Purchase Sheet Pile: Guide to Steel Grade, Type and Bulk Supply

When procuring sheet piles for retaining walls, cofferdams, port facilities, or deep foundation excavations, it's not enough to just consider the price per ton. The steel grade, pile type, size, quantity, and delivery terms all affect project costs and installation.

U-shaped steel sheet piles in the factory
Z-shaped steel sheet piles in the factory

U-Type and Z-Type Steel Sheet Piles

U-type steel sheet piles, also known as Larssen sheet piles, are widely used for retaining walls, riverbank protection, basement excavation and temporary works. Their interlocking design provides a continuous wall and allows easy installation.

Z-type steel sheet piles place the interlocks near the flange, providing efficient bending performance and a high section modulus. They are commonly selected for deeper retaining walls, marine structures, cofferdams and projects with higher lateral loads.

Profile Family Common Designations Interlock Position Best Suited For Drivability
U-Type (Larssen) PU 12, PU 16, PU 22, GU 16-400, GU 22-400 Neutral axis General retaining walls, basements, quays Easy, good in mixed soils
Z-Type AZ 13, AZ 18, AZ 26, AZ 36, AZ 48 Extreme fibre (flange) Deep walls, high moment, marine bulkheads Moderate, pairs preferred

Steel Sheet Pile Grades and Standards

The selection of steel grade should conform to the structural design and project standards. Commonly used grades include EN 10248 and ASTM.

Common grades of EN 10248 include S270GP, S320GP, S355GP, S390GP, and S430GP, with yield strengths ranging from 270 MPa to 430 MPa. ASTM A328 and ASTM A572 grade 50 steels are commonly used in North American projects. In certain marine applications requiring higher corrosion resistance, ASTM A690 steel may be specified.

Grade (EN 10248) Min Yield (MPa) Min Tensile (MPa) Min Elongation (%) Typical Use
S240GP 240 340 26 Light temporary walls, low moment
S270GP 270 410 24 Standard temporary and permanent walls
S320GP 320 440 23 Permanent retaining walls, port quays
S355GP 355 480 21 Most common marine and basement grade
S390GP 390 490 19 High moment, deep cofferdams
S430GP 430 510 18 Heaviest Z-piles, deep water walls

What to Check Before Bulk Purchase

For a bulk steel sheet pile order, confirm:

1.U-type or Z-type profile and section size

2.Steel grade and applicable standard

3.Length, thickness and quantity

4.Section modulus and weight per meter

5.Interlock condition and tolerances

6.MTC and third-party inspection requirements

7.Coating or corrosion protection

8.FOB, CFR or CIF shipping terms

9.Destination port and required delivery date

For large projects, ordering by full bundle or vessel quantity can simplify handling and reduce logistics costs.

Profile W (cm³/m) I (cm⁴/m) Mass (kg/m²) Indicative Cantilever Height
PU 12 / GU 12 1,200 18,000 ~75 4–5 m
PU 22 / GU 22-400 2,200 38,600 ~96 6–7 m
AZ 26 2,600 49,200 ~144 7–8 m
AZ 36 3,600 73,500 ~170 8–9 m (propped)
AZ 48 4,800 106,000 ~210 10 m+ (propped/anchored)
Complete Specifications Table
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Bulk Steel Sheet Pile Supply from Royal Steel Group

Royal Steel Group delivers hot-rolled U-type and Z-type steel sheet piles for construction, marine, foundation and infrastructure projects. Products can be delivered to ASTM, EN and other international standards, with grades like S270GP, S355GP, S390GP, S430GP, ASTM A328, A572 and A690.

We allow custom lengths, bulk orders, MTC documents, inspection and international shipping. Feel free to send your required profile, grade, quantity and destination port for a project-based quotation.

ROYAL STEEL GROUP

Address

Bl20, Shanghecheng, Shuangjie Street, Beichen District, Tianjin, China

E-mail

[email protected]

Phone

+86 13652091506

Post time: Sep-17-2026