Abstract: Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in 316 L stainless steel was systematically studied by high temperature compression tests on a Gleeble-1500 thermal simulation testing machine. The results show that 316 L stainless steel has a large hot work-hardening tendency and there is no peak stress on its true stress-strain flow curves. DRX occurs in the hot working of 316 L stainless steel, but DRX grains can be observed only in the local area of metallographic phase. The activation energy for deformation and the thermal deformation equation of 316 L stainless steel were derived after the fitting analysis of experimental data of DRX. The critical strain and the critical stress of DRX as well as the relationship between steady state stress during hot deformation and Zener-Hollomon parameter of 316 L stainless steel were obtained.