The calculation, without hidden assumptions
Estimate round pipe or tube mass from actual outside diameter, wall thickness and density. The calculator keeps nominal names separate from geometry, shows substituted hollow-cylinder working, and can reverse-solve wall thickness for a target unit weight.
How to use this calculator
Enter actual outside diameter and wall thickness; do not substitute NPS, DN or nominal bore for OD.
Choose material density or enter a verified custom density.
Enter cut length and whole-piece quantity for batch weight.
Use optional rate/kg for material-cost planning.
Enter target or measured/published unit weight for reverse sizing or variance diagnostics.
Where people use it
- •Estimate MS/carbon-steel pipe weight for takeoffs and transport.
- •Compare stainless, aluminum, copper and brass tube mass at identical geometry.
- •Calculate kg/m, lb/ft, piece and batch weight from custom OD × wall.
- •Estimate outside surface area before a coating quantity workflow.
- •Reverse-solve a theoretical wall thickness from target unit mass before checking available schedules.
114.3 mm OD × 6.02 mm wall carbon-steel pipe
Using 7,850 kg/m³ density, the 102.26 mm ID gives about 2,047.83 mm² metal area and 16.075 kg/m. A 6 m piece is about 96.45 kg before coatings or attachments.
What the result does not assume
- •NPS/DN/nominal bore is a designation and must not be used as actual OD.
- •Schedule identifies a wall series only with a specific nominal pipe size; this owner intentionally uses entered physical wall thickness rather than inventing schedule mappings.
- •Density presets are nominal planning values; use certified grade data when material chemistry matters.
- •Coatings, linings, couplings, flanges, weld reinforcement and attached hardware are excluded.
- •Published standard tables may differ because nominal dimensions, density conventions, manufacturing tolerances and rounding differ.
Frequently asked questions
How is pipe weight per metre calculated?+
MAXScanner calculates hollow cross-sectional area π/4 × (OD² − ID²), converts that area to square metres and multiplies by material density. ID is OD minus twice the wall thickness.
What is the common MS pipe weight shortcut?+
For carbon steel near 7,850 kg/m³ with OD and wall in millimetres, the geometry reduces to approximately (OD − wall) × wall × 0.02466 kg/m. MAXScanner uses the underlying geometry and density so other materials remain transparent.
Can I enter NPS or DN as the outside diameter?+
No. NPS and DN are nominal designations, not necessarily the measured outside diameter. Enter the actual OD from the applicable standard, drawing or manufacturer data.
Does Schedule 40 always mean the same wall thickness?+
No. Schedule must be paired with a nominal pipe size. This calculator avoids unsafe schedule guessing and accepts actual wall thickness directly.
Can it calculate pipe weight in lb/ft?+
Yes. The primary result reports both kg/m and lb/ft while piece and batch mass remain explicit.
Why can calculated and published pipe weights differ?+
Published tables may use standard nominal dimensions, specific density assumptions and rounding, while real products also have dimensional tolerances, coatings and weld effects. Use the measured/published unit-weight field to see variance without changing the geometric result.
Semantic next steps
Continue the calculation
These links move to a different input, formula or project stage rather than a keyword variation of this page.
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Keep the result connected to the real job
MAXScanner keeps the formula and assumptions beside the result so you can verify the number before using it in a drawing, estimate, specification, worksheet or document. Where a supplier, manufacturer, drawing or applicable standard owns a requirement, that source remains authoritative.