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Steel Profile Weight Calculator
Switch between hollow section, I/H beam, solid square bar, round tube, angle and flat bar with one click; enter the dimensions next to the cross-section sketch and get the approximate kg/m and total weight.
Cross-section — Square/rectangular hollow section (SHS/RHS)
Dimensions
Length and quantity
Uses the outside dimensions and wall thickness of the hollow section. Tolerances and manufacturer differences can affect the actual weight.
Result
Cross-section: ~384 mm² · inputs mm → mm
Preliminary calculation; tolerances and catalogue values may differ.
How do you calculate the weight of a steel profile?
The weight per metre of a profile is its cross-section area multiplied by the material density: kg/m = area (mm²) × density (g/cm³) ÷ 1,000. Multiply by the length in metres and the quantity for the total weight. The areas used are: hollow section W × H − (W − 2t) × (H − 2t); angle t × (L1 + L2 − t); flat bar width × thickness; solid square bar a²; round tube π ÷ 4 × (D² − (D − 2t)²); I/H beam 2 × bf × tf + (h − 2 × tf) × tw. Example: a 40 × 60 × 2 mm rectangular hollow section has 384 mm² of steel, so 384 × 7.85 ÷ 1,000 ≈ 3.01 kg/m and about 18.1 kg for a 6 m length.
You can choose steel (7.85 g/cm³), stainless steel (7.9), aluminium (2.7) or copper (8.96), and enter the cross-section in mm, cm or m. Profile weight is needed for material costing, transport planning and quotes, especially when material is bought by the kilogram.
The results are a technical estimate. Corner radii of hollow sections and the root fillets of IPE, HEA and HEB beams are not modelled, so catalogue kg/m values can differ slightly. For channels (UNP) and exact values, use the manufacturer's section tables.
How to use the results
The results are technical estimates. For a binding quote, material price, scrap, labour and your own shop rules also have to be taken into account.
Frequently asked questions
Which profile types are supported?
Square and rectangular hollow sections (SHS/RHS), doubly symmetric I/H beams (IPE, HEA, HEB type), solid square bar, round tube, angle (L-profile) and flat bar. Each mode shows a cross-section sketch and the matching input fields.
How is the weight of a rectangular hollow section calculated?
Enter the outside width and height and the wall thickness; the inner void is subtracted to get the ring area. Area × density gives kg/m, and kg/m × length gives the weight of one piece.
Which dimensions do I need for an angle?
The two leg lengths (L1, L2) and the thickness (t), assumed to be uniform. The cross-section area is then t × (L1 + L2 − t).
What do I enter for a solid square bar or a round tube?
For a solid square bar, the side length (a); for a round tube, the outside diameter and the wall thickness. The inside diameter is derived automatically.
Why does the IPE kg/m differ from the catalogue value?
The calculation ignores the root fillets and corner radii of rolled sections. The nominal-area result can therefore differ slightly from the kg/m in EN section tables.
Is the kg per metre value enough for a quote?
It is a useful technical estimate. A quote also needs the material price per kg, scrap and the cost of cutting and other operations.
Related calculators
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- Scrap rate calculatorLinear scrap in mm and as a percentage from bar stock length and the total length cut from it.
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