Pick a shape, pick an alloy, enter dimensions. Get weight in pounds and kilograms plus approximate material cost. No signup, no vendor bias.
Metal weight is volume times density. The trick is getting volume right for the shape you're buying, and using the correct density for your specific alloy.
Round bar:π × (diameter/2)² × length. A 1" round bar 12" long has a volume of 9.42 cubic inches.
Flat bar / plate:width × height × length. Straightforward rectangular cross-section.
Square bar:side² × length.
Hex bar:2.598 × (across-flats/2)² × length. The 2.598 factor accounts for the hexagonal cross-section area.
Tubing:π × ((OD/2)² − (ID/2)²) × length, where ID = OD − 2 × wall thickness.
Steel (1018, 4140, 4340): 0.2836 lb/in³ (7.85 g/cm³). Most carbon and alloy steels are within 1% of this number.
Aluminum 6061-T6: 0.0975 lb/in³ (2.70 g/cm³). About a third the weight of steel.
304 Stainless: 0.2888 lb/in³ (7.99 g/cm³). Slightly heavier than carbon steel due to the nickel and chromium content.
Ti-6Al-4V: 0.160 lb/in³ (4.43 g/cm³). About 57% of steel's weight with comparable strength.
Metal prices vary by supplier, quantity, form (hot-rolled vs. cold-drawn vs. precision-ground), and current market conditions. The ranges shown here reflect typical US distributor pricing for cut-to-length bar stock in small quantities. Buying full 20' bars, mill-direct, or from a service center at volume will shift pricing significantly.
A common shortcut for steel round bar: weight per foot ≈ diameter² × 2.67 lb/ft. So a 2" round is about 10.68 lb/ft. This calculator does the exact math for any shape, length, and alloy.
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