Steel sheet types compared: hot-rolled, cold-rolled (DKP), galvanized and checker plate, with grades, thicknesses and uses
How hot-rolled S235JR sheet, cold-rolled DC01 (DKP) sheet, DX51D+Z galvanized sheet and checker plate differ in surface, tolerance, grade and use, which thicknesses we supply and how sheet weight is calculated.
Updated October 18, 2026
Steel sheet is sold by how it was rolled and what is on its surface. Hot-rolled sheet is the structural product, cold-rolled sheet has a smooth surface for forming and painting, galvanized sheet carries a zinc coating against corrosion, and checker plate has a raised pattern for floors. The table below compares the four types we supply; the sheet metal gauge chart gives thicknesses in gauge and weights per square metre.
The four types at a glance
| Type | Grade and standard | Surface | Thickness we list | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled sheet | S235JR, EN 10025 | Mill scale, as rolled | 1.5–20 mm | Structural platework, laser and plasma cutting |
| Cold-rolled sheet (DKP) | DC01, EN 10130 | Smooth, bright | 0.5–2.0 mm | Bending, deep drawing, painted parts |
| Galvanized sheet | DX51D+Z, EN 10346 | Hot-dip zinc coating | 0.5–2.0 mm | Ducting, flashings, cladding, cable trays |
| Checker plate | S235JR, EN 10025 | Raised tear-drop pattern | 3–10 mm | Walkways, stairs, ramps, vehicle floors |
Hot-rolled sheet
Hot-rolled sheet and plate is rolled at high temperature and keeps a dark mill scale on the surface. In S235JR to EN 10025 it is the everyday structural flat product: base plates, gussets, brackets and anything cut by laser or plasma and welded. Dimensional tolerances follow EN 10051. Where a clean surface is needed for painting or forming, the scale is removed by pickling; that product is sold as pickled and oiled (HRP) sheet.
Cold-rolled sheet (DKP)
DKP is the Turkish trade name for cold-rolled low-carbon sheet, usually grade DC01 to EN 10130. Cold rolling after hot rolling gives a smooth, bright surface and a tighter thickness tolerance, so the sheet bends cleanly, draws well and takes paint. DC01 is a forming grade, not a structural one: for load-bearing plates use hot-rolled S235JR instead.
Galvanized sheet
Galvanized sheet to EN 10346 is cold-rolled or hot-rolled strip that passes through a molten zinc bath on a continuous line. DX51D+Z is the common forming grade: DX51D is the steel, +Z the zinc coating. The coating mass is given as a Z number, the total grams of zinc per square metre on both sides, for example Z100 or Z275. Galvanized sheet is used where thin sheet must resist corrosion, such as ducting, flashings and cladding. It is a forming grade; structural galvanized strip such as S350GD is a different product, used for roll-formed purlins.
Checker plate
Checker plate (tear-drop plate) is hot-rolled S235JR with a raised pattern on one face that gives grip underfoot and under tyres. It is ordered by the base thickness, the thickness of the plate without the pattern. Catalogue weights use base thickness × 7.85 kg/m² per mm; the pattern adds a small extra mass, so weighed mass is slightly higher than a flat plate of the same base thickness.
Sizes and weight
We supply sheet in the common plate sizes 1000×2000, 1250×2500 and 1500×3000 mm. Steel weighs 7.85 kg per square metre for each millimetre of thickness, so a 2 mm sheet of 1250×2500 mm weighs about 2 × 7.85 × 3.125 = 49 kg. Sheet is quoted per piece; send the type, thickness, plate size, quantity and delivery country in one request. For corrosion-resistant sheet in stainless steel, see AISI 304 sheet.
What does DKP mean?
DKP is the Turkish trade name for cold-rolled low-carbon steel sheet, usually DC01 to EN 10130. It has a smoother surface and tighter tolerance than hot-rolled sheet.
Can I use DKP sheet instead of hot-rolled plate for a structural part?
No. DC01 is a forming grade without the guaranteed strength of S235JR. For load-bearing plates, use hot-rolled S235JR sheet.
What does Z275 mean on galvanized sheet?
It is the zinc coating mass: 275 grams of zinc per square metre, counted on both sides together.
How is checker plate thickness given?
By the base thickness of the plate, without the raised pattern. The pattern adds a little weight on top of the flat-plate value.
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