The term metal density is applied to the amount of mass in a given volume.The main use of density data is calculating a component’s mass from its volume, or estimating how much material a given quantity will weigh.The density of all metal varies according to the metal it is made of, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, brass, aluminum and nickel alloys. The density is measured in grams per cc (g/cm3), kg/m3 or lb/in3. S. Steel and Ni Alloys are the materials with relatively high density when compared to other materials. Depending on the type of alloy, Aluminium can be relatively lighter. Carbon steel is a balance between density, strength and price for many industrial applications. Copper and brass are relatively dense and have widespread application in electrical, thermal and corrosion resistance applications. There could be slight variations in the density of metals depending on the alloy composition and material condition.
Common Metal Conversions to Measure Metal Density
- 1 g/cm³ = 1,000 kg/m³ – Standard conversion from grams per cubic centimeter to kilograms per cubic meter.
- 1 g/cm³ = 62.43 lb/ft³ – Converts density from g/cm³ to pounds per cubic foot.
- 1 g/cm³ = 8.34 lb/gal (US) – Commonly used for comparing liquid densities, with water being approximately this value.
- 1 kg/m³ = 0.001 g/cm³ – Conversion from kilograms per cubic meter to grams per cubic centimeter.
- 1 kg/m³ = 0.0624 lb/ft³ – Converts kilograms per cubic meter into pounds per cubic foot.
- 1 lb/in³ ≈ 27,680 kg/m³ – Useful for expressing the high density of metals such as tungsten.
- 1 lb/ft³ ≈ 16.02 kg/m³ – Commonly used when converting bulk material density into metric units.
Density of Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel
| Metal / Element / Alloy | Density (g/cm3) | Density (kg/m3) |
| Admiralty Brass | 8.5 | 8,500 |
| Aluminum | 2.7 | 2,700 |
| Aluminum 1100 | 2.71 | 2,710 |
| Aluminum 6061 | 2.7 | 2,700 |
| Aluminum 7050 | 2.83 | 2,830 |
| Aluminum 7178 | 2.81 | 2,810 |
| Aluminum Oil | 2.72 | 2,720 |
| Beryllium | 1.85 | 1,850 |
| Bismuth | 9.78 | 9,780 |
| Brass – Casting | 8.4 | 8,400 |
| Brass – Rolled & Drawn | 8.5 | 8,500 |
| Brass – 60/40 | 8.50 – 8.53 | 8,500 – 8,530 |
| Bronze | 8.70 – 8.90 | 8,700 – 8,900 |
| Bronze – Leaded | 8.90 – 9.30 | 8,900 – 9,300 |
| Cadmium | 8.65 | 8,650 |
| Carbon Steel | 7.85 | 7,850 |
| Cast Iron | 6.90 – 7.80 | 6,900 – 7,800 |
| Chromium | 7.19 | 7,190 |
| Cobalt | 8.9 | 8,900 |
| Copper | 8.96 | 8,960 |
| Gallium | 5.91 | 5,910 |
| Germanium | 5.32 | 5,320 |
| Gold | 19.32 | 19,320 |
| Hafnium | 13.31 | 13,310 |
| Hastelloy | 8.89 – 9.22 | 8,890 – 9,220 |
| Inconel | 8.40 – 8.50 | 8,400 – 8,500 |
| Indium | 7.31 | 7,310 |
| Iridium | 22.56 | 22,560 |
| Iron | 7.87 | 7,870 |
| Lead | 11.34 | 11,340 |
| Lithium | 0.53 | 530 |
| Magnesium | 1.74 | 1,740 |
| Manganese | 7.21 | 7,210 |
| Mercury (liquid) | 13.53 | 13,530 |
| Molybdenum | 10.28 | 10,280 |
| Monel | 8.8 | 8,800 |
| Nickel | 8.91 | 8,910 |
| Niobium | 8.57 | 8,570 |
| Palladium | 12.02 | 12,020 |
| Phosphor Bronze | 8.70 – 8.90 | 8,700 – 8,900 |
| Platinum | 21.45 | 21,450 |
| Red Brass | 8.75 – 8.83 | 8,750 – 8,830 |
| Silver | 10.49 | 10,490 |
| Stainless Steel 304 | 7.93 | 7,930 |
| Stainless Steel 316 | 8.00 | 8,000 |
| Stainless Steel 321 | 7.9 | 7,900 |
| Stainless Steel 410 | 7.75 | 7,750 |
| Stainless Steel 420 | 7.75 – 7.80 | 7,750 – 7,800 |
| Stainless Steel 430 | 7.7 | 7,700 |
| Steel (Mild) | 7.85 | 7,850 |
| Steel (Tool) | 7.70 – 8.00 | 7,700 – 8,000 |
| Tantalum | 16.65 | 16,650 |
| Tellurium | 6.24 | 6,240 |
| Thallium | 11.85 | 11,850 |
| Thorium | 11.72 | 11,720 |
| Tin | 7.31 | 7,310 |
| Titanium | 4.5 | 4,500 |
| Tungsten | 19.25 | 19,250 |
| Uranium | 18.95 | 18,950 |
| Vanadium | 6.11 | 6,110 |
| Zinc | 7.14 | 7,140 |
| Zirconium | 6.52 | 6,520 |
How to Calculate Metal Weight from Density
The weight of a metal component can be calculated using its density and volume: Weight = Density × Volume For example, consider a 1-meter-long Inconel 625 round bar with a diameter of 20 mm. Its volume is approximately 0.000314 m³. Using an approximate Inconel 625 density of 8.44 g/cm³ (8,440 kg/m³): Weight = 8,440 × 0.000314 ≈ 2.65 kg Therefore, a 1-meter Inconel 625 round bar with a 20 mm diameter weighs approximately 2.65 kg. Actual weight can vary slightly depending on dimensional tolerances and material specifications.Frequently Asked Questions
Stainless steel is generally slightly denser than carbon steel. Typical values are around 7.7–8.0 g/cm³ for stainless steel and 7.85 g/cm³ for carbon steel, depending on the grade.
Titanium is denser than aluminum. Titanium has a typical density of about 4.5 g/cm³, while aluminum is around 2.7 g/cm³.
Tungsten is one of the densest metals commonly used in industrial applications, with a density of approximately 19.25 g/cm³.
Multiply the density in g/cm³ by 1,000. For example, 8.0 g/cm³ = 8,000 kg/m³.
First calculate the component’s volume, then use Weight = Density × Volume. The result depends on the material density and the component’s dimensions.
Yes. Adding elements to a base metal can slightly increase or decrease its density, depending on the type and amount of alloying elements used.
