H11?”

At first glance, both steels look nearly the same. They are both part of the Hot Work Tool Steel family, contain chromium and molybdenum, and are built to perform in extreme temperatures. However, choosing the wrong material can significantly decrease die life.

• Choose H13 where H11 should have been used, and the die may crack under repeated impact.
• Choose H11 where H13 belongs, and excessive wear can shorten production life.

This complete guide explains everything you need to know before selecting either grade.

You’ll learn about:

• H13 vs H11 Chemical Composition
• Hardness Comparison
• Mechanical Properties
• Heat Treatment
• Price Comparison
• Tool Life
• Equivalent Grades
• Applications
• Availability in India
• Supplier Selection Guide
• 25+ Frequently Asked Questions

H13 vs H11 Tool Steel – Quick Comparison

Property	H13 (DIN 1.2344 / SKD61)	H11 (DIN 1.2343 / SKD6)
Main Strength	Excellent wear resistance and hot hardness	Great toughness and impact resistance
Wear Resistance	Excellent	Very Good
Toughness	Very Good	Excellent
Hot Hardness	Excellent	Very Good
Resistance to Thermal Fatigue	Excellent	Very Good
Shock/Impact resistance	Excellent	Good
Machinability (Annealed)	Better	Moderate
Maximum Working Hardness	Up to 54 HRC	Up to 52 HRC
Typical Working Hardness	44–48 HRC	42–46 HRC
Best Suited For	Die Casting, Extrusion Dies, Plastic Moulds	Forging Dies, Hammer Dies, Fastener Tooling
Relative Tool Life	Longer in wear-intensive applications	Longer in impact-intensive applications
Relative Cost	10–20% Higher	More Economical
Best Choice When	Heat, wear and long production runs are the priority	High impact, shock loading and toughness are the priority

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What is H13 Tool Steel?

H13 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2344, SKD61) is one of the world’s most widely used chromium hot work tool steels.

Its high vanadium content forms extremely hard carbides that improve:

• Wear resistance
• Hot hardness
• Heat checking resistance
• Tool life
• Surface finish

This makes H13 the preferred steel for:

• Aluminium Die Casting Dies
• Zinc Die Casting
• Plastic Injection Moulds
• Extrusion Dies
• Hot Shear Blades
• Forging Punches

What is H11 Tool Steel?

H11 Tool Steel (DIN 1.2343, SKD6) is also a Hot Work Tool Steel, but with a lower vanadium content.

The lower carbide volume gives H11:

• Better toughness
• Better impact resistance
• Better crack resistance
• Easier machining

It is commonly selected for:

• Hammer Dies
• Forging Dies
• Fastener Tooling
• Hand Tool Dies
• Heavy Stamping

Comparison of Chemical Composition H13 vs H11 Tool Steel

Element	H13 (DIN 1.2344)	H11 (DIN 1.2343)
Carbon	0.32–0.45%	0.33–0.43%
Chromium	4.75–5.50%	4.75–5.50%
Molybdenum	1.10–1.75%	1.10–1.60%
Vanadium	0.80–1.20%	0.30–0.50%
Silicon	0.80–1.20%	0.80–1.20%
Manganese	0.20–0.50%	0.20–0.50%

Main Difference:

The H13 with higher vanadium content has much better wear resistance and longer tool life.

Mechanical Property Comparison

Property	H13	H11
Wear Resistance	Excellent	Good
Toughness	Good	Excellent
Hot Hardness	Excellent	Good
Thermal Fatigue	Excellent	Very Good
Heat Checking Resistance	Excellent	Very Good
Impact Resistance	Good	Excellent
Machinability	Moderate	Better
Polishability	Excellent	Good

Hardness Comparison

Condition	H13	H11
Annealed	180–220 HB	180–220 HB
Working Hardness	44–52 HRC	42–50 HRC
Maximum Practical Hardness	54 HRC	52 HRC

Heat Treatment Process

1. Preheating (650–750°C)

2. Austenitizing

 o H13: 1010-1025 °C

3. Air, Oil, or Vacuum Quenching

4. Double or Triple Tempering (550-650 °C)

Vacuum heat treatment is recommended for precision dies to minimise distortion.

Pricing for H13 vs H11

One of the most asked questions from buyers is:

“What’s the cheapest steel?

Generally,

• H13 costs around 10–20% more than H11.

Why?

• Higher Vanadium content
• Better wear resistance
• Longer production life
• Higher performance in die casting applications

Although the initial purchase price is higher, H13 often delivers a lower cost per component because of its longer service life.

Price depends on:

• ESR or Conventional Grade
• Forged or Rolled Material
• Imported or Domestic Mill
• Size
• Heat Treatment
• Quantity

No fixed market price exists, so always request a quotation based on current stock.

H13 vs H21

Feature	H13	H21
Toughness	Better	Lower
Hot Hardness	Excellent	Outstanding
Wear Resistance	Excellent	Excellent
Typical Use	Die Casting	Hot Forging & Extreme Heat

H13 vs DIN 1.2367

Property	H13	1.2367
Toughness	Excellent	Higher
Hot Strength	Excellent	Excellent
Large Forging Dies	Good	Better

H13 vs SKD61

There is virtually no practical difference. SKD61 is the Japanese JIS designation equivalent to AISI H13 and DIN 1.2344. Selection should focus on material quality, cleanliness, ESR option, testing, and supplier reliability rather than the grade designation alone.

H13 vs DB6

Feature	H13	DB6
Type	Hot Work	Hot Work
Toughness	Excellent	Very High
Nickel Content	No	Yes
Large Forging Dies	Good	Excellent
Heavy Impact	Good	Better

Tool Life Comparison

Application	Better Grade
Die Casting	H13
Extrusion	H13
Plastic Moulds	H13
Hammer Dies	H11
Forging Dies	H11
Heavy Impact Tools	H11

H13 & H11 Equivalent Grades

H13 and H11 are common hot work tool steels, but they have different names depending on the international standard used. Use the table below to identify the equivalent grades used in different countries.

Standard	H13 Equivalent	H11 Equivalent
AISI (USA)	H13	H11
DIN / EN (Germany)	1.2344 / X40CrMoV5-1	1.2343 / X38CrMoV5-1
JIS (Japan)	SKD61	SKD6

Sizes Available

H13 (DIN 1.2344 / SKD61) and H11 (DIN 1.2343 / SKD6) tool steel are available in a wide range of sizes to suit different tooling applications.

Product Form	Available Sizes
Round Bars	Ø13 mm to Ø500+ mm
Flat Bars	Thickness: 20–305 mm, Width: 50–600 mm
Cut-to-Size Blocks	As per customer drawing and specifications

Custom sizes and large forged sections can also be supplied based on project requirements.

ESR H13 vs Conventional H13

Property	Conventional	ESR
Cleanliness	Good	Excellent
Inclusion Level	Higher	Lower
Polishability	Good	Excellent
Fatigue Life	Better	Best
Tool Life	Longer	Longest

ESR H13 is recommended for premium die casting and mould applications requiring maximum reliability.

Industries Using H13

• Aluminium Die Casting
• Zinc Die Casting
• Plastic Injection Moulding
• Extrusion
• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Pressure Die Casting
• Hot Shear Blades

Industries Using H11

• Forging
• Hammer Dies
• Fastener Manufacturing
• Hand Tools
• Heavy Engineering
• Structural Components

Why Buy H13 or H11 from Virat Steels?

Virat Steels has been supplying premium tool steels to Indian manufacturers for 70+ years.

Why customers choose Virat Steels

• 70+ Years of Experience
• 2000+ Industrial Customers
• Supplier of material from reputed international mills
• Ready Stock Available
• Mill Test Certificate (MTC)
• UT Tested Material
• Spectro Tested Material
• PAN India Delivery
• Custom Cutting
• Fast Dispatch
• Technical Material Recommendation

Whether you’re looking to Buy H13 Steel, Buy H11 Steel, DIN 1.2344, DIN 1.2343, SKD61, SKD6, ESR H13, or Forged H13 Blocks, our team can recommend the right material based on your application

Our Supply Network Across India

Virat Steels is a trusted supplier of Hot Work Tool Steel to customers across the major industrial hubs of India including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Belgaum, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Faridabad, Manesar, Bhiwadi, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Jamshedpur.

Our strong logistic network and efficient distribution system enable us to ensure timely PAN India dispatch to meet the requirement of tool rooms, die manufacturers, forging industries and engineering companies across the country.

• H13 Tool Steel
• H11 Tool Steel
• DIN 1.2344 Tool Steel
• DIN 1.2343 Tool Steel
• ESR Tool Steel
• Plastic Mould Steel
• Hot Work Tool Steel
• Forged Tool Steel Blocks

Download Free PDF:
H13 vs H11 Tool Steel Comparison Guide

https://www.viratsteels.com/downloads/h13-vs-h11-comparison.pdf

Request a Quote

Searching for the right Hot Work Tool Steel?

Our technical team can suggest the correct grade for your application whether you require H13, H11, DIN 1.2344, DIN 1.2343, SKD61, SKD6, ESR H13 or Forged H13 Blocks.

Request a Quote Today

✔ Material Recommendation

✔ Ready Stock

✔ MTC Available

✔ UT Tested

✔ Spectro Tested

✔ PAN India Delivery

Call us or send your drawing to receive a customised material recommendation.

Call us: +91-98140 21775 Email: info@viratsteels.com Visit us: Gurgaon (Haryana) | Ludhiana (Punjab)

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is the difference between H11 and H13 tool steel?

H11 is tougher and more impact resistant while H13 has more wear resistance, hot hardness and resistance to thermal fatigue.

2. Which steel is best for aluminum die casting dies?

H13 is generally preferred as it has a longer die life and is more resistant to heat checking.

3. What grade is recommended for hot forging dies?

H11 is often chosen for heavy-impact forging work and H13 is appropriate for moderate-impact forging applications.

4. What are the common industries that use H11 and H13 tool steel?

These grades are widely used in die casting, forging, extrusion, automobile, aerospace, plastic molding and general engineering industry.

5. What is the working temperature range of H13 tool steel?

H13 has good strength and hardness up to about 600°C and is used for hot working.

6. Is H11 impact strength better than H13?

Yes. H11 has a lower vanadium content which makes it tougher and more resistant to impact loading.

7. Which tool steel has better dimensional stability in heat treatment?

H13 generally has better dimensional stability when properly heat treated.

8. Is it possible to nitride H11 and H13?

Yes.  Both grades can be nitrided to increase surface hardness and wear resistance.

9. What is the best grade for extrusion tooling?

H13 is most often recommended for aluminum extrusion dies as it has the best hot strength and wear resistance.

10. Are H11 and H13 available on forged blocks?

Yes.  Both grades are available as forged blocks, rounds, flats and in customer specific sizes.

11. What inspections are performed before dispatch?

Material usually comes with Spectro Test Reports, Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Material Test Certificates (MTC), and hardness testing if requested.

12. Can H11 and H13 be supplied in pre-hardened condition?

Yes. Based on customer needs, both grades can be offered annealed, pre-hardened, or heat-treated.

13. Which grade is easier to polish?

H13 generally provides an excellent polished finish, making it good for high-quality tooling applications.

14. Are H11 and H13 suitable for plastic mould applications?

Yes. H13 is commonly used for plastic moulds that work at high temperatures or need great wear resistance.

 15. What shapes are available in H11 and H13 tool steel?

These grades come in round bars, flat bars, square bars, forged blocks, plates, and custom-cut sizes.

16. How do I choose between H11 and H13?

The choice depends on the application. Use H11 for maximum toughness, and H13 for better wear resistance and a longer service life.

 17. What surface finish options are available?

Materials are available in black, peeled, rough machined, bright, or fully machined condition based on customer needs.

18. Can custom sizes be supplied?

Yes. Custom dimensions and cut-to-size materials are available to reduce machining time and material waste.

19. What certifications are available with the material?

Materials can come with Mill Test Certificates (MTC), chemical composition reports, mechanical property reports, and UT inspection certificates.

20. Does Virat Steels offer technical support in selecting tool steel?

Yes. Our technical team helps customers choose the right grade based on the application, operating temperature, and service conditions.

21. Does Virat Steels deliver across India?

Yes. We provide fast and dependable delivery across India to major industrial cities and manufacturing hubs.

22. How can I place an order with Virat Steels?

Just share your required grade, dimensions, quantity, or technical drawing with our sales team. We will recommend the right material, offer technical guidance, and provide a competitive quote.