Steel Weight Calculator
Work out the weight of any steel shape, then build a cut list and price the whole job. Pick a shape or a standard size, enter the dimensions, length, and quantity, and get weight per piece, total weight, weight per foot or metre, and total material cost. Add each item to the cut list for a full shopping estimate you can print.
Length, quantity, material and cost
Cut list and estimate
How much does steel weigh?
Steel weight is just volume times density. Carbon steel has a density of about 7,850 kg/m³ (0.284 lb/in³), so once you know the cross-sectional area of a shape and its length, the weight follows directly. For a constant cross-section the handy figure is weight per foot or per metre: multiply the cross-sectional area by the density and you have a number you can scale to any length.
This calculator does that for twelve shapes, in imperial or metric, and reports weight per piece, total weight for a quantity, and both lb/ft and kg/m so you can cross-check against a supplier list.
Steel weight by shape
Every shape reduces to a cross-sectional area. Solid shapes are simple; hollow shapes subtract the bore:
| Shape | Cross-sectional area |
|---|---|
| Round bar (diameter d) | π·d² / 4 |
| Square bar (side s) | s² |
| Flat bar (w × t) | w · t |
| Pipe / tube (outside D, wall t) | outer area − bore area |
| Angle (legs a, b, thickness t) | t · (a + b − t) |
| I-beam / channel | sum of flange and web areas |
Common steel density chart
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | Density (lb/in³) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | 7,850 | 0.284 |
| Stainless steel (304) | 8,000 | 0.289 |
| Alloy steel | 7,850 | 0.284 |
| Galvanized steel | 7,870 | 0.284 |
| Cast iron | 7,200 | 0.260 |
| Aluminum | 2,700 | 0.098 |
Steel shape weight chart
Approximate weight per foot for common carbon-steel sizes:
| Size | Weight |
|---|---|
| Round bar 1 in | 2.67 lb/ft |
| Square bar 1 in | 3.40 lb/ft |
| Flat bar 2 x 1/4 in | 1.70 lb/ft |
| Pipe 2 in Sch 40 | 3.65 lb/ft |
| Angle 2 x 2 x 1/4 in | 3.19 lb/ft |
Frequently asked questions
Enter a cost per pound (or per foot) and the calculator multiplies it by the total weight or length. Add each size to the cut list to price the whole job and print an estimate.
Slightly. Stainless 304 is about 8,000 kg/m³ versus 7,850 for carbon steel, roughly 2 percent heavier for the same shape.
Mill weights use design wall thicknesses and include fillet radii and rolling tolerances. Calculated weights from nominal dimensions are very close but not identical; for billing, use the mill certificate.
For plate and sheet, use the plate mode: weight is width times length times thickness times density. A 4 ft by 8 ft sheet of 1/4 in steel weighs about 327 lb.