Welcome to Edcon Steel - Register TODAY - View LIVE prices on over 6,000 steel and metal items - Get quotes and buy online 24/7

Steel colour coding: size guide

Steel colour coding can be confusing, so we’ve put together two helpful guides to ensure you understand how to interpret our steel colour coding. 

We’ve even included a PDF document for you to download and keep at the ready.

While we endeavour to be as accurate as possible with our steel colour coding, we always recommend checking the thickness and/or diameter of your product before commencing steel works. 

This month we are focusing on the colour codes relating to thickness.

Make sure you check out next month’s guide on colour coding that identifies the grade of material.

Steel colour coding for thickness

Thickness refers to the thickness of the wall for square hollow section (SHS), rectangular hollow section (RHS), and circular hollow section (CHS; pipe) products. It also refers to the thickness of a flat bar, equal or unequal angle and square bar.

Diameter refers to the diameter of a solid round bar or reo bar. 

Colour refers to the colour of paint that we’ve applied to the end of the steel product. 

Signet code (name and number) is the paint manufacturer’s unique name and product code. This helps to ensure that we apply the same and correct colour paint to our material each and every time we receive a new stock delivery.

Colour-coded products

We use our steel colour coding (for size) on the following Edcon Steel products:

Are you looking for complete steel solutions?

Edcon Steel is Australia’s most comprehensive online steel and metal superstore, so if you’re looking for products for your next project, we’ve got you covered. We cut and supply steel and metal – in a wide range of shapes, sizes and grades – for all your project needs.

Read more steel articles to find out more about the steel industry, customer projects and product resources.

Our most popular steel and metal products

Structural Steel Beams, C-Section, Columns, Angles

Browse Now

316 Stainless Steel. Sheet & Plate, Angle, Bar, Pipe, Tube

Browse Now

Precision Metals - Gauge Plate & Silver Steel

Browse Now

Cattle & Sheep Handling. Steel Panels, Gates, Ramps, Crush

Browse Now

Buy Rural Fencing Online. Wire, Pickets, Posts, Gates

Browse Now

Buy Welded Mesh Online. Mesh and Perforated

Browse Now

Tubular Steel. Rectangular (RHS), Square (SHS), Pipe

Browse Now

Merchant Bar. Flat, Round, Square, Angles, C-Channel

Browse Now