Metal Weight Calculator

Select a shape and material, then select the size to calculate the weight of the metal or alloy.

Select a Shape:
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Bar Size:
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Tubing Size:
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Sheet Size:
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Result:

 
pounds
 
kilograms
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How to Calculate Metal Weight

You can find the weight of a metal object or material in a few simple steps.

Step One: Calculate the Volume of the Metal

The first step in finding the weight of a metal object is to find its volume. For a rectangular object such as a metal plate or bar, use the following volume formula:

volume = length × width × height

The volume is equal to the length times the width times the height.

When measuring the volume, it is essential to keep all dimensions in the same unit. So, you should measure the length, width, and height in only inches or only centimeters. The resulting volume will thus be in cubic inches or in cubic centimeters.

Use the following volume formulas for various metal shapes:

square bar:
width × width × length

round bar:
3.14 × (diameter ÷ 2) × (diameter ÷ 2) × length

square tubing:
(width – wall thickness) × wall thickness × 4 × length

round tubing:
(outer diameter – wall thickness) × wall thickness × 3.14 × length

plate/sheet:
width × thickness × length

Step Two: Find the Metal Density

The next step in calculating the weight is to find the density of the metal object. You’ll need to know what type of metal the object is, then reference a density chart to locate the density.

Use our metal density chart to locate the density of the metal you’re using. For instance, steel has a density of 490.1 lb/ft³.

Step Three: Multiply the Volume by the Density

Once you know the volume and the density, the final step is to multiply the volume by the density to calculate the weight.

weight = volume × density

Thus, the weight, or mass, of a metal object is equal to its volume multiplied by its density.

For example, let’s calculate the weight of a 1/2″ diameter steel round bar that is 48″ long.

The density of the steel bar is 490.1 lb/ft³, which is equal to 0.2836 lb/in³. We need to calculate the volume using the formula above.

volume = 3.14 × (1/2″ ÷ 2) × (1/2″ ÷ 2) × 48″
volume = 3.14 × 0.25 × 0.25 × 48
volume = 9.42477 in³

Now, use the weight formula using the density in pounds per cubic inch and the volume in cubic inches.

steel weight = 9.42477 in³ × 0.2836 lb/in³
steel weight = 2.67 lbs

So, this bar weighs 2.67 lbs. You can use this method to calculate steel weight or the weight of any other metal.

Metal and Alloy Density Chart

The chart below shows the density in various units of measure for commonly used metals and alloys.

Table showing the density of common metals and alloys.
Metal / Alloy Density
kg/m³ g/cm³ lb/in³ lb/ft³
Aluminum 2,700 kg/m³ 2.7 g/cm³ 0.0975 lb/in³ 168.56 lb/ft³
Aluminum 1000 Series 2,710 kg/m³ 2.71 g/cm³ 0.098 lb/in³ 169.2 lb/ft³
Aluminum 2000 Series 2,795 kg/m³ 2.795 g/cm³ 0.101 lb/in³ 174.5 lb/ft³
Aluminum 3000 Series 2,740 kg/m³ 2.74 g/cm³ 0.099 lb/in³ 171.1 lb/ft³
Aluminum 5000 Series 2,655 kg/m³ 2.655 g/cm³ 0.096 lb/in³ 165.7 lb/ft³
Aluminum 6000 Series 2,710 kg/m³ 2.71 g/cm³ 0.098 lb/in³ 169.2 lb/ft³
Aluminum 7000 Series 2,825 kg/m³ 2.825 g/cm³ 0.102 lb/in³ 176.4 lb/ft³
Beryllium 1,855 kg/m³ 1.855 g/cm³ 0.067 lb/in³ 115.8 lb/ft³
Brass 8,525 kg/m³ 8.525 g/cm³ 0.308 lb/in³ 532.2 lb/ft³
Cast Iron 7,090 kg/m³ 7.09 g/cm³ 0.256 lb/in³ 442.6 lb/ft³
Columbium 8,580 kg/m³ 8.58 g/cm³ 0.31 lb/in³ 535.6 lb/ft³
Copper 8,970 kg/m³ 8.97 g/cm³ 0.324 lb/in³ 560 lb/ft³
Gold 19,320 kg/m³ 19.32 g/cm³ 0.698 lb/in³ 1,206.1 lb/ft³
Lead 11,350 kg/m³ 11.35 g/cm³ 0.41 lb/in³ 708.6 lb/ft³
Magnesium 1,800 kg/m³ 1.8 g/cm³ 0.065 lb/in³ 112.4 lb/ft³
Molybdenum 10,215 kg/m³ 10.215 g/cm³ 0.369 lb/in³ 637.7 lb/ft³
Nickel 200 8,885 kg/m³ 8.885 g/cm³ 0.321 lb/in³ 554.7 lb/ft³
Nickel 201 8,885 kg/m³ 8.885 g/cm³ 0.321 lb/in³ 554.7 lb/ft³
Nickel 400 8,830 kg/m³ 8.83 g/cm³ 0.319 lb/in³ 551.2 lb/ft³
Nickel 600 8,415 kg/m³ 8.415 g/cm³ 0.304 lb/in³ 525.3 lb/ft³
Nickel 625 8,440 kg/m³ 8.44 g/cm³ 0.305 lb/in³ 526.9 lb/ft³
Nickel 718 8,220 kg/m³ 8.22 g/cm³ 0.297 lb/in³ 513.2 lb/ft³
Nickel X750 8,250 kg/m³ 8.25 g/cm³ 0.298 lb/in³ 515 lb/ft³
Nickel 800 7,945 kg/m³ 7.945 g/cm³ 0.287 lb/in³ 496 lb/ft³
Nickel 800H 7,945 kg/m³ 7.945 g/cm³ 0.287 lb/in³ 496 lb/ft³
Nickel 825 8,140 kg/m³ 8.14 g/cm³ 0.294 lb/in³ 508.2 lb/ft³
Nickel 904L 8,055 kg/m³ 8.055 g/cm³ 0.291 lb/in³ 502.9 lb/ft³
Silver 10,490 kg/m³ 10.49 g/cm³ 0.379 lb/in³ 654.9 lb/ft³
Steel 7,850 kg/m³ 7.85 g/cm³ 0.2836 lb/in³ 490.1 lb/ft³
Steel 1000 series 7,830 kg/m³ 7.83 g/cm³ 0.283 lb/in³ 488.8 lb/ft³
Steel 4000 series 7,750 kg/m³ 7.75 g/cm³ 0.28 lb/in³ 483.8 lb/ft³
Steel 9000 series 7,830 kg/m³ 7.83 g/cm³ 0.283 lb/in³ 488.8 lb/ft³
Stainless 15-5 7,750 kg/m³ 7.75 g/cm³ 0.28 lb/in³ 483.8 lb/ft³
Stainless 17-4 8,025 kg/m³ 8.025 g/cm³ 0.29 lb/in³ 501.1 lb/ft³
Stainless 300 Series 7,920 kg/m³ 7.92 g/cm³ 0.286 lb/in³ 494.4 lb/ft³
Stainless 400 Series 7,830 kg/m³ 7.83 g/cm³ 0.283 lb/in³ 488.8 lb/ft³
Tantalum 16,610 kg/m³ 16.61 g/cm³ 0.6 lb/in³ 1,036.9 lb/ft³
Titanium 4,510 kg/m³ 4.51 g/cm³ 0.163 lb/in³ 281.6 lb/ft³
Tungsten 19,300 kg/m³ 19.3 g/cm³ 0.697 lb/in³ 1,204.9 lb/ft³
Zinc 7,141 kg/m³ 7.141 g/cm³ 0.258 lb/in³ 445.8 lb/ft³
Zirconium 6,370 kg/m³ 6.37 g/cm³ 0.23 lb/in³ 397.7 lb/ft³