{
  "id": "steel-weight",
  "version": "99c6bf76139e",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Steel Weight Calculator",
  "question": "What is the steel weight?",
  "summary": "Computes the weight of steel plate, flat bar, round and square bar, pipe, tube and angle from its size and length, with the weight per foot and per metre, for carbon or stainless steel.",
  "category": "construction",
  "subcategory": "materials",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/steel-weight-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/steel-weight-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Weight = density × cross-section area × length × pieces. Areas: plate w × t; round bar π ÷ 4 × d²; square bar a²; pipe π ÷ 4 × (D² − (D − 2t)²); tube w × h − (w − 2t)(h − 2t); angle t × (a + b − t).",
  "assumptions": [
    "Corners are sharp: the rounded corners of tubes and angles and the radii of rolled shapes are left out, so real weights can be slightly lower.",
    "Densities: 490 lb/ft³ (0.2836 lb/in³) or 7,850 kg/m³ for carbon steel, 8,000 kg/m³ for 304 stainless; or type your own."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "shape": {
        "title": "Shape",
        "description": "The shape of the steel.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "plate",
          "round",
          "square",
          "pipe",
          "tube",
          "angle"
        ]
      },
      "w": {
        "title": "Width",
        "description": "The width of the plate, the tube, or the first leg of an angle.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "h": {
        "title": "Height",
        "description": "The height of the tube, or the second leg of an angle.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "t": {
        "title": "Thickness",
        "description": "The thickness of the plate, or the wall of a tube or angle.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "d": {
        "title": "Diameter",
        "description": "The diameter of a round bar, or the outside diameter of a pipe.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "a": {
        "title": "Side",
        "description": "The side of a square bar.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "l": {
        "title": "Length",
        "description": "The length of one piece.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.0001,
        "maximum": 1000
      },
      "n": {
        "title": "Pieces",
        "description": "How many pieces of this size.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 100000
      },
      "mat": {
        "title": "Material",
        "description": "The steel, which sets the density.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "us",
          "carbon",
          "stainless",
          "custom"
        ]
      },
      "rho": {
        "title": "Density",
        "description": "The density of the metal.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "density",
        "minimum": 100,
        "maximum": 25000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "total": {
      "label": "Total weight",
      "description": "Weight of one piece × pieces.",
      "format": "quantity",
      "unit": "lb"
    },
    "piece": {
      "label": "Weight of one piece",
      "description": "Density × cross-section area × length.",
      "format": "quantity",
      "unit": "lb"
    },
    "perFoot": {
      "label": "Weight per foot",
      "description": "Pounds per foot of length.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "perMetre": {
      "label": "Weight per metre",
      "description": "Kilograms per metre of length.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "area": {
      "label": "Cross-section area",
      "description": "The area of the cut end, in square inches.",
      "format": "number"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "shape": "plate",
      "w": 1.2191999999999998,
      "h": 0.0508,
      "t": 0.00635,
      "d": 0.0254,
      "a": 0.0254,
      "l": 2.4384,
      "n": 1,
      "mat": "us",
      "rho": 7850
    },
    "outputs": {
      "total": 148.1735075333333,
      "piece": 148.1735075333333,
      "perFoot": 40.83333333333332,
      "perMetre": 60.76669436242343,
      "area": 11.999999999999998
    },
    "text": "The steel weighs 326.667 lb in all (40.833 lb per foot)."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "shape": "plate",
        "w": 1.2191999999999998,
        "t": 0.00635,
        "l": 2.4384,
        "n": 1,
        "mat": "us"
      },
      "expect": {
        "total": 148.17350753333332,
        "perFoot": 40.83333333333333
      },
      "source": "ASTM A992 structural steel, density 0.2836 lb/in³ (490 lb/ft³), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASTM_A992, retrieved 2026-10-01); hand calculation in content.mdx: 48 × 0.25 × 96 in³ × 490 ÷ 1,728 = 326.67 lb"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "shape": "pipe",
        "d": 0.060325,
        "t": 0.0039115999999999995,
        "l": 6.096,
        "n": 1,
        "mat": "us"
      },
      "expect": {
        "perFoot": 3.6563919154318474,
        "piece": 33.170229491391424
      },
      "source": "ASME B36.10M, 2 in schedule 40 pipe: 2.375 in OD, 0.154 in wall, 3.66 lb/ft, as tabulated at https://metalsrus.ca/blogs/guides/pipe-schedule-chart (retrieved 2026-10-01); hand calculation in content.mdx: 3.656 lb/ft"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "shape": "round",
        "d": 0.02,
        "l": 6,
        "n": 10,
        "mat": "carbon"
      },
      "expect": {
        "total": 147.96901398407925,
        "perMetre": 2.4661502330679874
      },
      "source": "EN 1991-1-1 Table A.4, structural steel 77.0 to 78.5 kN/m³, used as 7,850 kg/m³ (https://eurocodeapplied.com/design/en1993/steel-design-properties, retrieved 2026-10-01); hand calculation in content.mdx: π ÷ 4 × 0.02² × 7,850 = 2.466 kg/m"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "shape": "angle",
        "w": 0.05,
        "h": 0.05,
        "t": 0.005,
        "l": 1,
        "n": 1,
        "mat": "stainless"
      },
      "expect": {
        "total": 3.8
      },
      "source": "thyssenkrupp Materials (UK), stainless steel 304 / 1.4301 data sheet, density 8,000 kg/m³ (https://www.thyssenkrupp-materials.co.uk/stainless-steel-304-14301.html, retrieved 2026-10-01); hand calculation in content.mdx: 5 × (50 + 50 − 5) = 475 mm² × 1 m × 8,000 = 3.8 kg",
      "tolerance": 1e-12
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "ASTM A992, Wikipedia: density of structural steel about 7,850 kg/m³ (0.2836 lb/in³), retrieved 2026-10-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASTM_A992",
    "EN 1991-1-1 Table A.4 (unit weight of structural steel 77.0 to 78.5 kN/m³; design density 7,850 kg/m³), as given by Eurocode Applied, retrieved 2026-10-01. https://eurocodeapplied.com/design/en1993/steel-design-properties",
    "thyssenkrupp Materials (UK), Stainless Steel 304 / 1.4301 data sheet (density 8,000 kg/m³), retrieved 2026-10-01. https://www.thyssenkrupp-materials.co.uk/stainless-steel-304-14301.html",
    "ASME B36.10M pipe schedule chart (2 in schedule 40: 2.375 in OD, 0.154 in wall, 3.66 lb/ft), Metals R Us, retrieved 2026-10-01. https://metalsrus.ca/blogs/guides/pipe-schedule-chart"
  ],
  "related": [
    "density",
    "board-foot",
    "cubic-feet"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}