--- title: "Is it magnetic? What a magnet actually sticks to" description: "Which materials a magnet sticks to and which it does not — including why 304 stainless fails the test that supposedly proves it is stainless." url: https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/ site: "At One Place" --- # Is it magnetic? 55 materials and whether a magnet sticks. Only 9 of them are ferromagnetic, which is the property a household magnet detects — everything else is either far too weakly attracted to notice or very slightly repelled. ## The stainless steel trap The most repeated magnet myth is that a magnet not sticking proves something is real stainless steel. It does not. Austenitic stainless — 304 and 316, the grades used for kitchens and marine work — is non-magnetic, while ferritic and martensitic stainless — 430, 410, most cheap cutlery — is magnetic and is still perfectly genuine stainless steel. Cold working austenitic stainless partly converts it, so the same sink can be magnetic at a pressed corner and non-magnetic in the flat. ## What a magnet does stick to | Material | Why | | --- | --- | | iron | The archetype. Iron is what "magnetic" means in ordinary use, and it loses the property entirely above 770 °C, its Curie point. | | nickel | One of only three elements ferromagnetic at room temperature, along with iron and cobalt. | | mild steel | Strongly attracted. Plain carbon steel is the material most people mean by "magnetic metal". | | high-carbon steel | Strongly attracted. | | tool steel | Strongly attracted. | | gray cast iron | Strongly attracted, which is why cast iron works on an induction hob and aluminium does not. | | ductile iron | Strongly attracted. | | wrought iron | Strongly attracted. | | tungsten carbide | Attracted, but not because of the carbide — the cobalt binder holding the carbide grains together is ferromagnetic. A magnet sticks to a tungsten carbide ring for that reason. | ## Everything | Material | Magnet test | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | mild steel | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted. Plain carbon steel is the material most people mean by "magnetic metal". | | aluminum | A magnet does not stick to it | A magnet will not stick. A magnet *moved past* aluminium induces eddy currents and drags noticeably, which is how recycling plants separate it from other metals. | | water | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Diamagnetic. A sufficiently strong magnetic field will levitate water, and famously a live frog, which is mostly water. | | copper | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted at all. A magnet dropped down a copper tube still falls slowly, which is eddy-current braking and not magnetism. | | gold | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted, which is one of the quick tests against gold-plated steel. | | titanium | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Paramagnetic — very weakly attracted, far too weakly for a fridge magnet to detect. This is why titanium implants are usually MRI-compatible. | | concrete | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted — but a magnet or a metal detector finds the reinforcing bar inside it, which is how rebar scanners work. | | stainless steel 304 | A magnet does not stick to it | A magnet does not stick to annealed 304 — it is austenitic. Cold working it, by bending or deep-drawing, converts some austenite to martensite and makes it partly magnetic, which is why a 304 sink can be magnetic at the pressed corners and not in the flat. | | iron | A magnet sticks to it | The archetype. Iron is what "magnetic" means in ordinary use, and it loses the property entirely above 770 °C, its Curie point. | | air | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Oxygen is paramagnetic, so air is very slightly attracted — liquid oxygen visibly sticks to a magnet. | | ice | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Diamagnetic like liquid water. | | lead | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | tungsten | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Paramagnetic and undetectable with a household magnet. | | brass | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. A magnet is the quickest way to tell brass from brass-plated steel. | | pine | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | silver | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | gray cast iron | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted, which is why cast iron works on an induction hob and aluminium does not. | | diamond | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | high-carbon steel | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted. | | stainless steel 316 | A magnet does not stick to it | Austenitic like 304, and slightly less prone to becoming magnetic when cold worked because of its higher nickel content. | | granite | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Weakly attracted where it contains magnetite, and some granites are noticeably magnetic while others are not. Geologists use exactly this to map rock types from the air. | | aluminum 6061 | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | soda-lime glass | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | PTFE | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | marble | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | unidirectional carbon fibre composite | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | rigid PVC | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | fibreglass (GRP) | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | bronze | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | natural rubber | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | paper | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | mercury | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Diamagnetic — very slightly repelled by a strong magnet. | | aluminum 7075 | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | tungsten carbide | A magnet sticks to it | Attracted, but not because of the carbide — the cobalt binder holding the carbide grains together is ferromagnetic. A magnet sticks to a tungsten carbide ring for that reason. | | silicone rubber | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | zinc | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | magnesium | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | tool steel | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted. | | graphite | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Diamagnetic, and unusually strongly so — a thin flake of pyrolytic graphite will levitate above strong magnets at room temperature. | | reinforced concrete | A magnet does not stick to it | The concrete is not, the rebar inside it is. | | red oak | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | tin-lead solder (60/40) | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | platinum | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Paramagnetic. A magnet does not stick. | | tin | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Paramagnetic. Not detectable with a household magnet, which is what makes it usable for implants. | | nickel | A magnet sticks to it | One of only three elements ferromagnetic at room temperature, along with iron and cobalt. | | lead-free solder (SAC305) | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | chromium | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Antiferromagnetic at room temperature — a magnet does not stick. | | silicon carbide | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | leather | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | wrought iron | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted. | | ductile iron | A magnet sticks to it | Strongly attracted. | | Inconel 718 | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Essentially non-magnetic at room temperature despite being nickel-based, because the alloying suppresses ferromagnetic ordering. | | pewter | A magnet does not stick to it | Not attracted. | | Monel 400 | Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it | Weakly magnetic and close to its Curie point at room temperature, so its behaviour changes noticeably with a small temperature change. | - [Is mild steel magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/mild-steel/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is aluminum magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/aluminum/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is water magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/water/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is copper magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/copper/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is gold magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/gold/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is titanium magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/titanium/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is concrete magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/concrete/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is stainless steel 304 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/stainless-304/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is iron magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/iron/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is air magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/air/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is ice magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/ice/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is lead magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/lead/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is tungsten magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/tungsten/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is brass magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/brass/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is pine magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/pine/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is silver magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/silver/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is gray cast iron magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/cast-iron/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is diamond magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/diamond/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is high-carbon steel magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/carbon-steel/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is stainless steel 316 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/stainless-316/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is granite magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/granite/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is aluminum 6061 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/aluminum-6061/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is soda-lime glass magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/soda-lime-glass/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is ptfe magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/ptfe/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is marble magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/marble/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is unidirectional carbon fibre composite magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/carbon-fiber-ud/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is rigid pvc magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/pvc-rigid/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is fibreglass (grp) magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/fiberglass/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is bronze magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/bronze/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is natural rubber magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/natural-rubber/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is paper magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/paper/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is mercury magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/mercury/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is aluminum 7075 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/aluminum-7075/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is tungsten carbide magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/tungsten-carbide/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is silicone rubber magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/silicone-rubber/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is zinc magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/zinc/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is magnesium magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/magnesium/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is tool steel magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/tool-steel/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is graphite magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/graphite/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is reinforced concrete magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/reinforced-concrete/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is red oak magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/red-oak/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is tin-lead solder (60/40) magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/solder-60-40/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is platinum magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/platinum/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is tin magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/tin/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is ti-6al-4v titanium alloy magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/ti-6al-4v/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is nickel magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/nickel/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is lead-free solder (sac305) magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/solder-lead-free/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is chromium magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/chromium/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is silicon carbide magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/silicon-carbide/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is leather magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/leather/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is wrought iron magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/wrought-iron/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is ductile iron magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/ductile-iron/) — A magnet sticks to it - [Is inconel 718 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/inconel-718/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it - [Is pewter magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/pewter/) — A magnet does not stick to it - [Is monel 400 magnetic?](https://atoneplace.net/is-it-magnetic/monel-400/) — Barely — you would need a laboratory to detect it ## Common questions ### Is stainless steel magnetic? It depends on the grade. 304 and 316, the common kitchen and marine grades, are austenitic and non-magnetic. 430 and 410 are ferritic and martensitic and are magnetic. Both are genuinely stainless steel, so the magnet test does not tell you whether something is stainless. ### Is aluminium magnetic? No — a magnet will not stick. A magnet moved past aluminium does drag noticeably, because the changing field induces eddy currents in it. That is a different effect and is how recycling plants separate aluminium from other waste. ### Which metals are magnetic? Iron, nickel and cobalt, and alloys containing enough of them. Everything else is either paramagnetic — attracted far too weakly to notice — or diamagnetic, very slightly repelled.