TAHA Engineering Toolsby TAHA Knowledge Lab

Material Weight

Structural Steel Section Weight Calculator

One calculator for 10 profiles: I- and H-beams, channels, tees, equal and unequal angles, and round, square, rectangular and flat bars.

Inputs

Ten small cross-sections in two rows: I-beam, H-beam, C-channel, T-section, equal angle; unequal angle, round bar, square bar, rectangular bar and flat bar, each labelled with its dimension letters.I-beamh b tw tf rH-beamh b tw tf rC-channelh b tw tf r r₂T-sectionh b tw tf rEqual anglea t r₁ r₂Unequal anglea b t r₁ r₂Round bardSquare bara (corner r)Rectangular barw h (corner r)Flat barw t
The ten profiles and the dimensions each one needs. Rolled sections also take a root radius (r, r₁) and, where it applies, a toe radius (r₂). Diagram not to scale.

Density used: 7,850 kg/m³ — nominal value used in steel section mass tables, e.g. EN 10210-2 and EN 10219-2 (7.85 kg/dm³).

Fillet where the web meets the flange (product table). 0 = sharp corners, e.g. welded from plates.

Result

Theoretical weight per metre
22.36
Weight per piece
134.16
Total weight
134.16
Cross-section area
28.4841
Density used
7,850
Working
Profile: I-beam Flanges 2 × b × tf = 1,700 mm² Web (h − 2tf) × tw = 1,024.8 mm² Root fillets (4 − π) × r² = 123.611 mm² Area A = 2,848.41 mm² Weight per metre = A × ρ = 0.00284841 m² × 7,850 kg/m³ = 22.36 kg/m

This profile weighs about 22.36 kg/m (theoretical). One 6 m piece weighs 134.16 kg, and the total is 134.16 kg.

Educational estimate — check the assumptions below.

About this calculator

This calculator works out the theoretical weight of the common structural steel profiles and solid bars from their dimensions: cross-section area × density × length. Choose the profile and enter the dimensions from the drawing, the product table or your own measurement.

For rolled sections it includes the root radius (the fillet where web and flange meet) and, where it applies, the toe radius (rounded tips), so the result matches published section tables. It complements the separate calculators for each shape, which stay available.

Formula

m′ = A × ρ    m = m′ × L    total = m × quantity

Cross-section areas (each root fillet adds (1 − π/4) r²; each rounded tip or corner removes (1 − π/4) r²):

  • I- and H-beam: A = 2 b tf + (h − 2tf) tw + (4 − π) r²
  • C-channel: A = h tw + 2 (b − tw) tf + 2 (1 − π/4)(r² − r₂²)
  • T-section: A = b tf + (h − tf) tw + 2 (1 − π/4) r²
  • Equal angle: A = t (2a − t) + (1 − π/4)(r₁² − 2 r₂²); unequal angle: A = t (a + b − t) + (1 − π/4)(r₁² − 2 r₂²)
  • Round bar: A = π d² ÷ 4
  • Square bar: A = a² − (4 − π) rc²; rectangular bar: A = w h − (4 − π) rc²
  • Flat bar: A = w t

Worked example

Steel at 7850 kg/m³ (all dimensions in mm):

  • I-beam 200 × 100 × 5.6 × 8.5, r 12: A = 2848.4 mm² → 22.36 kg/m
  • H-beam 200 × 200 × 9 × 15, r 18: A = 7808.1 mm² → 61.29 kg/m
  • C-channel 200 × 80 × 6 × 11, r 13: A = 2900.5 mm² → 22.77 kg/m
  • T-section 120 × 100, stem 8, flange 10, r 10: A = 1922.9 mm² → 15.09 kg/m
  • Equal angle 50 × 50 × 5, r₁ 7, r₂ 3.5: A = 480.3 mm² → 3.770 kg/m
  • Unequal angle 100 × 50 × 8, r₁ 8, r₂ 4: A = 1142.9 mm² → 8.972 kg/m
  • Round bar d 20: A = 314.16 mm² → 2.466 kg/m
  • Square bar 20, sharp corners: A = 400 mm² → 3.140 kg/m; with rc 2: 396.57 mm² → 3.113 kg/m
  • Rectangular bar 60 × 40: A = 2400 mm² → 18.84 kg/m; with rc 5: 2378.5 mm² → 18.67 kg/m
  • Flat bar 50 × 10: A = 500 mm² → 3.925 kg/m (0.3925 kg/m per mm of thickness)

Assumptions and limitations

  • Theoretical (geometric) weight = area × density. Published section masses are nominal values; real bars differ within the rolling tolerances of the product standard.
  • Beams and channels with parallel flanges only. Tapered-flange sections (IPN, UPN, S- and C-shapes) are not covered in this version.
  • Outside corners where flange and web meet are sharp. Every radius defaults as shown; enter 0 for sharp corners.
  • Rectangular bar and flat bar have the same basic area (w × h or w × t). Flat bar is for thin strip: its thickness must not exceed its width, and its edges are taken as sharp. Rectangular bar allows rounded corners.
  • No standard section list is built in: enter the dimensions from the manufacturer’s table or the product standard.

References

  • EN 10365 — Hot rolled steel channels, I and H sections: dimensions and masses.
  • EN 10056-1 — Structural steel equal and unequal leg angles: dimensions.
  • EN 10060, EN 10059 and EN 10058 — Hot rolled round, square and flat steel bars: dimensions.