Rectangular Tube Weight Calculator

Weight of rectangular hollow section (RHS) from width, height and wall

Rectangular tube — rectangular hollow section (RHS) — carries its weight in the walls: the section area is the outer rectangle minus the hollow interior. Weight = (b×h − (b−2t)(h−2t)) × length × density, with b the width, h the height and t the wall thickness. This calculator uses the exact density of your chosen alloy.

A 60×40×3 mm steel RHS weighs about 4.20 kg/m. Because the same tube can be oriented with the tall side vertical or horizontal, RHS is a favourite for beams and frames where stiffness matters in one direction — pair this with our beam deflection tool to check how it bends under load.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate rectangular tube weight?

Weight per meter = (b×h − (b−2t)(h−2t)) × density, with b width, h height and t wall thickness in mm. A 60×40×3 mm steel RHS: (2400 − 1836) mm² × 7.85 g/cm³ ≈ 4.43 kg/m.

What does 80×40×4 mm steel RHS weigh?

About 6.71 kg per meter — a 6-meter length is roughly 40 kg.

Does orientation change the weight?

No — a 60×40 tube weighs the same whether the 60 mm side is vertical or horizontal. Orientation only changes stiffness and deflection, not weight.