The comparison of Hot Working vs Cold Working is mentioned in the table below.
Hot working | Cold working |
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![]() 1). Definition: Hot working (also known as hot forming) is defined as a metal forming process in which the plastic deformation of metals takes place above their recrystallization temperature. | ![]() 1). Definition: Cold working (also known as cold forming) is defined as a metal forming process in which the plastic deformation of metals takes place below their recrystallization temperature. |
2). Examples of hot working. Hot rolling, Hot forging, Hot spinning, Hot drawing, Hot extrusion, Hot piercing. | 2). Examples of cold working. Cold rolling, Cold shearing, Cold spinning, Cold drawing, Cold bending, Cold piercing. |
3). In hot working, the coefficient of friction is high (around 0.6) | 3). In cold working, the coefficient of friction is low (around 0.1) |
4). Amount of mechanical force required for hot working is less (because the metal is heated). | 4). Amount of force required for cold working is more (because the metal is not heated). |
5). Very high amount of thermal energy is required to heat the metal to its recrystallization temperature. | 5). Amount of heat required is less as the operation takes place at or near the room temperature. |
6). Surface finish obtained by hot forming is not good. | 6). Surface finish obtained by cold working is better than that obtained with hot working. |
7). Hardening of metals does not take place. | 7). The metals get work-hardened. |
8). By hot forming, very less residual stresses are developed inside the metals. | 8). By cold forming, high amounts of residual stresses are developed inside the metals. |
9). The uniformity in material is maintained by hot working. | 9). Uniformity of material is lost during cold working. |
10). The crystals are refined by hot working of metals. | 10). The grains are just elongated or distorted during cold working of metals. |
11). Hot worked metals show less dimensional accuracy. | 11). Cold worked metals show higher dimensional accuracy. |
12). Hot working can be used for large components as the plastic deformation becomes easy at higher temperatures. | 12). Cold working is not suitable for large components. |
I hope you have clearly understood the comparison of Hot working vs Cold working.
I have also provided the image showing this comparison. So you can also save the image if you want.

If I will give you all the differences in this single image, then this image will be very long.
Hence, refer the above table for all the differences.