Free Engineering Tool
Compute the gross weight of steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass and other metals for plates and sheets, round / square / hexagonal bars, rectangular flats, round and square tubes, angle bars and ring blanks. Enter the material, shape and dimensions — the calculator returns total weight, weight per piece, per meter and per foot, in both kilograms and pounds.
This is the tool our own workshop uses to size raw material orders before cutting. Because weight drives material cost, freight and press loading, a quick gross-weight check at the quoting stage keeps estimates honest.
Fill in the dimensions above …"the weight updates automatically as you type.
Material weight calculation determines the mass of metal based on its dimensions (length, width, thickness, diameter) and density. Steel is about 7,850 kg/m³, aluminum 2,700 kg/m³, and copper 8,960 kg/m³. By calculating volume from dimensions and multiplying by density, you get the weight you need for procurement, design and logistics.
Weight = volume × density. First compute the volume from the part's geometry, then multiply by the material density: mild steel ≈ 7,850 kg/m³, aluminum ≈ 2,700 kg/m³, copper ≈ 8,960 kg/m³. This calculator does the geometry and density lookup automatically.
The universal formula is Weight = Volume × Density. For common shapes: Plate/Sheet = L × W × T; Round Bar = π × (D/2)² × L; Square Bar = S² × L; Hex Bar = (√3/2) × S² × L; Round Tube = π × [(OD/2)² − (ID/2)²] × L; Square Tube = (A² − (A−2T)²) × L.
Mild steel ≈ 7,850 kg/m³, stainless 304 ≈ 7,930 kg/m³, stainless 316 ≈ 7,980 kg/m³, aluminum 6061 ≈ 2,700 kg/m³, aluminum 7075 ≈ 2,810 kg/m³, copper ≈ 8,960 kg/m³, brass ≈ 8,500 kg/m³, bronze ≈ 8,800 kg/m³, titanium ≈ 4,500 kg/m³, zinc ≈ 7,140 kg/m³, lead ≈ 11,340 kg/m³.
Gross weight is the weight of the raw stock before any machining — what you order and cut. Net weight is the finished part weight after holes, cutouts and machined features are removed. For material ordering and freight quotes, work from gross weight, then add a 5–10% allowance.
A standard 4 ft × 8 ft (1.22 m × 2.44 m) mild steel plate: at 3 mm thick about 70 kg (154 lbs), at 5 mm about 117 kg (258 lbs), at 10 mm about 234 kg (516 lbs), at 20 mm about 468 kg (1,032 lbs).
Because density is about one third: aluminum ≈ 2,700 kg/m³ versus steel ≈ 7,850 kg/m³. A part from aluminum 6061 weighs roughly 2.9× less than the identical part in mild steel.
For standard mill stock, calculated weight typically matches actual weight within ±1–2% because mill tolerances and coatings are small. Accuracy drops for cast or forged parts and heavily machined components.
Send your drawing to shawn@balford.net — our engineers will confirm material grade, gross weight, machining and pricing within 24 hours.