Practical tools for measured work
Metal Weight & Cut List Calculator
Calculate the weight of plate, round bar, square bar, tube or angle stock from cross-section, density and cut list.
7850 kg/m³ (= 0.284 lb/in³)
Schematic cross-section, not to scale. Dimensions shown on the drawing are always in millimetres.
How it works
Direct answer. Pick a profile (plate, round bar, square bar, round tube or angle), enter its cross-section dimensions and a material density, then list every cut length and how many pieces you need of each. The total weight is the sum of every piece's volume times the density.
Method. Each profile's cross-section area comes from basic solid geometry - a rectangle for plate, π × r² for round bar, a square, an annulus (π × (R² − r²)) for tube, and two overlapping rectangles for an angle. Weight = cross-section area × length × density, summed across every cut piece.
Worked example. A 25 mm round bar in mild steel (7,850 kg/m³): area = π × 12.5² ≈ 490.87 mm². Four 6 m (6,000 mm) lengths: volume per piece = 490.87 × 6,000 = 2,945,243 mm³ ≈ 0.002945 m³, weight per piece ≈ 0.002945 × 7,850 ≈ 23.12 kg, so four pieces ≈ 92.5 kg total - matching this calculator's defaults.
Densities. The material dropdown gives typical, widely published reference densities for common metal families (mild/carbon steel, 300-series stainless, aluminum, brass, copper) - not a specific alloy's certified value. Choose "Custom" and enter your own figure whenever you have a mill certificate or datasheet density for the exact alloy and temper you're using.
Limitations
This calculates theoretical weight from nominal geometry and a typical density - it does not account for mill tolerances, actual-vs-nominal dimensions, surface coatings, or a specific supplier's certified product weight. Real stock can vary by a few percent from the nominal size and density used here; for a purchasing or shipping-weight decision, confirm against the mill certificate or supplier's published weight-per-length figure for your exact product.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my actual stock heavier or lighter than this result?
Mill tolerances mean real bar, tube, and plate stock rarely matches its nominal dimensions exactly, and density varies alloy-to-alloy within a family (for example, different aluminum alloys typically span roughly 2,640-2,810 kg/m³). Use a certified density and measured dimensions when precision matters.
Can I mix different profiles or materials in one total?
Not in a single calculation - each run covers one profile and one density across all its cut pieces. For a mixed job, run the calculator once per profile/material combination and add the totals yourself.
What does the angle profile assume?
It models a standard L-shaped (equal or unequal-leg) angle cross-section as two overlapping rectangular strips, which matches common structural and fabrication angle stock. It does not model rounded internal fillets or rolled-corner radii, which real angle iron has and which very slightly reduce the true cross-section area.
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