EN8 carbon steel is a common medium carbon and medium tensile steel, with improved strength over mild steel, through-hardening medium carbon steel. EN8 carbon steel is also readily machinable in any condition.

EN8 steels are generally used in the as supplied untreated condition. But EN8 steels can be further surface-hardened by induction processes, producing components with enhanced wear resistance. Still, EN8 materials in their heat-treated forms possess good homogenous metallurgical structures, giving consistent machining properties.