The tables below contain equivalents between the common systems of measuring hardness.
Please note that as each scale uses a different method to measure hardness or tensile strength, the values in these tables are approximations and cannot truly be compared like-for-like.
If you require advice before you purchase, please call 0114 244 0527 or email bss@steelstrip.co.uk and our expert team will be happy to help.
RC to HB, HV, Rm
| RC Hardness | HB Hardness | HV Hardness | Rm Tensile Strength |
| Diamond penetrator | Brinell 3000 Kgf | Vickers 30 | N / mm2 MPa |
| 20 | 226 | 238 | 760 |
| 21 | 231 | 243 | 770 |
| 22 | 237 | 248 | 790 |
| 23 | 243 | 254 | 810 |
| 24 | 247 | 260 | 820 |
| 25 | 253 | 266 | 850 |
| 26 | 258 | 272 | 860 |
| 27 | 264 | 279 | 880 |
| 28 | 271 | 286 | 900 |
| 29 | 279 | 294 | 930 |
| 30 | 286 | 302 | 950 |
| 31 | 294 | 310 | 970 |
| 32 | 301 | 318 | 1010 |
| 33 | 311 | 327 | 1030 |
| 34 | 319 | 336 | 1050 |
| 35 | 327 | 345 | 1080 |
| 36 | 336 | 354 | 1110 |
| 37 | 344 | 363 | 1140 |
| 38 | 353 | 372 | 1180 |
| 39 | 362 | 382 | 1220 |
| 40 | 371 | 392 | 1250 |
| 41 | 381 | 402 | 1300 |
| 42 | 390 | 412 | 1340 |
| 43 | 400 | 423 | 1390 |
| 44 | 409 | 434 | 1430 |
| 45 | 421 | 446 | 1480 |
| 46 | 432 | 458 | 1520 |
| 47 | 442 | 471 | 1580 |
| 48 | 455 | 484 | 1640 |
| 49 | 468 | 498 | 1700 |
| 50 | 482 | 513 | 1760 |
| 51 | 496 | 528 | 1820 |
| 52 | 512 | 544 | 1880 |
| 53 | 525 | 560 | 1950 |
| 54 | 543 | 577 | 2010 |
| 55 | 560 | 595 | 2070 |
| 56 | 577 | 613 | 2160 |
| 57 | 595 | 633 | 2240 |
| 58 | 615 | 653 | 2330 |
| 59 | 634 | 674 | 2420 |
| 60 | 654 | 697 | – |
| 61 | 670 | 720 | – |
| 62 | 688 | 746 | – |
| 63 | 706 | 772 | – |
| 64 | 722 | 800 | – |
| 65 | 739 | 832 | – |
| 66 | – | 865 | – |
| 67 | – | 900 | – |
| 68 | – | 940 | – |
HRB to HB, HV, Rm
| HRB Hardness | HB Hardness | HV Hardness | Rm Tensile Strength |
| Ball 1 / 16 “ | Brinell 3000 Kgf | Vickers 30 | N / mm2 MPa |
| 49 | 92 | – | 320 |
| 51 | 94 | – | 330 |
| 54 | – | – | – |
| 55 | 100 | 100 | 340 |
| 56 | 101 | 101 | – |
| 57 | 103 | 103 | 350 |
| 58 | 104 | 104 | – |
| 59 | 106 | 106 | 360 |
| 60 | 107 | 107 | – |
| 61 | 108 | 108 | – |
| 62 | 110 | 110 | 370 |
| 63 | 112 | 112 | – |
| 64 | 114 | 114 | – |
| 65 | 116 | 116 | 385 |
| 66 | 117 | 117 | 395 |
| 67 | 119 | 119 | 400 |
| 68 | 121 | 121 | 405 |
| 69 | 123 | 123 | 415 |
| 70 | 125 | 125 | 420 |
| 71 | 127 | 127 | 425 |
| 72 | 130 | 130 | 435 |
| 73 | 132 | 132 | 440 |
| 74 | 135 | 135 | 450 |
| 75 | 137 | 137 | 455 |
| 76 | 139 | 139 | 460 |
| 77 | 141 | 141 | 470 |
| 78 | 144 | 144 | 475 |
| 79 | 147 | 147 | 485 |
| 80 | 150 | 150 | 495 |
| 81 | 153 | 153 | 505 |
| 82 | 156 | 156 | 530 |
| 83 | 159 | 159 | 550 |
| 84 | 162 | 162 | 560 |
| 85 | 165 | 165 | 565 |
| 86 | 169 | 169 | 570 |
| 87 | 172 | 172 | 580 |
| 88 | 176 | 176 | 590 |
| 89 | 180 | 180 | 605 |
| 90 | 185 | 185 | 615 |
| 91 | 190 | 190 | 620 |
| 92 | 195 | 195 | 635 |
| 93 | 200 | 200 | 650 |
| 94 | 205 | 205 | 675 |
| 95 | 210 | 210 | 690 |
| 96 | 216 | 216 | 705 |
| 97 | 222 | 222 | 715 |
| 98 | 228 | 228 | 750 |
| 99 | 234 | 234 | 785 |
| 100 | 240 | 240 | 800 |
