Steel pipe unit weight, whether in kilograms per meter (kg/m) or pounds per foot (lb/ft), plays a crucial role in purchase orders, ensuring precise material specifications.
Calculating steel pipe weight per foot or meter involves using a formula that considers the outer diameter, wall thickness, and specific gravity of the steel.
Referring to a steel pipe weight chart provides instant values for pipe weight based on standard sizes, simplifying planning and budgeting for pipeline projects.
Expressing steel pipe unit weight helps in scheduling pipe sizes, determining maximum pressure capacities, and estimating project costs accurately.
How to calculate steel pipe per foot or meter
There are two main methods to calculate the weight of steel pipe per foot or meter:
- Using the Steel Pipe Weight Formula: This method involves using a mathematical formula that incorporates the outer diameter, wall thickness, and specific gravity of the steel to calculate the weight per unit length (per foot or meter).
- Referring to a Steel Pipe Weight Chart: Alternatively, you can consult a steel pipe weight chart. This chart provides pre-calculated weights per foot or meter based on standard pipe sizes, wall thicknesses, and schedules (like SCH 40, SCH 80). It simplifies the process by offering ready-to-use weight values for different pipe dimensions and configurations.
How to calculate the weight of steel pipe by formulas
To calculate the weight of a steel pipe using the formula provided:
- Identify the parameters:
- D: Outside diameter of the pipe in millimeters (mm) or inches (in).
- t: Wall thickness of the pipe in millimeters (mm) or inches (in).
- C: Constant multiplier based on unit system:
- For SI units (kg/m): C = 0.02466
- For USC units (lb/ft): C = 10.69
- Apply the formula:
- For SI units (kg/m):
Weight per meter (kg/m)=t×(D−t)×0.02466\text{Weight per meter (kg/m)} = t \times (D – t) \times 0.02466Weight per meter (kg/m)=t×(D−t)×0.02466
Example calculation: - Given D = 168.3 mm, t = 7.11 mm,
- Weight per meter = 7.11 \times (168.3 – 7.11) \times 0.02466 = 28.26 kg/m
- For USC units (lb/ft):
Weight per foot (lb/ft)=t×(D−t)×10.69\text{Weight per foot (lb/ft)} = t \times (D – t) \times 10.69Weight per foot (lb/ft)=t×(D−t)×10.69
Example calculation: - Given D = 6 5/8 inch = 168.3 mm, t = 0.280 inch = 7.11 mm,
- Weight per foot = 0.280 \times (6.625 – 0.280) \times 10.69 = 18.99 lb/ft
- Usage:
- This formula is crucial for determining the weight of steel pipes needed in various applications, such as construction, pipelines, and manufacturing.
- Ensure to convert units correctly and use accurate dimensions to obtain precise weight calculations for steel pipes.
How to get pipe weight from steel pipe weight chart
To determine pipe weight per foot, refer to a steel pipe Dimensions and Weight chart, which provides data on nominal diameters, wall thickness, Schedule (SCH) Class, and corresponding weights in pounds per foot (lb/ft) or kilograms per meter (kg/m). This chart is crucial for accurate pipeline planning and construction.
Steel pipe wall thickness description
The wall thickness of API 5L line pipes is described using various methods, primarily through the pipe schedule number (Sch), steel pipe wall thickness in millimeters (mm), and the corresponding pipe weight in kilograms per meter (kg/m) or pounds per foot (lb/ft).
- Pipe Schedule Number (Sch):
- The schedule number indicates the wall thickness of the pipe relative to its nominal size.
- Higher schedule numbers denote thicker walls and vice versa. For example, SCH 40 is thinner than SCH 80 for the same nominal size.
- Steel Pipe Wall Thickness in mm:
- This measurement directly specifies the thickness of the pipe’s wall in millimeters.
- Pipe Weight kg/m or lb/ft:
- Pipe weight indicates the mass of the pipe per unit length, either in kilograms per meter (kg/m) or pounds per foot (lb/ft).
- It correlates with the wall thickness and diameter of the pipe.
According to pipe weight, the pipe wall thickness is generally applied for three types:
Use the information from the chart to find the corresponding weight per foot (lb/ft) or per meter (kg/m) for the specific pipe dimensions and schedule.
The chart will typically list weights for various schedules (SCH) such as SCH 40, SCH 80, and others, as well as for different pipe classes like STD (standard), XS (extra strong), and XXS (double extra strong).
Tolerances for pipe wall thickness
Wall thickness
|
Tolerances
|
t
|
|
mm (in)
|
mm (in)
|
SMLS pipe
|
|
≤ 4.0 (0.157)
|
+0.6 (0.024)
|
-0.5 (0.020)
|
|
> 4.0 (0.157) to < 25.0 (0.0984)
|
+0.150t
|
-0.125t
|
|
≥ 25.0 (0.0984)
|
+3.7 (0.146) or + 0.1t, whichever is the greater
|
-3.0 (0.120) or -0.1 t, whichever is the greater
|
|
Welded pipe
|
|
≤ 5.0 (0.197)
|
± 0.5 (0.020)
|
> 5.0 (0.197) to < 15.0 (0.591)
|
± 0.1 t
|
≥ 15.0 (0.591)
|
± 1.5 (0.060)
|
Tolerances for pipe diameter
Specified outside diameterDmm (in)
|
Diameter tolerance
|
|||
mm (in)
|
||||
Pipe except the end
|
Pipe end
|
|||
SMLS pipe
|
Welded pipe
|
SMLS pipe
|
Welded pipe
|
|
< 60.3 (2.375)
|
-0.8 (0.031) to + 0.4 (0.016)
|
-0.4 (0.016) to + 1.6 (0.063)
|
||
≥60.3 (2.375) to ≤168.3 (6.625) |
± 0.007 5 D
|
|||
>168.3 (6.625) to ≤ 610 (24.000) |
± 0.007 5 D
|
± 0.0075 D, but maximum of ±3.2 (0.125)
|
±0.005 D,but maximum of ± 1.6 (0.063) |
|
> 610 (24.000) to ≤ 1422 (56.000) |
± 0.01 D
|
± 0.005 D, but maximum of ±4.0 (0.160) |
± 2.
0 (0.079)
|
±1.6 (0.063)
|
> 1422 (56.000)
|
as agreed
|
Common unit conversion table applied in steel line pipe description
Conversion of units
|
|
1 ft
|
0.3048 m
|
1 in
|
25.4 mm
|
1 lb
|
0.45359237 kg
|
Steel pipe dimensions and weight chart
NPS
|
Outside Diameter
|
Wall Thickness
|
Weight
|
Weight
|
|||
in
|
mm
|
in
|
mm
|
Sched
|
kg/Mtr
|
Lb/ft
|
|
1/2″
|
0.840
|
21
|
0.109
|
2.769
|
40 STD
|
1.268
|
0.851
|
0.147
|
3.734
|
80 STD
|
1.621
|
1.088
|
|||
3/4″
|
1.050
|
27
|
0.113
|
2.870
|
40 STD
|
1.684
|
1.131
|
0.154
|
3.912
|
80 STD
|
2.195
|
1.474
|
|||
1″
|
1.315
|
33
|
0.133
|
3.378
|
40 STD
|
2.501
|
1.679
|
0.179
|
4.547
|
80 STD
|
3.325
|
2.172
|
|||
1 1/4″
|
1.660
|
42
|
0.140
|
3.556
|
40 STD
|
3.385
|
2.273
|
0.191
|
4.851
|
80 STD
|
4.464
|
2.997
|
|||
1 1/2″
|
1.900
|
48
|
0.145
|
3.683
|
40 STD
|
4.048
|
2.718
|
0.200
|
5.080
|
80 STD
|
5.409
|
3.361
|
|||
2″
|
2.375
|
60
|
0.154
|
3.912
|
40 STD
|
5.441
|
3.653
|
0.218
|
5.537
|
80 STD
|
7.480
|
5.022
|
|||
2 1/2″
|
2.875
|
73
|
0.203
|
5.516
|
40 STD
|
8.629
|
5.793
|
0.276
|
7.010
|
80 STD
|
11.411
|
7.661
|
|||
3″
|
3.500
|
89
|
0.216
|
5.486
|
40 STD
|
11.284
|
7.576
|
0.300
|
7.620
|
80 STD
|
15.272
|
10.253
|
|||
4″
|
4.500
|
114
|
0.237
|
6.020
|
16.073
|
10.790
|
|
0.337
|
8.560
|
22.318
|
14.983
|
||||
6″
|
6.625
|
168
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
19.252
|
12.924
|
|
0.203
|
5.516
|
20.739
|
13.923
|
||||
0.219
|
5.563
|
22.318
|
14.983
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
25.354
|
17.021
|
||||
0.280
|
7.112
|
40 STD
|
58.263
|
18.974
|
|||
0.312
|
7.925
|
31.334
|
21.036
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
37.285
|
25.031
|
||||
0.432
|
10.973
|
80 XHY
|
42.561
|
28.573
|
|||
0.500
|
12.700
|
48.719
|
32.708
|
||||
8″
|
8.625
|
219
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
25.233
|
16.940
|
|
0.203
|
5.156
|
27.198
|
18.259
|
||||
0.219
|
5.563
|
29.286
|
19.661
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
20
|
33.308
|
22.361
|
|||
0.277
|
7.036
|
30
|
36.786
|
24.696
|
|||
0.322
|
8.179
|
40
|
42.352
|
28.554
|
|||
0.375
|
9.525
|
49.216
|
33.041
|
||||
0.406
|
10.312
|
60
|
53.085
|
35.638
|
|||
0.500
|
12.700
|
80 XHY
|
64.627
|
43.388
|
|||
10″
|
10.750
|
273
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
31.588
|
21.207
|
|
0.219
|
5.563
|
36.689
|
24.631
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
20
|
41.759
|
28.035
|
|||
0.307
|
7.798
|
30
|
51.002
|
34.240
|
|||
0.344
|
8.738
|
56.946
|
38.231
|
||||
0.365
|
9.271
|
40 STD
|
63.301
|
40.483
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
71.852
|
48.238
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
60 XHY
|
81.530
|
54.735
|
|||
0.594
|
15.088
|
80
|
95.969
|
64.429
|
|||
12″
|
12.750
|
324
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
37.570
|
25.222
|
|
0.219
|
5.563
|
43.657
|
29.309
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
49.713
|
33.375
|
||||
0.281
|
7.137
|
55.739
|
37.420
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
61.735
|
41.445
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
73.824
|
49.562
|
||||
0.406
|
10.312
|
79.727
|
53.525
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
97.438
|
65.415
|
||||
0.562
|
14.275
|
108.966
|
73.154
|
||||
14″
|
14.000
|
356
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
41.308
|
27.732
|
|
0.219
|
5.563
|
48.012
|
32.233
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
20
|
54.685
|
36.713
|
|||
0.281
|
7.137
|
61.327
|
41.172
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
67.939
|
45.611
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
81.281
|
54.568
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
40
|
94.498
|
63.441
|
|||
0.500
|
12.700
|
XHY
|
107.381
|
72.090
|
|||
0.625 |
15.875
|
132.983
|
89.278
|
||||
16”
|
16.000
|
406
|
0.188
|
4.775
|
47.290
|
21.748
|
|
0.219
|
5.563
|
54.980
|
36.910
|
||||
0.250
|
6.350
|
10
|
62.639
|
42.053
|
|||
0.281
|
7.137
|
70.268
|
47.174
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
20
|
77.866
|
52.275
|
|||
0.344
|
8.738
|
85.677
|
57.519
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
30 STD |
93.213
|
62.578
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
108.433
|
72.797
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
40 XHY |
123.289
|
82.770
|
|||
18″
|
18.000
|
457
|
0.219
|
5.563
|
61.948
|
41.588
|
|
0.250
|
6.350
|
70.593
|
47.393
|
||||
0.281
|
7.137
|
79.208
|
53.176
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
20
|
87.792
|
58.939
|
|||
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
105.144
|
70.588
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
30
|
122.369
|
82.152
|
|||
0.500
|
12.700
|
XHY
|
139.198
|
93.450
|
|||
0.562
|
14.275
|
40
|
155.904
|
104.666
|
|||
0.625
|
15.875
|
172.754
|
115.978
|
||||
20″
|
20.000
|
508
|
0.250
|
6.350
|
78.547
|
52.733
|
|
0.282
|
7.163
|
88.458
|
59.386
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
97.719
|
65.604
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
20 STD
|
117.075
|
78.598
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
136.305
|
91.508
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
30 XHY
|
155.106
|
104.130
|
|||
0.594
|
15.088
|
40
|
183.378
|
123.110
|
|||
0.625
|
15.875
|
192.640
|
129.328
|
||||
0.688
|
17.475
|
211.368
|
141.901
|
||||
24″
|
24.000
|
610
|
0.250
|
6.350
|
94.456
|
63.413
|
|
0.281
|
7.137
|
106.029
|
71.183
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
117.573
|
18.932
|
||||
0.375
|
9.525
|
20 STD
|
140.938
|
64.618
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
164.176
|
110.219
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
XHY
|
186.923
|
125.490
|
|||
0.625
|
15.875
|
232.410
|
156.028
|
||||
0.688
|
17.475
|
40
|
255.148
|
171.293
|
|||
0.750
|
19.050
|
277.401
|
186.233
|
||||
30″
|
30.000
|
762
|
0.250
|
6.350
|
118.318
|
79.433
|
|
0.281
|
7.137
|
132.851
|
89.189
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
10
|
147.353
|
98.925
|
|||
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
176.731
|
118.648
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
205.983
|
138.286
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
20 XHY
|
234.647
|
157.530
|
|||
0.625
|
15.875
|
30
|
292.066
|
196.078
|
|||
0.688
|
17.475
|
320.817
|
215.380
|
||||
0.750
|
19.050
|
348.988
|
234.293
|
||||
36″
|
36.000
|
914
|
0.250
|
6.350
|
142.180
|
95.453
|
|
0.281
|
7.137
|
159.672
|
107.196
|
||||
0.312
|
7.925
|
10
|
177.133
|
118.918
|
|||
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
215.525
|
142.678
|
|||
0.438
|
11.125
|
247.790
|
166.353
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
20 XHY
|
282.372
|
198.570
|
|||
0.625
|
15.875
|
351.723
|
236.128
|
||||
0.688 |
17.475
|
386.487
|
259.467
|
||||
0.750 |
19.050
|
420.576
|
282.353
|
||||
42″
|
42.000
|
1067
|
0.312
|
7.925
|
206.914
|
138.911
|
|
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
248.319
|
166.708
|
|||
0.500
|
12.700
|
XHY
|
33.097
|
221.610
|
|||
0.750
|
19.050
|
492.163
|
330.413
|
||||
48″
|
48.000
|
1219
|
0.375
|
9.525
|
STD
|
284.112
|
190.738
|
0.438
|
11.125
|
331.404
|
222.487
|
||||
0.500
|
12.700
|
XHY
|
377.822
|
253.650
|
|||
0.750
|
19.050
|
563.750
|
378.473
|
||||
0.875
|
22.225
|
655.969
|
440.383
|
FAQs
What is the weight of a steel pipe?
The weight of a steel pipe can be calculated using the formula: weight = π × [(diameter/2)² – (diameter/2 – thickness)²] × length × density of steel. Depending on the type of steel, such as mild steel, carbon steel, or stainless steel, the density varies, affecting the total weight calculation accordingly.
What is the weight of a pipe in kg?
The weight of a seamless steel pipe per meter can be calculated using the formula: W=0.02466×S×(D−S)W = 0.02466 \times S \times (D – S)W=0.02466×S×(D−S), where DDD is the outer diameter in millimeters, SSS is the wall thickness in millimeters, and WWW is the weight per meter in kilograms.
For example, for a seamless steel pipe with an outer diameter D=60D = 60D=60 mm and a wall thickness S=4S = 4S=4 mm: W=0.02466×4×(60−4)=5.52 kg/mW = 0.02466 \times 4 \times (60 – 4) = 5.52 \text{ kg/m}W=0.02466×4×(60−4)=5.52 kg/m
Therefore, the weight of this pipe would be approximately 5.52 kilograms per meter.
How to calculate the weight of steel?
To calculate the weight of a steel bar, use the formula: W=D2×L162W = \frac{D^2 \times L}{162}W=162D2×L, where DDD is the diameter in millimeters and LLL is the length in meters.