Quiz: Pipe Weight Calculator

Take this quiz to test your intuition about pipe weight and linear density.

Shape

Material

First dimension (width, diameter or side)

First dimension (width, diameter or side) unit

Second dimension (thickness or wall)

Second dimension (thickness or wall) unit

Third dimension, if the shape needs it

Third dimension, if the shape needs it unit

Length

Length unit

Number of pieces

Price per pound

Clear

Weight190.699 lb86.5 kg of Carbon steel

Per piece190.6991 lb86.4997 kg

Weight per foot9.535 lb/ft14.1896 kg/m

Cross-sectional area2.80177 sq inπ/4 × (OD² − ID²)

Volume0.38913 cu ft11,019.07 cm³

Length each20 ft6.096 m

Density7,850 kg/m³490.06 lb/cu ft

In US tons0.09535

Inside diameter3.526 in4 in OD less two walls

Volume it holds10.145 US gallons38.403 litres

Weight full of water275.364 lb

The method

weight = cross-sectional area × length × density

Area first, then length

Every one of these is the same calculation: work out the cross-section, multiply by the length to get a volume, multiply by density to get a weight. What differs is only the geometry of the section.

For a pipe the section is the ring between the outside and inside diameters, π/4 × (OD² − ID²). Using the outside diameter alone treats the pipe as a solid bar and gives a wildly high answer, which is the usual mistake.

Densities are nominal. Steel varies a little with alloy, and rolled sections carry mill tolerances of a few per cent, so treat the figure as close rather than exact — for anything being lifted, use the mill certificate.