Metal Density Chart & Reference Table
Density of 14 engineering metals in kg/m³ and g/cm³ — with relative comparison to MS
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | Density (g/cm³) | Relative to MS | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild Steel (IS 2062) | 7,850 | 7.85 | 1.00× | IS 2062 / BIS reference density 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Stainless Steel 304 | 7,930 | 7.93 | 1.01× | ASM 7.93 g/cm³; trade mein 8.0 bhi use hota hai |
| Stainless Steel 316 | 8,000 | 8.00 | 1.02× | ASM 8.00 g/cm³ |
| Aluminium 6061 | 2,700 | 2.70 | 0.34× | ASM 2.70 g/cm³ (pehle 2710 tha — dono practically same) |
| Copper | 8,940 | 8.94 | 1.14× | ETP copper C11000 ≈ 8.89–8.94; pure Cu 8.96 |
| Brass | 8,500 | 8.50 | 1.08× | Grade par depend: 8.4–8.73 (C36000 ≈ 8.50) |
| Cast Iron | 7,200 | 7.20 | 0.92× | Grey CI 6.95–7.35 range; rate approximate |
| Carbon Steel | 7,850 | 7.85 | 1.00× | Consistency ke liye 7850 (pehle 7840) |
| Titanium Grade 2 | 4,510 | 4.51 | 0.57× | ASTM B265 Gr 2: 4.51 g/cm³ |
| Zinc | 7,130 | 7.13 | 0.91× | — |
| Lead | 11,340 | 11.34 | 1.44× | — |
| Nickel 200 | 8,890 | 8.89 | 1.13× | Special Metals datasheet 8.89 (pehle 8900) |
| GI (Galvanized Iron) | 7,850 | 7.85 | 1.00× | Base steel density. Zinc coating ~1–3% (pipes), thin sheets mein zyada |
| EN8 Carbon Steel | 7,850 | 7.85 | 1.00× | — |
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Understanding Metal Density
Density is the mass per unit volume of a material, expressed in kg/m³ or g/cm³. It is the fundamental value required for all theoretical weight calculations — every calculator on this site uses the density value from this table to convert volume into weight.
Mild Steel at 7,850 kg/m³ is the most commonly referenced density in Indian fabrication and construction. The popular shortcut constant 0.00785 used in MS weight formulas is simply this density divided by 1,000,000 — making it possible to enter dimensions in mm and get weight directly in kg.
Values are typical densities (ASM / manufacturer datasheets); the exact figure varies slightly with alloy and condition, which is why different charts show small differences (e.g. SS 304 is quoted as 7,900–8,000).
The "Relative to MS" column shows how each material compares to Mild Steel by weight. A value of 0.34× (Aluminium) means an identical part in aluminium will weigh just 34% of its MS equivalent. A value of 1.14× (Copper) means the same part in copper will weigh 14% more than MS.
Density Comparison by Material Group
Steel Family (7,850–8,000 kg/m³)
Mild Steel (IS 2062), Carbon Steel, EN8 Carbon Steel, and GI (Galvanized Iron) all share nearly the same density — 7,850 kg/m³ is used for calculations. Galvanizing adds a thin zinc layer that increases weight slightly (roughly 1–3% for IS 1239 pipes, more for thin sheets) without changing the base-steel density. Cast Iron is slightly lighter at 7,200 kg/m³ due to the graphite flakes in its microstructure. Stainless Steel 304 (7,930 kg/m³) and SS 316 (8,000 kg/m³) are 1–2% denser than MS due to their chromium and nickel content.
Light Metals (2,700–4,510 kg/m³)
Aluminium 6061 at 2,700 kg/m³ is roughly one-third the density of steel — the primary reason it is used in aerospace, automotive, and weight-sensitive applications. Titanium Grade 2 at 4,510 kg/m³ sits between aluminium and steel — it offers strength comparable to mild steel at about 57% of the weight, making it valuable in high-performance engineering and medical implants.
Heavy Metals (7,130–11,340 kg/m³)
Copper (8,940 kg/m³), Brass (8,500 kg/m³), and Nickel 200 (8,890 kg/m³) are all significantly denser than steel. Copper is primarily used for electrical conductors (bus bars, cables, windings) where weight is secondary to conductivity. Lead at 11,340 kg/m³ is the densest metal in this table — used for radiation shielding, counterweights, and battery plates. Zinc (7,130 kg/m³) is slightly lighter than steel and is mainly used as a coating (galvanization) rather than as a structural material.
How to Use Density in Weight Calculations
The universal weight formula for any metal product is: Weight (kg) = Volume (m³) × Density (kg/m³). The challenge is calculating the volume correctly for different shapes:
- Plate / Flat Bar: Volume = Width × Thickness × Length
- Round Bar: Volume = π/4 × D² × Length
- Pipe / Tube: Volume = π/4 × (OD² − ID²) × Length
- Circle Plate: Volume = π/4 × D² × Thickness
- Square Bar: Volume = Side² × Length
- Hollow Section (RHS/SHS): Volume = [W×H − (W−2t)(H−2t)] × Length (sharp corners; real tubes with rounded corners are 2–4% lighter)
Once you have the volume in m³, multiply by the density from the table above to get the weight in kg. All our calculators perform this conversion automatically — select the material and enter dimensions in mm.
Unit Conversion Reference
To convert between density units: 1 g/cm³ = 1,000 kg/m³. To convert to lb/ft³ (imperial), multiply kg/m³ by 0.06243. For example, Mild Steel: 7,850 kg/m³ = 7.85 g/cm³ = 490 lb/ft³.