Density of steel
7850 kg/m³ · 7.85 g/cm³ · 490 lb/ft³
Carbon and low-alloy steels are taken as 7850 kg/m³ for weight and load calculations. Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-1-1, clause 3.2.6) gives this value for structural steel, and mill catalogues use the same figure for nominal weights.
Density of steel in different units
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| kg/m³ | 7,850 |
| g/cm³ | 7.85 |
| kg/dm³ | 7.85 |
| t/m³ | 7.85 |
| lb/ft³ | 490.1 |
| lb/in³ | 0.2836 |
| kg/cm³ | 0.00785 |
Density of other metals
| Material | kg/m³ | g/cm³ | lb/ft³ | Weight vs steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel / mild steel | 7850 | 7.85 | 490.1 | 100% |
| Stainless steel 304 | 7930 | 7.93 | 495.1 | 101% |
| Stainless steel 316 | 7980 | 7.98 | 498.2 | 102% |
| Aluminum (6061) | 2700 | 2.70 | 168.6 | 34% |
| Copper | 8960 | 8.96 | 559.4 | 114% |
| Brass | 8500 | 8.50 | 530.6 | 108% |
| Bronze | 8800 | 8.80 | 549.4 | 112% |
| Cast iron | 7200 | 7.20 | 449.5 | 92% |
| Titanium | 4510 | 4.51 | 281.6 | 57% |
| Zinc | 7140 | 7.14 | 445.7 | 91% |
| Lead | 11340 | 11.34 | 707.9 | 144% |
Nominal values for weight estimates. Alloys vary: stainless steels range from about 7700 (ferritic) to 8000 kg/m³ (austenitic), and cast irons from about 6800 to 7400 kg/m³.
Using density to get weight
Weight = volume × density. A 1 m × 1 m × 10 mm plate has a volume of 0.01 m³, so it weighs 0.01 × 7850 = 78.5 kg. For bars, pipes and sections, multiply the cross-sectional area by the length first; the steel weight formula page has the area of every shape, and the calculator does the arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the density of steel?
7850 kg/m³, which is 7.85 g/cm³, 490 lb/ft³ or 0.2836 lb/in³. This value is used for carbon and low-alloy structural steel in design codes and mill catalogues.
Is stainless steel denser than carbon steel?
Slightly. Austenitic grades such as 304 and 316 are about 7930 to 8000 kg/m³, 1 to 2 % more than carbon steel. Ferritic grades such as 430 are about 7700 kg/m³.
Does the density of steel change with grade?
Very little between carbon and low-alloy grades. A36, S275, S355, A992 and IS 2062 grades are all calculated at 7850 kg/m³.