How do you calculate the weight of metal?

Multiply the cross-section area by the length to get the volume, then multiply by the density. A 10 mm carbon steel plate 1 m × 1 m is 0.01 m³, and 0.01 × 7,850 kg/m³ = 78.5 kg.

What is the formula for steel pipe weight per meter?

kg/m = π × (OD − t) × t × density ÷ 1,000,000, with the outside diameter OD and wall t in mm and density in kg/m³. For carbon steel that is 0.02466 × (OD − t) × t. A 60.3 × 3.91 mm pipe (2 in schedule 40) weighs 5.44 kg/m.

How much does a stainless steel plate weigh per square meter?

Multiply the thickness in mm by the density in g/cm³. For 304 stainless (7.93 g/cm³) that is 7.93 kg/m² per mm, so a 4 mm plate weighs 31.7 kg/m² and a 2 mm sheet 15.9 kg/m².

How do I calculate the weight of a C channel?

Area = t × (H + 2F − 2t), where H is the web height, F the flange width and t the thickness. A 100 × 50 × 5 mm channel has an area of 950 mm², so in carbon steel it weighs 0.000950 × 7,850 = 7.46 kg/m.

Why is my I-beam result lower than the steel table?

Rolled beams have rounded fillets where the web meets the flanges, and this calculator uses plain rectangles. For an IPE 200 (200 × 100 mm, web 5.6 mm, flange 8.5 mm) it gives 21.4 kg/m against 22.4 kg/m in the table. Use the table value for a standard section and this calculator for built-up or non-standard sizes.

What densities does the calculator use?

Carbon steel 7,850 kg/m³, 304 stainless 7,930, 316 stainless 7,980, 6061 aluminum 2,700, gray cast iron 7,150, copper 8,960, C360 brass 8,500, C510 phosphor bronze 8,860, Grade 5 titanium 4,430 and lead 11,340. The full list is in the density table on this page.

How do I find the weight of a hexagon bar?

Area = 0.866 × AF², where AF is the size across the flats. A 24 mm hex bar has an area of 499 mm², so a meter of carbon steel weighs 3.92 kg.

Can I use it for wood, plastic, glass or concrete?

Yes. Pick the material and the shape works the same way. Wood densities are typical values at about 12% moisture and can vary by 10% or more between boards, so weigh a sample when it matters.

Metal & Material Weight Calculator

Pick a material and a shape, enter the section size and length, and get the weight in kg and lb plus the weight per meter and per foot.

Weight = cross-section area × length × density.

Material and size

Material

Grade / alloy

Shape

Section unit

Width (W)

Thickness (T)

Length

Pieces

Area formula for this shape: W × T

Total weight

–

In pounds

–

Theoretical weight from nominal sizes. Rolled sections have corner fillets and mill tolerances, so a stock table can differ by a few percent.

Cross-section area by shape

Weight = area × length × density. Use the same unit for every dimension, then convert: 1 m³ of carbon steel weighs 7,850 kg, and 1 cm³ weighs 7.85 g.

Shape	Area
Plate	W × T
Sheet	W × T
Flat bar	W × T
Round bar	π × D² ÷ 4
Square bar	A²
Hexagon bar	0.866 × AF²
Pipe / round tube	π × (OD − t) × t
Square tube	4 × t × (A − t)
Angle (L section)	t × (A + B − t)
Channel (C section)	t × (H + 2F − 2t)
I-beam / H-beam	2 × bf × tf + (h − 2 × tf) × tw

Material densities used

Material	Grade	kg/m³	lb/in³
Carbon steel	Mild / carbon steel (A36, S275)	7,850	0.284
Carbon steel	Alloy steel 4140	7,850	0.284
Carbon steel	Tool steel D2	7,700	0.278
Stainless steel	304 / 304L	7,930	0.286
Stainless steel	316 / 316L	7,980	0.288
Stainless steel	430	7,700	0.278
Stainless steel	2205 duplex	7,805	0.282
Stainless steel	17-4 PH	7,780	0.281
Aluminum	6061	2,700	0.098
Aluminum	6063	2,690	0.097
Aluminum	5052	2,680	0.097
Aluminum	5083	2,660	0.096
Aluminum	3003	2,730	0.099
Aluminum	2024	2,780	0.100
Aluminum	7075	2,810	0.102
Aluminum	1100	2,710	0.098
Iron	Cast iron (general)	7,200	0.260
Iron	Gray cast iron	7,150	0.258
Iron	Ductile iron	7,100	0.257
Iron	Wrought iron	7,700	0.278
Copper	Pure copper	8,960	0.324
Copper	C110 (ETP)	8,890	0.321
Brass	C360 free-cutting	8,500	0.307
Brass	C260 cartridge	8,530	0.308
Brass	C280 Muntz metal	8,390	0.303
Brass	C464 naval brass	8,410	0.304
Bronze	C510 phosphor bronze	8,860	0.320
Bronze	C932 bearing bronze	8,910	0.322
Bronze	C655 silicon bronze	8,530	0.308
Bronze	C954 aluminum bronze	7,450	0.269
Titanium	Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)	4,430	0.160
Titanium	Grade 2 (commercially pure)	4,510	0.163
Nickel alloys	Nickel 200 / 201	8,890	0.321
Nickel alloys	Monel 400	8,800	0.318
Nickel alloys	Inconel 600	8,470	0.306
Nickel alloys	Inconel 625	8,440	0.305
Nickel alloys	Hastelloy C-276	8,890	0.321
Zinc	Zinc	7,140	0.258
Lead	Lead	11,340	0.410
Concrete	Plain concrete	2,400	0.087
Concrete	Reinforced concrete	2,500	0.090
Concrete	Lightweight concrete	1,800	0.065
Concrete	Autoclaved aerated concrete	600	0.022
Glass	Soda-lime float glass	2,500	0.090
Glass	Borosilicate glass	2,230	0.081
Plastic	PVC (rigid)	1,400	0.051
Plastic	HDPE	955	0.035
Plastic	LDPE	920	0.033
Plastic	Polypropylene	905	0.033
Plastic	Nylon 6	1,150	0.042
Plastic	Polycarbonate	1,200	0.043
Plastic	Acrylic (PMMA)	1,180	0.043
Plastic	ABS	1,050	0.038
Plastic	PTFE	2,200	0.079
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Southern yellow pine	570	0.021
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Douglas fir	530	0.019
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Spruce	450	0.016
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Western red cedar	370	0.013
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Red oak	700	0.025
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	White oak	760	0.027
Wood (12% moisture, approx.)	Hard maple	700	0.025

Quick answer

Weight = cross-section area × length × density. Work out the area of the shape, multiply by the length to get the volume, then by the material density (7,850 kg/m³ for carbon steel, 2,700 kg/m³ for 6061 aluminum).

Example: A 10 mm carbon steel plate, 1 m × 1 m: 1 × 1 × 0.010 m³ × 7,850 kg/m³ = 78.5 kg (173.1 lb). The same plate in 6061 aluminum weighs 27.0 kg.

Choose the material and shape, then enter your sizes.

Summary

The calculator finds the cross-section area of the chosen shape, multiplies it by the length for the volume, and multiplies the volume by the density of the material grade you select. It covers carbon, stainless and tool steel, aluminum alloys, cast and wrought iron, copper, brass, bronze, titanium, nickel alloys, zinc and lead, plus concrete, glass, plastics and wood, and accepts a custom density for anything else. Results are theoretical weights from nominal sizes: they leave out the corner radii of rolled sections and mill tolerances, so a stock table can differ by a few percent. Everything runs in your browser.

How it works

Choose the material, then the grade or alloy. Pick "Custom density" if your material is not listed.
Choose the shape: plate, sheet, flat bar, round bar, square bar, hexagon bar, pipe, square tube, angle, channel or I-beam.
Enter the section dimensions shown for that shape and pick their unit (mm, cm or in).
Enter the length and its unit, and the number of pieces.
Read the total weight in kg and lb, the weight per meter and per foot, and the area and volume used.

Use cases

Quote a fabrication job from the weight of plate, bar and tube on the cut list.
Check whether a lift, rack, trailer or floor can take a bundle of pipe or bar.
Compare the weight of the same part in steel, stainless and aluminum.
Estimate freight for an order of angle, channel or beam sections.
Find the weight per meter of a pipe or tube size that is not in your table.
Work out the weight of a concrete, glass, plastic or timber part with the same shapes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by Nham Vu