Rebar, Pipe, Sheet and Angle Weight: Metal Weight Calculator
Metal weight equals volume times density; for steel the density is 7850 kg/m3. One metre of rebar weighs d² × 0.00617 kg (d in mm), so 12 mm rebar is 0.888 kg/m; one metre of round pipe is 0.02466 × s × (D - s) kg; one square metre of steel sheet is 7.85 kg per millimetre of thickness. For a quick figure on any section use the online metal weight calculator.
How a metal weight calculator works: formula and density
Every metal calculator does the same thing: cross-section area × length × material density. The only difference is how the area is found - a circle for bar, a ring for pipe, two legs for an angle.
Reference tables are given for steel. For another metal, multiply the table weight by the ratio of densities or choose the material in our metal weight calculator. Approximate densities:
- Carbon steel and rebar steel - 7850 kg/m3.
- Stainless steel - about 7900 kg/m3 (7700-8000 depending on grade).
- Aluminium and its alloys - about 2700 kg/m3, almost three times lighter than steel.
- Copper - about 8900 kg/m3, brass - 8400-8700 kg/m3.
- Grey cast iron - about 7200 kg/m3.
Rebar weight: table per metre and per tonne
Rebar weight is calculated as the weight of a round bar of nominal diameter: d² × 0.00617 kg/m. The factor 0.00617 is the area of a 1 mm circle multiplied by the density of steel. The ribs of deformed bar are accounted for because the nominal diameter is defined to match this mass, so the table is accurate for estimates.
The last column is handy for purchasing: it shows how many running metres are in a tonne. For example, a tonne of 12 mm rebar is about 1,130 m, or roughly 96 bars of 11.7 m.
Rebar is sold by weight but designed in metres. Take the total length of each diameter from the drawings, multiply by the weight per metre from the table and add 2-5% for offcuts (count laps separately if the drawings do not include them). It is just as easy to check a supplier: if the price is per tonne, the price per metre is the tonne price divided by the metres per tonne.
| Diameter, mm | Weight of 1 m, kg | Metres per tonne |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.222 | 4,500 |
| 8 | 0.395 | 2,530 |
| 10 | 0.617 | 1,620 |
| 12 | 0.888 | 1,130 |
| 14 | 1.21 | 830 |
| 16 | 1.58 | 630 |
| 20 | 2.47 | 405 |
| 25 | 3.86 | 260 |
| 32 | 6.32 | 158 |
Pipe weight: calculator for round and square tube
For round steel pipe the formula is 0.02466 × s × (D - s) kg/m, where D is the outside diameter and s the wall thickness, both in mm. For square hollow section with side a: about 0.0314 × s × (a - s) kg/m. Real tube has rounded corners, so the actual weight is 1-3% lower - not critical for an estimate.
In the table the first five rows are round pipes, the rest are square tubes. For rectangular tube a × b use (a + b) / 2 in place of a.
| Size, mm | Weight of 1 m, kg |
|---|---|
| 32 × 2.8 | 2.02 |
| 57 × 3.5 | 4.62 |
| 76 × 3.5 | 6.26 |
| 108 × 4 | 10.3 |
| 159 × 4.5 | 17.1 |
| 20 × 20 × 2 | 1.13 |
| 40 × 40 × 2 | 2.39 |
| 60 × 60 × 3 | 5.37 |
| 80 × 80 × 4 | 9.55 |
Steel sheet weight: 7.85 kg per square metre per millimetre
One square metre of 1 mm steel sheet weighs 7.85 kg; multiply by thickness and area. The most common sheet formats are 1000 × 2000 mm (2 m²) and 1250 × 2500 mm (3.125 m²), and their weights are already calculated below. For aluminium sheet divide the result by about 2.9.
Sheet weight also tells you whether one worker can lift a sheet or a hoist is needed, how many sheets fit in a truck and what cutting costs if charged per kilogram.
| Thickness, mm | Weight of 1 m², kg | Sheet 1000 × 2000, kg | Sheet 1250 × 2500, kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.85 | 15.7 | 24.5 |
| 2 | 15.7 | 31.4 | 49.1 |
| 3 | 23.6 | 47.1 | 73.6 |
| 5 | 39.3 | 78.5 | 123 |
| 10 | 78.5 | 157 | 245 |
Angle weight: formula and table
An equal angle a × a × s has a cross-section of about s × (2a - s) mm², so its weight is 0.00785 × s × (2a - s) kg/m. Hot-rolled angle has a fillet in the inner corner, so the catalogue weight is slightly higher, by 1-2%. The table shows both: the calculated and the approximate reference value.
The same approach works for other sections. Steel flat bar of width b and thickness s weighs 0.00785 × b × s kg/m, square bar with side a weighs 0.00785 × a² kg/m, and round bar is calculated like rebar. Channels and beams have a complex cross-section, so their weight is taken from the section tables or a calculator; it depends on the section size and series.
| Angle, mm | By formula, kg/m | Reference, kg/m |
|---|---|---|
| 40 × 40 × 4 | 2.39 | 2.4 |
| 50 × 50 × 5 | 3.73 | 3.8 |
| 63 × 63 × 5 | 4.75 | 4.8 |
| 75 × 75 × 6 | 6.78 | 6.9 |
Machines to cut and bend stock in the workshop
Weight is calculated when buying metal, but after delivery the stock has to be cut to length and often bent. Volume and section decide which equipment pays off. Below are typical options from the МЕЛИТА catalog, prices incl. VAT, rounded.
If you cut a few blanks a day, a hand or chop saw is enough. If stock arrives by the tonne, every millimetre of accuracy and every minute per cut costs money, and a band saw with hydraulic frame feed or a dedicated rebar cutter pays off. We will help pick a model for your section and volume through a quote request: МЕЛИТА has worked since 2015, issues VAT invoices, delivers across Ukraine and gives a 12-month warranty on machines.
- Pipe, angle, profile and bar in small batches - band saws for metal. The compact Metallkraft MBS 125 with variable blade speed and capacity up to 125 mm round costs about 29,900 UAH; the cantilever FDB Maschinen SG 5018 on a stand with a 0.75 kW motor is about 72,500 UAH. A band saw cuts cold with a narrow kerf, so the cut is straight and waste is low.
- Fast rough cuts of profile and pipe - abrasive chop saws. The GYQ400B with a 400 mm wheel, 2.2 kW motor and 45-90 degree cuts is about 12,000 UAH.
- Rebar on site and in the rebar shop - the MAST Bautechnik GQ40 rebar cutter: rebar 6-32 mm, round bar up to 40 mm, 32 cuts per minute, about 78,300 UAH.
- Sheet and cylindrical shells - bending machines and plate rolls. The Metallkraft RBM 1050-22 Eco rolls sheet up to 1050 mm wide and 2 mm thick, minimum shell diameter 115 mm, about 144,000 UAH.
FAQ
How much does 1 metre of 12 mm rebar weigh?
0.888 kg: 12² × 0.00617 = 0.888. A tonne of 12 mm rebar is about 1,130 running metres.
How do I calculate pipe weight without a calculator?
For round steel pipe: 0.02466 × wall thickness × (outside diameter - wall thickness), all in mm, result in kg per metre. For example, 57 × 3.5 pipe weighs about 4.62 kg/m.
How much does a 2 mm steel sheet weigh?
One square metre of 2 mm steel sheet weighs 15.7 kg. A 1250 × 2500 mm sheet is about 49 kg, a 1000 × 2000 mm sheet about 31 kg.
Why does the actual weight of stock differ from the calculated one?
Stock is rolled with tolerances on size and wall thickness, and sections have rounded corners. The difference is usually a few percent, so add a small margin to your estimate.
Which machine should I buy to cut rebar and pipe?
For rebar in volume - a dedicated rebar cutter; for pipe and profile - a band saw, or an abrasive chop saw for rough cuts. Describe your job in the quote form and we will pick a model for your stock.
