Metal Weight Calculator
Calculate weight of metal profiles for steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and bronze
Our free online metal weight calculator helps engineers, fabricators, and procurement professionals quickly calculate the weight of metal profiles for cost estimation, shipping logistics, and structural analysis. Accurate weight calculations are essential for material ordering, transportation planning, and load-bearing calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate metal weight?
To calculate metal weight, multiply the cross-sectional area by the length and the material density. Our calculator supports various profiles like tubes, bars, sheets, and I-beams.
How do I calculate the weight of a hollow tube?
Calculate the outer cross-section area minus the inner cross-section area, then multiply by length and material density. For a round tube: Weight = π/4 × (D² − d²) × L × ρ. For a square tube: Weight = [a² − (a−2t)²] × L × ρ. Always use consistent units (mm and kg/m³, or m and kg/m³).
What is the density of aluminum vs steel?
Aluminum density is approximately 2,700 kg/m³ while steel is approximately 7,850 kg/m³. This means steel is about 2.9× heavier than aluminum for the same volume. This ratio is critical for applications where weight matters, such as aerospace, automotive, and portable equipment.
How do I calculate the weight of a steel plate?
Steel plate weighs 7.85 kg per square meter for every millimeter of thickness: kg/m² = 7.85 × t. A 2,000 × 1,000 mm sheet 3 mm thick weighs 2 × 1 × 3 × 7.85 = 47.1 kg; a 10 mm plate is 78.5 kg/m². Aluminum is 2.70 × t and stainless 7.93 × t (kg/m²). Select Sheet/Plate above, enter width, height and thickness, and the calculator does the multiplication for any material and quantity.
How much does steel weigh per meter or per cubic meter?
Steel weighs 7,850 kg per cubic meter (7.85 g/cm³). Per meter it depends on the cross-section: a Ø20 mm round bar is 2.47 kg/m, a 50 × 5 mm flat bar 1.96 kg/m, a 40 × 40 × 3 mm square tube 3.49 kg/m and an IPE 200 beam 22.4 kg/m. The quick-reference tables on this page list common round bar, flat bar, square tube and plate weights; for any other size, enter the dimensions above.
What is a metal density calculator, and how do I find density from weight?
Density = mass ÷ volume. Weigh a piece, compute its volume from the dimensions and divide: a 100 × 50 × 10 mm block (50 cm³) weighing 392.5 g has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ = 7,850 kg/m³ — carbon steel. The density table on this page lists 20 metals from magnesium (1,740 kg/m³) to tungsten (19,250 kg/m³); the calculator uses the same values for 30+ alloys.
Does the calculator work for aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium or carbide?
Yes — the material list covers aluminum alloys (2,660–2,850 kg/m³), brass (8,440–8,730), bronze (8,800), copper (8,940), stainless steel (7,930–8,000) and engineering plastics. For metals not in the list — titanium 4,430–4,510, zinc 7,140, lead 11,340, cemented tungsten carbide about 14,900 kg/m³ — take the density from the table below and multiply it by the volume shown in the results card.
Why does calculated weight differ from actual weight?
Manufacturing tolerances, surface treatments, and material composition variations cause differences of 2-5% between calculated and actual weight. Standards like EN 10210 allow wall thickness tolerances of ±10% for structural hollow sections. For precise procurement, request actual weight from your supplier or weigh sample pieces.
What materials are supported?
We support aluminium, steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, and plastics. Each category includes multiple alloys with accurate density and elastic modulus values.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes, all our engineering calculators are completely free to use with no registration required.
Related guides
- How to Calculate Metal Weight: Formulas and Examples
- Steel vs Aluminum: Choosing the Right Material for Your Project
- SHS vs RHS vs CHS: Which Hollow Section Should You Use?