Copper weight & density
Copper (C11000 / Cu-ETP) has a density of about 8940 kg/m³ (0.323 lb/in³) — the heaviest of the common engineering metals here. The chart lists busbar flats, rods and tubes by weight per metre and per foot; weigh any copper section from its geometry in the tool below.
| Size | Shape | Area · mm² | Weight · kg/m | Weight · lb/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20×3 busbar | Flat Bar | 60 | 0.536 | 0.360 |
| 30×5 busbar | Flat Bar | 150 | 1.341 | 0.901 |
| 50×10 busbar | Flat Bar | 500 | 4.470 | 3.004 |
| 100×10 busbar | Flat Bar | 1,000 | 8.940 | 6.007 |
| ⌀10 round bar | Round Rod | 79 | 0.702 | 0.472 |
| ⌀20 round bar | Round Rod | 314 | 2.809 | 1.887 |
| ⌀22×1 tube | Round Tube | 66 | 0.590 | 0.396 |
| ⌀28×1.5 tube | Round Tube | 125 | 1.116 | 0.750 |
Computed from the exact section area × 8,940 kg/m³ (Copper C11000 / Cu-ETP (busbar grade)). Fillets excluded (<2%). Verify against certified data before release.
DXF (LWPOLYLINE/CIRCLE) · CSV/XLSX with X,Y columns (blank row = new loop). DWG → export as DXF first.
EL 117,000 MPa · Copper C11000 / Cu-ETP (busbar grade)
| Area | A | 5472 | mm² |
| Mass / metre | m | 48.920(32.873 lb/ft) | kg/m |
| 2nd moment | Ix | 4.754e+7 | mm⁴ |
| 2nd moment | Iy | 3.487e+6 | mm⁴ |
| Section mod. | Sx | 396173 | mm³ |
| Section mod. | Sy | 58118 | mm³ |
| Gyration | rx | 93.21 | mm |
| Gyration | ry | 25.24 | mm |
| Torsion | J | 262656 | mm⁴ |
| Published catalogue weight: 8.40 kg/m · computed Δ 482% | |||
Derived exactly from the section polygon (Green’s theorem). Fillets excluded (<2% effect). Verify against certified data before release.
The density of copper
Electrolytic tough-pitch copper (C11000) is 8940 kg/m³ — 8.94 g/cm³, or 0.323 lb/in³. That is about 14% heavier than steel and more than three times aluminium. The high density is inseparable from the high conductivity that makes copper the default busbar and winding material.
Busbar weight and ampacity
Busbars are specified by cross-section for current capacity, and the weight follows directly: a 50×10 mm copper bar is about 4.47 kg/m. Because ampacity scales with area and weight scales with area, copper's weight-per-amp is fixed by its density — a real driver of support and shipping cost in switchgear.
Copper vs aluminium busbar
Aluminium busbar carries about 60% of copper's current for the same area but weighs a third as much, so aluminium is often chosen where weight and cost matter and space allows a larger bar. Compare a copper and an aluminium bar of the same size in the tool to see the weight gap instantly.
FAQ
What is the density of copper?+
About 8940 kg/m³ (8.94 g/cm³, 0.323 lb/in³) for C11000 electrolytic copper — heavier than steel and over three times aluminium.
How much does a copper busbar weigh?+
A 50×10 mm copper busbar is about 4.47 kg/m (3.00 lb/ft): area 500 mm² × 8940 kg/m³. Use the tool for any bar size.
Is copper heavier than steel?+
Yes — copper (8940 kg/m³) is about 14% denser than structural steel (7850 kg/m³) for the same section.