Metal Weight by Shape and Alloy
Weight per piece and total by shape, dimensions, length, and alloy density.
Example
You enter
- Shape plate
- Width (in) 12
- Thickness (in) 1
- Length (in) 120
- Quantity 1
- Density (lb/in³) 0.2836
You get
- Cross-section area 12 in^2
- Weight per piece 408.38 lb
Checked against published worked examples from: Wheatland Tube (Zekelman Industries); Service Steel Warehouse.
Details, formula, and sources
Formula or tableweight = cross-sectional area * length * density * quantity. Per-shape area from geometry: tube = pi/4 * (OD^2 - ID^2), hex = 0.866 * width^2, round = pi/4 * dia^2, etc. lb to kg via x 0.453592.
Source and editionFirst-principles weight = volume x density. Densities are the published nominal values for the common alloys (carbon steel 0.2836, stainless 0.289, aluminum 6061 0.098, copper 0.323, brass 0.307 lb/in^3) or user-supplied.
Free accessThe density values are published nominal references; mill certs and the actual alloy temper govern the real figure.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field namesshape, width_in, thickness_in, length_in, quantity, density_lb_in3, cross_section_area_in2, weight_per_piece_lb
- Alloy density published nominal lb/in^3 by alloy, or user-suppliedalloy reference