Equivalent grades are not interchangeable
Use this table to read a drawing and buy the right stock. It does not give anyone permission to swap a grade. We never substitute a material without your written approval, and that includes a listed standard equivalent. Where a row says check the MTC, the composition differs enough that we check the actual mill certificate before we quote.
Six grades, four standards
| Grade / temper | JIS (Japan) | US (AA / ASTM / UNS) | GB/T (China) | EN / DIN (Europe) | Cross-reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A6061 / A6061-T6 T6 · T651 | A6061P · A6061BE JIS H4000 / H4040 | 6061 · UNS A96061 · ASTM B209 / B221 | 6061 (GB/T 3190; old LD30) | EN AW-6061 · 3.3211 | Standard equivalent |
| A5052 H32 · H34 · O | A5052P JIS H4000 | 5052 · UNS A95052 · ASTM B209 | 5052 (old LF2) | EN AW-5052 · 3.3523 | Standard equivalent |
| A6063 T5 · T6 | A6063S JIS H4100 | 6063 · UNS A96063 | 6063 (old LD31) | EN AW-6063 | Standard equivalent |
| A7075 T6 · T651 | A7075P JIS H4000 | 7075 · UNS A97075 · ASTM B209 | 7075 (old LC4) | EN AW-7075 · 3.4365 | Standard equivalent |
| A2014 T6 · T651 | A2014P JIS H4000 | 2014 · UNS A92014 | 2A14 (old LD10) | EN AW-2014 | Check the MTC |
| 6005A-T6 T6 | No exact JIS grade closest A6N01S-T5 | 6005A · UNS A96005A | 6005A (GB/T 3190) | EN AW-6005A · 3.3210 | Check the MTC |
Designations taken from JIS H4000, H4040 and H4100, ASTM B209 and B221, GB/T 3190, and the EN AW / DIN material numbers. Temper suffixes follow the Aluminium Association system. Last reviewed 9 September 2026.
Key differences between aluminium grades
A6061, the default
This is the aluminium we run most. JIS, GB and EN all use the Aluminium Association numbering, so the designation barely changes from one standard to the next. That makes 6061 the safest grade to quote against a foreign drawing. Here the temper matters more than the standard. 6061-T6 and 6061-T651 are different stock conditions, and for plate that has to stay flat after machining you want T651.
A5052, a sheet metal grade
5052 cannot be heat treated. It gets its strength from work hardening, so the mechanical properties are set by the temper suffix rather than the alloy number. For your purposes H32 and H34 are different materials. If a drawing says 5052 with no temper, we'll ask before quoting a bent part.
A6063 for appearance parts
6063 anodises more evenly than 6061, so it's the one to use when the part is on show. The price is lower mechanical properties. Moving from 6061 to 6063 for a better finish counts as an engineering change to the part, and it needs your written approval.
A7075, strong but with two catches
7075-T6 is significantly stronger than 6061. It cannot be welded by conventional methods, though, and its corrosion resistance is lower. We order it in when needed and do not keep it on the shelf, so let us know early if a fixture needs it.
A2014 and the Chinese 2A14
Chinese 2A14 is offered as 2014, but its silicon and copper content are slightly different. If your drawing calls for 2014 to a US standard, we check the mill certificate against the actual composition before we buy. It's the same kind of problem as Cr12MoV being sold as D2.
6005A-T6, an EN grade with no JIS twin
6005A comes from the EN / Aluminium Association system. JIS has no exact equivalent. A6N01S-T5 is the closest, and it cannot simply be dropped into welded structural work. Written as ‘AL6005A’ it looks like a JIS designation, and that's how it ends up mis-sourced. On a drawing, call it out as 6005A-T6.
Stocked in Vietnam, or ordered in
| Grade | Stock status | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| A6061 / A6061-T6 | Stocked in Vietnam | Machined parts, fixtures, manifolds, structural frames |
| A5052 | Stocked in Vietnam | Sheet metal, enclosures, bent and formed parts |
| A6063 | Stocked in Vietnam | Extruded profile, frames, parts that must anodise cleanly |
| A7075 | Ordered in | Loaded fixtures, aerospace parts, blow moulds |
| A2014 | Ordered in | Load-bearing structural parts, aerospace |
| 6005A-T6 | Ordered in | Structural extrusion, vehicle frames, welded assemblies |
Ordered-in grades add lead time on top of our standard 14 days after PO. The extra time depends on the mill and the section size you need, so we give the figure with the quote instead of promising one here.
Common questions
Is A6061 the same as 6061?
Yes. The leading A and the trailing letter are a JIS convention for the product form. A6061P is 6061 plate and A6061BE is extruded bar. The alloy itself is the same 6061 you would buy to ASTM B209 or EN AW-6061.
Can you use 6063 instead of 6061 to get a better anodised finish?
Only with your written approval. 6063 does anodise more evenly, but its mechanical properties are lower, so the switch changes how the part performs as well as how it looks. We'll raise it as a suggestion and wait for your sign-off before buying anything.
Is Chinese 2A14 the same as 2014?
No. 2A14 differs slightly in silicon and copper. If your drawing specifies 2014 to a US standard, we check the mill certificate against the actual composition before purchase.
Which aluminium grades do you hold in Vietnam?
6061, 5052 and 6063 are stocked. 7075, 2014 and 6005A are ordered in, so they add lead time on top of our standard 14 days after PO. We confirm the exact figure when we quote.
Do you supply mill certificates for aluminium?
Yes. We supply material test certificates to EN 10204 3.1 on request, together with dimensional inspection reports in both inch and millimetre.
Will you substitute an equivalent grade if the specified one is hard to source?
We'll explain the problem and propose an option. The change does not happen without your written approval, even when the grades are listed as standard equivalents.