Steel Brackets vs Aluminum Brackets: Which Should You Choose?

Both steel and aluminum brackets are widely used — but they are not interchangeable. Choosing the wrong material can affect strength, longevity, and safety. Let’s compare these two bracket materials.

Strength Comparison

When it comes to differences between steel and aluminum materials, possibly the greatest variance is in the strength of the two materials. This is how it falls out.

Steel provides applications with the following characteristics:

• Significantly higher strength

• Higher load capacity

• Lower deflection (bending of the mounting surface of the brackets)

Using aluminum in a project will give it:

• Lighter weight

• Lower structural strength

• More prone to bending under heavy loads

For structural countertop and shelving support, steel typically wins.

Weight Considerations

Aluminum is lighter and steel is heavier, for this reason, aluminum can be easier to handle and suitable for lighter applications. Steel is better when the weight of the support system is not a concern, but the resistance to deflection is important.

Corrosion Resistance

Aluminum is a naturally corrosion-resistant material which makes it excellent for marine and corrosive environments. This is particularly the case when the application is light weight.
On the other hand, steel (of non-stainless alloy) requires protective coating to resist corrosion. Powder coating or galvanization coatings improve durability by reducing oxidation. When properly coated, steel performs extremely well outdoors.

Cost Differences

Aluminum costs more than steel per pound. Brackets made of this material require reduced costs in labor through automation or have specific qualities for use in low weight applications.
Steel is more economical and provides greater strength and resistance to deflection.

Preferred Applications

Steel and aluminum brackets have their ideal use. One is not better than the other. But there is a difference, and those differences have implications on when to use one material over the other.

Choose Steel For:

• Countertop overhangs

• Heavy shelving

• Support structures

• Commercial projects

Choose Aluminum For:

• Lightweight decorative applications

• Low-load environments

• Corrosive settings with low weight requirement

Final Recommendation

If strength is your priority, steel is the superior structural choice. Check out Federal Brace’s full line of strong, steel brackets, or use our Request A Quote Form to provide specifics of your project.