The calculation, without hidden assumptions
Estimate the material mass of a simple U-shaped straight sheet-metal cable tray. Enter the actual perforated/open-area percentage rather than relying on a hidden generic deduction; supplier kg/m remains the final purchasing truth for formed products.
How to use this calculator
Enter tray bottom width, side height and sheet thickness in mm or inches.
Choose steel/GI, aluminium or custom density. GI uses the steel-density geometry baseline; coating mass is not silently invented.
Enter 0% for solid-bottom tray or the documented open/perforated-area percentage for a perforated tray.
Enter straight piece length and physical quantity; optionally add procurement allowance and material rate.
Use supplier/catalogue kg/m for final purchasing, lifting and support design when bends, lips, returns, perforation geometry, coating or fittings matter.
Where people use it
- •Preliminary GI/MS perforated cable tray material takeoff.
- •Compare solid-bottom and perforated tray material mass.
- •Estimate straight-run logistics weight before supplier selection.
- •Reverse a handling target into whole equal-length tray pieces.
- •Reconcile an idealized geometry estimate against supplier kg/m.
Example: 300 × 50 × 1.6 mm steel tray, 20% perforated
Developed width is 400 mm. Solid sheet mass is 5.024 kg/m at 7,850 kg/m³; applying an entered 20% open area gives about 4.0192 kg/m. Ten 2.5 m straight pieces total about 100.48 kg before allowance.
What the result does not assume
- •The model is for a simple U-shaped straight sheet tray and does not model ladder tray rails/rungs or wire-mesh tray.
- •Perforation percentage is an explicit input because hole/slot patterns vary by manufacturer; do not guess it for final procurement.
- •Returns, lips, rolled edges, bends, tees, reducers, couplers, covers, splice plates, fasteners and supports are excluded.
- •GI/HDG coating mass, powder coating and manufacturing tolerances are not separately modelled.
- •Tray self-weight is not safe working load. Cable load, span, deflection and support design require manufacturer load tables and applicable engineering requirements.
- •Use certified manufacturer mass/load data for final lifting, structural support and installation decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cable tray weight per metre?+
For a simple sheet-metal U tray, calculate developed width as bottom width plus twice the side height, multiply by thickness and density, then apply the documented perforated/open-area fraction.
Does the calculator work for perforated cable tray?+
Yes, when you know a defensible perforated/open-area percentage. The deduction is visible and editable rather than assumed.
Can I use it for ladder cable tray?+
No. Ladder trays are built from side rails and rungs with their own profiles and spacing, so use manufacturer mass or a dedicated ladder geometry model.
Is GI density different from mild steel here?+
The steel/GI preset uses 7,850 kg/m³ for the steel substrate. Galvanizing mass varies with coating specification and is not silently added.
Why does supplier kg/m differ from the estimate?+
Real trays can include lips, returns, rolled edges, different hole patterns, coating and tolerances. The optional supplier field reports that variance.
Does tray weight tell me cable load capacity?+
No. Safe working load depends on tray construction, span, supports, material and tested/manufacturer data; self-weight alone cannot establish capacity.
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