What is the difference between stainless steel, chrome, inox and galvanized steel?

These terms are often confused in product descriptions. Knowing the difference helps you tell the right product and the right price.

Stainless steel and inox

"Inox" is the everyday name for stainless steel, from the French word "inoxydable". They are the same material. It resists rust thanks to its chromium content.

Carbon steel (ordinary steel)

It has a low chromium content and rusts when in contact with moisture. That is why it is painted, coated, or used only in dry environments.

Chrome plating

Here, chrome is not the material itself but a thin coating applied over steel or another metal. It is shiny and showy, but if the coating gets scratched and peels, the metal underneath can rust. In stainless steel, by contrast, the entire material is the same alloy.

Galvanized

It is steel coated with zinc. Zinc protects the steel for a time and is common in outdoor applications. Once the coating wears away, the protection decreases. In appearance it does not offer as elegant and clean a surface as stainless steel.

Which one makes sense?

In bathrooms, kitchens and heavily used furniture, stainless steel is the choice that needs the least upkeep in the long run. We can assess the alternatives together according to budget and place of use.

Next article: How to polish stainless steel and remove scratches