This steel tubing weight calculator gives the weight per foot and total weight of square, rectangular and round steel tube. Enter the outside size and wall thickness in inches or millimeters, or pick a common gauge, then add the length and number of pieces.
Steel Tubing Weight Formulas
Steel weighs about 490 lb/ft³, or 3.4028 lb per foot for each square inch of cross-section. With outside dimensions and wall thickness t in inches:
Round tube (lb/ft) = 10.69 × (OD − t) × t
Square or rectangular tube (lb/ft) = 3.4028 × [2t × (H + B − 2t) − 0.858 × 3t²]
The second term in the rectangular formula accounts for rounded corners, taken as an outside radius of 2t, the ASTM A500 assumption. Checked against AISC: HSS6x6x1/4 works out to 19.02 lb/ft with the nominal wall, and AISC lists 19.02 lb/ft. Example: 2 x 2 in tube with an 11 gauge (0.120 in) wall weighs 2.94 lb/ft, so a 20 ft stick weighs about 59 lb.
Square Steel Tubing Weight Per Foot Chart
Calculated weight in lb/ft for common square tube sizes and walls:
| Size | 16 ga (lb/ft) | 14 ga (lb/ft) | 11 ga (lb/ft) | 3/16 in (lb/ft) | 1/4 in (lb/ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.79 | 0.98 | 1.31 | 1.77 | – |
| 1-1/4 in | 1.01 | 1.26 | 1.72 | 2.40 | 2.86 |
| 1-1/2 in | 1.23 | 1.54 | 2.13 | 3.04 | 3.71 |
| 2 in | 1.67 | 2.11 | 2.94 | 4.32 | 5.41 |
| 2-1/2 in | 2.12 | 2.67 | 3.76 | 5.59 | 7.11 |
| 3 in | 2.56 | 3.24 | 4.58 | 6.87 | 8.81 |
| 4 in | 3.44 | 4.36 | 6.21 | 9.42 | 12.21 |
Round Steel Tubing Weight Per Foot Chart
Calculated weight in lb/ft by outside diameter and wall:
| Size | 16 ga (lb/ft) | 14 ga (lb/ft) | 11 ga (lb/ft) | 3/16 in (lb/ft) | 1/4 in (lb/ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.65 | 0.81 | 1.13 | 1.63 | – |
| 1-1/4 in | 0.82 | 1.04 | 1.45 | 2.13 | 2.67 |
| 1-1/2 in | 1.00 | 1.26 | 1.77 | 2.63 | 3.34 |
| 2 in | 1.34 | 1.70 | 2.41 | 3.63 | 4.68 |
| 2-1/2 in | 1.69 | 2.14 | 3.05 | 4.64 | 6.01 |
| 3 in | 2.04 | 2.59 | 3.69 | 5.64 | 7.35 |
| 4 in | 2.73 | 3.48 | 4.98 | 7.64 | 10.02 |
For AISC structural sizes with tabulated weights and properties, see the HSS and square tube sizes chart and the round steel tube sizes chart.
Steel Tubing Weight FAQ
How much does rectangular steel tubing weigh?
It depends on the size and wall. A 4 x 2 in tube with a 1/8 in wall weighs about 4.75 lb/ft, and with a 1/4 in wall about 8.81 lb/ft. Enter any size in the calculator above.
What wall thickness is 11 gauge or 14 gauge tubing?
For steel tube, 11 gauge is 0.120 in, 13 gauge is 0.095 in, 14 gauge is 0.083 in, 16 gauge is 0.065 in and 18 gauge is 0.049 in.
Why does my supplier’s weight differ slightly?
Mill tolerances on wall thickness and corner radius change the weight by a few percent. Light-gauge mechanical tube often has tighter corners than structural HSS, which makes it slightly heavier than the formula gives.
Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0, consistent with the AISC Steel Construction Manual, 16th Edition. Last updated: September 2026. Reference information only, not engineering advice. Disclaimer.