What is the Density of Steel?
Steel has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ or 7850 kg/m³, equivalent to 490 pounds per cubic foot. Steel’s high density makes it a strong and dependable material suitable for demanding building tasks. Suppliers such as Buy A Beam provide high-quality steel beams and columns with exceptional load capabilities.
When purchasing steel online, it’s critical to understand vital factors like dimensions, weight, and density. Understanding these factors can help you make a sound investment in steel that will give great performance and versatility.
What is Density?
Density measures how much matter is packed into a given space. Materials have different densities, with some being more compact than others. Steel, for example, has a substantially higher density than many other materials because its molecules are closely packed together.
In scientific terminology, density is defined as the mass of a material divided by its volume. The formula for density is as follows:
Density (p)=Mass (m)Volume (V)\text{Density (p)} = \frac{\text{Mass (m)}}{\text{Volume (V)}}Density (p)=Volume (V)Mass (m)
This means density is calculated by dividing a material’s mass by its volume.
Density is classified as an intense attribute, which implies it remains constant regardless of the amount of material. So, whether you have a small or huge piece of steel, its density will remain the same.
What is Steel’s Density?
Steel has a density of 7.85 g/cm³, making it significantly denser than other metals.
Steel, for example, has twice the density of titanium and three times that of aluminum. Steel’s high density increases its strength and durability, making it a popular choice for construction materials such as beams and columns.
Steel’s density also contributes significantly to its adaptability. Its strength and affordability make it suitable for a variety of uses, including fences, gates, and frames. Steel is not only robust, but also environmentally friendly and resistant, which contributes to its popularity.
Understanding Steel’s Density
Steel’s density is intimately related to the production of bonds in its alloy. Mild steel, a kind of carbon steel, has a density of around 7.8 g/cm³. This density is affected by the quantity of carbon in the steel. Carbon content in steel alloys normally ranges between 0.16% and 0.29%.
Carbon levels influence the density and characteristics of steel. For example:
Mild Steel: Mild steel has a density of around 7.8 g/cm³ and contains a high carbon content.
Carbon Content: Higher carbon content often increases density, which leads to greater strength and hardness. However, it can diminish ductility.
Density is an important factor in affecting the steel’s properties, including:
Tensile Strength: Higher density typically indicates better resistance to deformation.
Hardness: Increased density can produce harder steel, albeit it may be less ductile.
Appearance and Properties: Mild steel has a dark look due to its high carbon content, and its hardness varies with carbon concentration. It is also more prone to rust and less resistant to severe temperatures.
Engineers must understand the density of steel when choosing materials for diverse applications. Different steels and alloys have different densities, which affects their appropriateness for industries including oil and gas, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
We have divided typical steel grades into ten groups for convenience of reference.
Carbon Steel
Mild Steel
Alloy Steel (Low & Medium)
Stainless Steel
Duplex & Super Duplex Steel
Nickel Alloys
Titanium Alloys
Copper & Copper Nickel
Brass
Aluminum
Understanding these classifications aids in picking the appropriate steel for various industrial applications.
Density of Carbon Steel Pipes in kg/m3 and lb/in3
Density of Carbon Steel
| ASTM | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| ASTM A53 Grade B | 7,85 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| ASTM A106 Grade B | 7,86 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
Density of Mild Steel
| MS Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| ASTM A572 | 7,966 | 0.282 |
| IS 1239IS 3589 | 7,860 | 0.283 |
| IS 2062 | 7,850 | 0.283 |
| ASTM A36 | 7,800 | 0.281 |
Density of Alloy Steel (Low/ Medium)
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| Low Alloy Steel | 7,500 to 8,080 | 0.271 to 0.292 |
| Medium Alloy Steel | 6,600 to 7,860 | 0.238 to 0.284 |
| P9 Pipe (9 Cr-1 Mo Alloy Steel) | 7,850 | 0.283 |
| P11 Pipe (1-1/4 Cr-1/2 Mo Alloy Steel) | 7,850 | 0.283 |
Density of Stainless Steel
| SS | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| 201202301302303304304L304LN305 | 7,930 kg/m3 | 0.286 lb/in³ |
| 309S310S316316L316Ti316LN317317L347 | 7,980 kg/m3 | 0.288 lb/in³ |
| SS 904L | 7,980 kg/m3 | 0.288 lb/in³ |
| 321 | 8,027 kg/m3 | 0.289 lb/in³ |
| 403410410S416431 | 7,750 kg/m3 | 0.280 lb/in³ |
| 440A | 7,740 kg/m3 | 0.280 lb/in³ |
| 440C | 7,620 kg/m3 | 0.275 lb/in³ |
| 420 | 7,730 kg/m3 | 0.280 lb/in³ |
| 439430430F | 7,700 kg/m3 | 0.278 lb/in³ |
| 434 | 7,740 kg/m3 | 0.280 lb/in³ |
| 444 | 7,750 kg/m3 | 0.280 lb/in³ |
| 405 | 7,720 kg/m3 | 0.279 lb/in³ |
| 17-4PH (martensitic) | 7,750 kg/m3 | 0.279 lb/in³ |
| 17-7 PH (semi-austenitic) | 7,810 kg/m3 | 0.282 lb/in³ |
Density of Duplex & Super Duplex Steel
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| DSS 2205 (UNS S31803) | 7,800 | 0.282 |
| SDSS 2507 (UNS S32750) | 7,850 | 0.284 |
| A286 Grade 660 (UNS S66286) | 7,920 | 0.286 |
| 254 SMO (UNS S31254) | 8,100 | 0.292 |
Density of Nickel Alloys
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| Ni 200/ 201 | 8890 | 0.321 |
| Monel 400 (UNS N04400) | 8860 | 0.320 |
| Monel K500 (UNS N05500) | 8300 | 0.299 |
| Inconel 600 (UNS N06600) | 8410 | 0.303 |
| Inconel 601 (UNS N06601) | 8050 | 0.290 |
| Inconel 625 (UNS N06625) | 8440 | 0.304 |
| Inconel 718 (UNS N07718) | 8220 | 0.296 |
| Alloy 20 (N08020) | 8050 | 0.290 |
| Incoloy 800/H/HT (UNS N08800, N08810, and N08811) | 8030 | 0.290 |
| Incoloy 825 (UNS N08825) | 8140 | 0.294 |
| Hastelloy C276 (UNS N10276) | 8870 | 0.320 |
| Hastelloy C22 (UNS N06022) | 8690 | 0.313 |
Titanium Alloys Density
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| Grade 2 Titanium (UNS R50400) | 4,510 | 0.162 |
| Grade 9 Titanium (UNS R56320) | 4,480 | 0.161 |
Copper & Copper Nickel Density
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| Free-Cutting Brass (UNS C36000) | 8,490 | 0.307 |
| Cartridge Brass (UNS C26000) | 8,530 | 0.308 |
Density of Brass
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| Free-Cutting Brass (UNS C36000) | 8,490 | 0.307 |
| Cartridge Brass (UNS C26000) | 8,530 | 0.308 |
Density of Aluminium
| Grades | Density in kg/m3 | Density in lb/in3 |
| 2040 | 2800 | 0.101 |
| 3560 | 2680 | 0.096 |
| 4430 | 2700 | 0.097 |
| 1060 | 2705 | 0.097 |
| 1100 | 2710 | 0.097 |
| 2014 | 2800 | 0.101 |
| 2024 | 2780 | 0.100 |
| 3003 | 2730 | 0.098 |
| 3004 | 2720 | 0.098 |
| 5052 | 2680 | 0.096 |
| 5083 | 2660 | 0.096 |
| 5086 | 2660 | 0.096 |
| 5154 | 2660 | 0.096 |
| 5254 | 2660 | 0.096 |
| 5454 | 2690 | 0.097 |
| 5456 | 2660 | 0.096 |
| 5652 | 2670 | 0.096 |
| 6061 | 2700 | 0.097 |
| 6063 | 2700 | 0.097 |
How to Calculate Density
To calculate the density of steel, use the following simple formula:
Density (D)=Mass (M)Volume (V)\text{Density (D)} = \frac{\text{Mass (M)}}{\text{Volume (V)}}Density (D)=Volume (V)Mass (M)
Where:
Density (D) is measured in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) in metric units.
Mass (M) is measured in kilograms (kg).
Volume (V) is measured in cubic meters (m³).
D = m/v
Converting Units
Convert g/cm³ to kg/m³:
If you have the density in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) and need to convert it to kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), use this conversion factor:
1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³
Simply multiply the density value by 1000 to get the value in kg/m³.
Convert lbs/in³ to kg/m³:
In the US, density might be measured in pounds per cubic inch (lbs/in³). To convert this to kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), use the conversion factor:
1 lb/in³ = 27,679.9 kg/m³
Multiply the density value in lbs/in³ by 27,679.9 to get the equivalent value in kg/m³.
Steel Density lb/in3
| Steel Name | Density (g/cm3) | Density (lb/in3) |
| AISI 1020 | 7.87 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
| AISI 1045 | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| AISI 1018 | 7.87 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
| ASTM A36 | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| C45 | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| S45C | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| AISI 1045 | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.283 lb/in3 |
| AISI 1010 | 7.87 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
Density of Carbon Steel
| Type of Steel | Density (g/cm³) | Density (lb/in³) | High Carbon Steel |
| Plain Carbon Steel | 7.75 to 8.05 | 0.280 to 0.291 | 7.75 to 8.05 |
| Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel) | 7.85 | 0.284 | 0.280 to 0.291 |
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