The calculation, without hidden assumptions
Estimate the mass of conductive copper itself from metal cross-section, length and density. The result deliberately does not pretend that bare copper mass equals finished insulated cable weight.
How to use this calculator
Choose conductive-area mode when the conductor cross-section in mm² is known; use diameter mode for bare round wire.
Enter the physical length of one conductor and the actual number of conductors. No hidden return conductor is added.
Copper defaults to 8,960 kg/m³; change density only when you have a documented material value.
Optionally add procurement allowance, rate/kg, target mass or a manufacturer kg/km value.
For finished cable tray, reel, freight or lifting mass, use the current manufacturer datasheet rather than bare-copper theory.
Where people use it
- •Estimate bare copper mass for procurement and scrap reconciliation.
- •Convert conductor area into g/m and kg/km for quote checks.
- •Estimate copper content across multiple equal-length conductors.
- •Reverse a copper-mass limit into whole equal-length conductor runs.
- •Compare theoretical copper kg/km with a manufacturer published cable or conductor value.
2.5 mm² copper, 100 m, four conductors
Bare copper mass is 2.5 × 8,960 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.0224 kg/m. One 100 m conductor is 2.24 kg; four physical conductors contain 8.96 kg of theoretical copper.
What the result does not assume
- •This is bare conductive copper mass, not finished cable assembly weight.
- •Insulation, sheath, shield, braid, armour, fillers, connectors, drum/reel and packaging are excluded.
- •For stranded conductors use total conductive-metal area; do not use cable outside diameter.
- •Nominal conductor area and actual manufactured metal content/resistance have tolerances; use applicable product standards and manufacturer data for acceptance.
- •This calculator does not determine ampacity, voltage drop, fault current, cable support spacing or electrical-code compliance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1 mm² copper wire weigh per metre?+
At 8,960 kg/m³, 1 mm² of bare copper over 1 metre has a theoretical mass of 8.96 g. Finished insulated wire weighs more.
How do I calculate copper wire kg per kilometre?+
Multiply conductor area in mm² by 8.96 for copper at 8,960 kg/m³. For example, 2.5 mm² is 22.4 kg/km of theoretical bare copper.
Does the calculator include PVC or XLPE insulation?+
No. It calculates conductive copper only. Use manufacturer kg/km for a finished PVC, XLPE, armoured or multicore cable.
What should I enter for stranded copper wire?+
Enter the total conductive copper cross-sectional area stated for the conductor. Do not calculate metal area from the finished cable outside diameter or include air gaps.
Does quantity automatically include a return conductor?+
No. Quantity is the number of physical equal-length conductors. Enter every phase, neutral, earth or parallel conductor that you actually want included.
Why can manufacturer kg/km differ from the theoretical result?+
Published cable mass may include insulation and other components, while conductor manufacturing tolerances and alloy details can also shift actual metal mass. The tool reports the variance without treating either value as interchangeable.
Semantic next steps
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