How do I calculate the weight of a copper wire?

Multiply the cross-sectional area by the length and copper density. For a round wire: Weight = π × (diameter/2)² × length × density. Pure copper density is 8,960 kg/m³. For a 10 mm diameter, 1 meter long wire: π × (5 mm)² × 1 m × 8,960 kg/m³ = 0.704 kg. Use the calculator above — select 'Wire' shape, enter diameter and length, and get instant results in kg and lb.

How do I calculate the weight of a copper pipe?

Copper pipe weight uses the hollow cylinder formula: Weight = π × (OD² − ID²) / 4 × length × density, where ID = OD − 2 × wall thickness. For a 15 mm OD, 1.5 mm wall, 3 m long C12200 DHP copper pipe: ID = 12 mm, cross-section = π × (15² − 12²) / 4 = 63.62 mm², weight = 63.62 × 10⁻⁶ × 3 × 8,940 = 1.70 kg. Select 'Pipe/Tube' in the calculator above.

How do I calculate copper busbar weight?

Busbar weight is the simplest copper shape: Weight = Width × Thickness × Length × Density. For a 25 mm × 3 mm busbar, 2 meters long in pure copper: Area = 75 mm², Weight = 75 × 10⁻⁶ × 2 × 8,960 = 1.34 kg. For a 1 meter busbar, weight per meter is simply 75 × 10⁻⁶ × 8,960 = 0.672 kg/m. Select 'Busbar / Flat' in the calculator.

What is the density of copper in kg/m³?

Pure copper (C11000 ETP) has a density of 8,960 kg/m³ or 8.96 g/cm³. Other grades vary slightly: C10100 OFHC is 8,940 kg/m³, C12200 DHP is 8,940 kg/m³. Copper alloys are different: Brass (C26000) is 8,530 kg/m³, Bronze (C93200) is 8,930 kg/m³. In imperial units, copper density is approximately 559 lb/ft³.

How much does 1 meter of copper wire weigh?

It depends on the wire diameter. For a 1 mm diameter wire: π × (0.5 mm)² × 1 m × 8,960 = 0.007 kg (7 grams per meter). For common sizes: 5 mm wire = 0.176 kg/m, 10 mm wire = 0.704 kg/m, 20 mm wire = 2.815 kg/m. Use the calculator with shape 'Wire' and set length to 1 m to find the exact kg/m value for any diameter.

Is copper heavier than steel?

Yes, copper is approximately 14% heavier than mild steel. Copper density is 8,960 kg/m³ compared to mild steel at 7,850 kg/m³. However, copper is lighter than lead (11,340 kg/m³) and significantly lighter than gold (19,320 kg/m³) or tungsten (19,250 kg/m³). Stainless steel (8,000 kg/m³) is about 11% lighter than copper.

How do I convert copper weight from kg to pounds?

Multiply kg by 2.20462 to get pounds. For example, 10 kg of copper = 22.05 lb. The calculator displays both kg and lb results automatically — no manual conversion needed. It also shows weight per meter (kg/m) and weight per foot (lb/ft) side by side for easy reference.

What are the different grades of copper and their densities?

The main copper grades are: C11000 ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch, 8,960 kg/m³) — most common for electrical use; C10100 OFHC (Oxygen-Free High Conductivity, 8,940 kg/m³) — for vacuum and high-purity applications; C12200 DHP (Deoxidized High Phosphorus, 8,940 kg/m³) — for plumbing and heat exchangers. Common alloys: Brass C26000 (8,530 kg/m³) and Bronze C93200 (8,930 kg/m³).

How do I calculate the weight of a copper sheet or plate?

Copper sheet weight = Width × Thickness × Length × Density. For a 1 m × 1 m sheet of 1 mm thickness: Area = 1,000 mm × 1 mm = 1,000 mm², Weight = 1,000 × 10⁻⁶ × 1 × 8,960 = 8.96 kg. In imperial, a 1 ft × 1 ft sheet of 1/16 inch thickness (0.0625 in) weighs approximately 2.88 lb. Select 'Sheet / Plate' in the calculator — enter width, thickness, and length.

Copper Weight Calculator

Shape

Copper Grade

Diameter (mm)

Length (m)

Quantity

Cost estimate

Use price per kg for the selected units.

Round Bar · Pure Copper / C11000 (ETP)

1 m each

Total weight

0.70kg

1.55 lb

Weight Breakdown

Linear weight, dimensions, and material details

Weight per meter

0.704kg/m

0.473 lb/ft

Weight per foot

0.473lb/ft

0.704 kg/m

Cross-section area

78.54 mm²

0.1217 in²

Volume per piece

78.54 cm³

4.7928 in³

Formula Used

The exact formula applied for round bar weight

Round Bar

Weight (kg) = A × 10⁻⁶ × L × ρ × Q

A = cross-section area (mm²) · L = length (m) · ρ = density (kg/m³) · Q = quantity

Density (ρ) = 8960 kg/m³ (Pure Copper / C11000 (ETP))

How to Use the Copper Weight Calculator

Calculate copper weight in seconds with these 4 simple steps

Select Shape

Choose from 7 copper product shapes. Round bar and wire use the same diameter-based formula. Busbar/flat and sheet/plate use width × thickness. Each shape has the right formula built in.

Choose Copper Grade

Select from 5 preset copper grades — Pure Copper/C11000 (ETP, 8,960 kg/m³), C10100 OFHC (8,940 kg/m³), C12200 DHP (8,940 kg/m³), Brass C26000 (8,530 kg/m³), and Bronze C93200 (8,930 kg/m³). Use Custom Density for any other alloy.

Enter Dimensions & Quantity

Input dimensions in metric (mm, m) or imperial (in, ft). The calculator converts between units automatically. Adjust quantity for batch orders and optionally enable cost estimation per kg or lb.

Read the Results

Get total weight in kg and lb, weight per meter (kg/m), weight per foot (lb/ft), cross-section area (mm²), volume (cm³), and optional cost estimate in your selected currency.

Copper Weight Calculation Formula

The fundamental formula used across all shapes

Weight (kg) = A × 10⁻⁶ × L × ρ × Q

A = cross-section area (mm²) · 10⁻⁶ converts mm² → m² · L = length (m) · ρ = density (kg/m³) · Q = quantity

Shape-Specific Area Formulas

Round Bar / Wire

π × (D/2)²

Square Bar

Side²

Hex Bar

(√3/2) × AF²

Sheet / Busbar

Width × Thickness

Pipe / Tube

π × (OD² − ID²) / 4

Example Calculations

Real-world copper weight examples for common shapes and sizes

10 mm Round Copper Bar, 1 m

Diameter 10 mm · Length 1 m

Pure Copper / C11000 (8,960 kg/m³)

0.704 kg/m · 0.473 lb/ft

Result

0.70 kg

25×3 mm Copper Busbar, 2 m

Width 25 mm · Thickness 3 mm · Length 2 m

Pure Copper / C11000 (8,960 kg/m³)

0.672 kg/m · 0.452 lb/ft

Result

1.34 kg

15×1.5 mm Copper Pipe, 3 m

OD 15 mm · Wall 1.5 mm · Length 3 m

C12200 DHP (8,940 kg/m³)

0.567 kg/m · 0.381 lb/ft

Result

1.70 kg

1×0.125 in Brass Flat, 3 ft

Width 1 in · Thickness 0.125 in · Length 3 ft

Brass C26000 (8,530 kg/m³)

0.688 kg/m · 0.462 lb/ft

Result

1.39 lb

Copper Grades and Densities

Standard density values for common copper grades and alloys

Grade	Density (kg/m³)	Common Use
Pure Copper / C11000 (ETP)	8,960	General electrical, busbars, conductors
C10100 (OFHC)	8,940	High conductivity, vacuum applications
C12200 (DHP)	8,940	Plumbing, heat exchangers, roofing
Brass (C26000)	8,530	Decorative, plumbing fittings, hardware
Bronze (C93200)	8,930	Bearings, bushings, marine hardware

Tips for Accurate Copper Weight Estimation

Practical advice for getting the most accurate weight estimates

Copper density varies slightly by grade. Pure C11000 is 8,960 kg/m³, while OFHC (C10100) is 8,940 kg/m³. For critical estimates, use the exact grade density from your mill certificate.

For busbars, always measure actual dimensions. Indian standard copper busbars may have slight dimensional variations. Add 2–3% for manufacturing tolerance on weight estimates.

Brass is about 5% lighter than pure copper (8,530 vs 8,960 kg/m³). If you're unsure about the alloy, use pure copper density for a conservative (slightly heavier) estimate.

For insulated copper wire, this calculator gives bare copper weight only. Add approximately 5–15% for PVC/XLPE insulation depending on voltage grade and insulation thickness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't let these errors cost you time and money

Confusing OD with ID for pipes

The calculator uses outer diameter. If you have inner diameter, add 2× wall thickness to get the correct OD before entering.

Mixing up metric and imperial units

A 10 mm round bar and a 1 inch round bar give very different results. Always verify your unit system (metric vs imperial) before entering dimensions.

Forgetting to adjust quantity

The weight shown is per piece unless quantity is changed. For bulk orders, multiply by the correct quantity to avoid under-ordering — a 100-piece order at single-piece weight leaves you 99 pieces short.

Mixing copper grades without adjusting density

ETP copper (8,960 kg/m³) and DHP copper (8,940 kg/m³) have a 20 kg/m³ density difference. For a 100 kg order, that's a 0.2% variance — negligible for small quantities but significant for industrial procurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about copper weight calculation

The universal formula is: Weight (kg) = Cross-Section Area (mm²) × 10⁻⁶ × Length (m) × Density (kg/m³) × Quantity. The 10⁻⁶ factor converts mm² to m² for dimensional consistency. Cross-section area depends on shape: round bar/wire uses π × (D/2)², square bar uses Side², sheet/busbar uses Width × Thickness, pipe uses π × (OD² − ID²) / 4, and hex bar uses (√3/2) × AF². The calculator handles metric/imperial conversion automatically.

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Last updated May 23, 2026

Copper Weight Calculator

Weight Breakdown

Formula Used

How to Use the Copper Weight Calculator

Select Shape

Choose Copper Grade

Enter Dimensions & Quantity

Read the Results

Copper Weight Calculation Formula

Shape-Specific Area Formulas

Example Calculations

Copper Grades and Densities

Tips for Accurate Copper Weight Estimation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

Embed Copper Weight Calculator

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