Stainless steel weight & density
Austenitic stainless steels such as 304 (1.4301) and 316 (1.4401) have a density around 7900–8000 kg/m³ — slightly heavier than carbon steel. The chart lists common stainless bars, tubes and sections by weight per metre and per foot at 7900 kg/m³; weigh any custom section in the tool below.
| Size | Shape | Area · mm² | Weight · kg/m | Weight · lb/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⌀10 round bar | Round Rod | 79 | 0.620 | 0.417 |
| ⌀16 round bar | Round Rod | 201 | 1.588 | 1.067 |
| ⌀25 round bar | Round Rod | 491 | 3.878 | 2.606 |
| 40×5 flat bar | Flat Bar | 200 | 1.580 | 1.062 |
| 50×10 flat bar | Flat Bar | 500 | 3.950 | 2.654 |
| L 40×40×4 | Angle | 304 | 2.402 | 1.614 |
| SHS 40×40×3 | Square Hollow | 444 | 3.508 | 2.357 |
| RHS 60×40×3 | Rectangular Hollow | 564 | 4.456 | 2.994 |
| ⌀33.7×2 tube | Round Tube | 199 | 1.573 | 1.057 |
| ⌀48.3×2 tube | Round Tube | 291 | 2.298 | 1.544 |
Computed from the exact section area × 7,900 kg/m³ (Stainless steel 304 / 1.4301, brushed). 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 193,000 MPa · Stainless steel 304 / 1.4301, brushed
| Area | A | 5472 | mm² |
| Mass / metre | m | 43.229(29.048 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 415% | |||
Derived exactly from the section polygon (Green’s theorem). Fillets excluded (<2% effect). Verify against certified data before release.
Density of 304 and 316 stainless
304/1.4301 is about 7900 kg/m³ and 316/1.4401 about 8000 kg/m³ — the molybdenum in 316 makes it marginally denser. Both are heavier than carbon steel's 7850. For weight take-offs, 7.9–8.0 g/cm³ is used depending on grade; this page computes at 7900 kg/m³.
Why stainless tube sizes look odd
Stainless handrail and process tube often comes in sizes like ⌀33.7, ⌀42.4 and ⌀48.3 mm — these are DN/NPS pipe outside diameters carried over into ornamental and pressure tube. The weight still follows area × density; a ⌀48.3×2 tube is about 2.28 kg/m in 304.
Comparing to carbon steel and aluminium
Swap the material in the tool: the same section is roughly 0.6% heavier in stainless than carbon steel, and about 2.9× heavier than in aluminium. If corrosion resistance lets you use a thinner wall, stainless can still come out competitive on installed weight.
FAQ
What is the density of 304 stainless steel?+
About 7900 kg/m³ (7.9 g/cm³, 0.285 lb/in³). Grade 316 is slightly higher at around 8000 kg/m³ due to its molybdenum content.
Is stainless steel heavier than mild steel?+
Marginally — austenitic stainless (7900–8000 kg/m³) is about 0.6–1.9% denser than carbon steel (7850 kg/m³). The difference is usually negligible for weight estimates.
How much does stainless steel tube weigh?+
A ⌀48.3×2 mm 304 tube is about 2.28 kg/m. Weight equals the wall cross-section area times 7900 kg/m³; use the tool for an exact figure on your size.