Grades Of Neodymium Magnets

Confused by what all the different letters and number in a grade's name mean? Here we will explain the difference in grades of neodymium magnets.

It all starts with the letter ‘N’, all the names of neodymium magnets begin with ‘N’ for neodymium. The number that follows is a little more technical as this represents the maximum energy product of the magnet in ‘Mega-Gauss Oersteds’ (MGOe). This is the primary indicator of a magnets ‘strength’. Simply, the higher the maximum energy product value, the greater the magnetic field the magnet will generate in a particular application.

Popular Neodymium Grades

Neodymium grades can start as low as N25 and go as high as N55. The available standard neodymium grades are N35, N38, N40, N42, N45, N48, N50, N52 and N55.  The grades can also be read as 35 MGOe, 38 MGOe, 42 MGOe and so on. Higher grades typically cost slightly more per unit than lower grades, but what is the most common grade?

The grades generally available to buy, range from N30 to N52 as lower grades are generally no longer manufactured.

At first4magnets.com, we do not compromise on quality and the majority of our magnets are grade N42 or above, making them 20% more magnetic than many cheaper N35 grade neodymium magnets. N42 grade offers a high performance at an economical price. Grades above N42 tend to be more expensive and the rise in price can be disproportionate to the increase in performance. An example is N52 grade which is 20% more powerful than N42 grade and yet can be twice the price.

Examples Of The Different Neodymium Grades

Higher grades should be used where the highest performance is needed and the available space for the magnet is limited and cannot be increased. Otherwise it would be more beneficial to use two N42 magnets instead of one N52 magnet.

Technical Definitions:

At times, you may also see one or two letters tagged onto the end of a grade. These letters determine the temperature rating and represent the maximum operating temperature the magnet can withstand before it begins to lose its magnetism permanently. These ratings should always be treated as a guide value as other factors such as size and shape also have an impact on the performance of a magnet at high temperatures. For more information, go to the ‘How does temperature affect neodymium magnets’ page.

Remanence (Br) is the gauge of a material's capacity to preserve magnetism following exposure to a potent magnetic pulse. A higher Remanence value indicates greater magnetic retention, resulting in a more formidable magnet.

Coercive Force (Hc) measures a magnet's ability to resist demagnetization when subjected to an opposing magnetic field. A higher Coercive Force value signifies increased resistance to demagnetization.

Intrinsic Coercive Force (Hci) represents the strength of the opposing magnetic field needed to entirely demagnetize a magnet, reducing its value to zero.

Maximum Energy Product (BH) max indicates the magnetic density generated by a material, establishing the strength of a magnetic field. This measurement is commonly abbreviated as MGOe.

kG (KiloGauss) denotes 1 Kilogauss as equivalent to 1000 Gauss, with Gauss being the unit for measuring magnetic induction.

T (Tesla) equates to 1 Tesla being equal to 10,000 Gauss and serves as the unit of measurement for magnetic induction.

Oe (Oersted) quantifies magnetic field strength.

kA/m (Kiloampere) is expressed as 1 kiloampere being equivalent to 12.56 oersted and is a measurement of magnetic field strength.

MGOe (Maximum Energy Product) is the unit of measurement characterizing the strength, power, or magnetic density of a magnetic field.

kJ/m³ (Kilojoule per Cubic Meter) establishes 1 Kilojoule as equal to 1,000 Joules and is the unit for measuring energy.

Table: Neodymium Magnet Grades And Their Properties

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