Hardness Converter

HRC ↔ Brinell ↔ Vickers, with an approximate tensile estimate. For steel. Everything here is a convention, not a measurement.

Input scale Value valid ~20–65 HRC

Converted approximate

Hardness scales measure different things with different indenters — there is no exact conversion, only published correspondence for a given material family. These values are interpolated correspondence for steel and can be off by a few points either way. Two limits worth knowing: Brinell becomes unreliable above roughly 450 HB with a standard steel ball (the ball deforms), so high-end HB values here — like 654 HB at 60 HRC — are carbide-ball values, and this tool returns no HB at all above 60 HRC. Aluminum, brass, and stainless each follow different curves. When a cert or a spec is on the line, measure on the scale the spec calls out.

Further reading: Machinability Ratings Explained