SHS weight calculator
Find the weight of a square hollow section (SHS) in kg/m or lb/ft. Enter the size and wall thickness — or pick a standard SHS — and Dimviz computes the exact wall area (including corner radii) and multiplies by density for weight per length. Steel at 7.85 g/cm³ by default, or switch to stainless, aluminium or FRP. The area comes from the real section, so the weight is exact, not read off a table.
DXF (LWPOLYLINE/CIRCLE) · CSV/XLSX with X,Y columns (blank row = new loop). DWG → export as DXF first.
EL 23,000 MPa · Pultruded FRP (E-glass / polyester)
| Area | A | 2256 | mm² |
| Mass / metre | m | 4.286(2.880 lb/ft) | kg/m |
| 2nd moment | Ix | 3.336e+6 | mm⁴ |
| 2nd moment | Iy | 3.336e+6 | mm⁴ |
| Section mod. | Sx | 66717 | mm³ |
| Section mod. | Sy | 66717 | mm³ |
| Gyration | rx | 38.45 | mm |
| Gyration | ry | 38.45 | mm |
| Torsion | J | 4.984e+6 | mm⁴ |
Derived exactly from the section polygon (Green’s theorem). Fillets excluded (<2% effect). Verify against certified data before release.
How SHS weight per length is calculated
Weight per length = wall area × density. For a square hollow section of side a and thickness t, the wall area is close to 4·t·(a − t); Dimviz refines this with the true rounded-corner geometry. A 100×100×6 SHS in steel (7.85 g/cm³) is computed from its real area, then reported in kg/m and lb/ft.
Standard sizes and custom walls
Choose a standard SHS, adjust the wall thickness, or import a DXF of your own section. The weight tracks the geometry, so a thickness change updates instantly. Switch material to reweigh the identical section as stainless, aluminium or FRP for a like-for-like comparison.
FAQ
How do you calculate the weight of SHS?+
Weight per metre = wall area × density. Wall area ≈ 4·t·(a − t) for side a and thickness t; Dimviz computes it exactly (with corner radii) and multiplies by 7850 kg/m³ for steel, giving kg/m and lb/ft.
What's the difference between SHS and RHS?+
SHS is a square hollow section (equal sides); RHS is rectangular (different depth and width). Both are computed the same way — wall area × density.
Can it do aluminium or stainless SHS?+
Yes — switch the material and the same section is reweighed at aluminium 2.7, stainless 7.9 or FRP 1.9 g/cm³.