Calculate Weight for Aluminium Angles
A professional tool for engineers, fabricators, and estimators to determine the theoretical mass and cost of aluminium angle profiles.
Outer length of the first leg
Please enter a positive value.
Outer length of the second leg (equal to Leg A for equal angles)
Please enter a positive value.
Wall thickness of the profile
Thickness must be smaller than leg lengths.
Length of a single bar
Please enter a positive length.
Number of bars needed
Current market price for aluminium extrusion
Total Weight
0.00 kg
Weight Per Meter
0.00 kg/m
Weight Per Piece
0.00 kg
Estimated Total Cost
$0.00
Formula Used: Volume = Cross-Sectional Area × Length. Weight = Volume × Density (Aluminium ≈ 2700 kg/m³).
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|
Weight Comparison: Aluminium vs Steel (Reference)
Figure 1: Comparison of calculated total aluminium weight against an equivalent steel volume (Density: 7850 kg/m³).
What is Calculate Weight for Aluminium Angles?
When engineers, architects, or procurement specialists need to calculate weight for aluminium angles, they are performing a theoretical mass estimation based on the geometry of an L-shaped profile. Aluminium angles are structural components widely used in construction, manufacturing, and fabrication due to their high strength-to-weight ratio.
This calculation determines the total mass of the material before it is purchased or transported. Knowing the precise weight is critical for shipping logistics, structural load analysis, and cost estimation. While physical weighing is the most accurate method, theoretical calculation is the industry standard during the planning and design phases.
Common misconceptions include assuming all "aluminium" has the exact same density or ignoring the corner radii in detailed engineering calculations. However, for general estimation, using a standard density provides a result typically within 2-3% of the actual scale weight.
Aluminium Angle Weight Formula and Mathematical Explanation
To accurately calculate weight for aluminium angles, we must first determine the volume of the material and then multiply it by the density of the specific aluminium alloy (typically 6061 or 6063). The standard density used for general aluminium calculations is roughly 2.7 g/cm³ or 2700 kg/m³.
Step-by-Step Derivation
The cross-section of an angle is essentially two rectangles. To avoid double-counting the corner where the legs meet, we treat the profile as:
- Leg A (Vertical): Full height × Thickness.
- Leg B (Horizontal): (Full width – Thickness) × Thickness.
The formula for weight is:
Weight (kg) = [Area (mm²) ÷ 1,000,000] × Length (m) × Density (kg/m³)
Where Area is calculated as:
Area = (A × t) + ((B – t) × t)
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Length of Leg 1 (Outer) | mm | 10mm – 200mm |
| B | Length of Leg 2 (Outer) | mm | 10mm – 200mm |
| t | Wall Thickness | mm | 1mm – 20mm |
| ρ (rho) | Density of Aluminium | kg/m³ | ~2700 |
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Example 1: Warehouse Racking Construction
A fabrication shop needs to build a lightweight rack using 50mm x 50mm x 5mm equal angles. They need 20 pieces, each 6 meters long.
- Input: Leg A = 50mm, Leg B = 50mm, Thickness = 5mm, Length = 6m, Quantity = 20.
- Area Calculation: (50 × 5) + ((50 – 5) × 5) = 250 + 225 = 475 mm².
- Volume per bar: 475 mm² × 6000 mm = 2,850,000 mm³.
- Weight per bar: 2,850,000 × 0.0000027 kg/mm³ ≈ 7.7 kg.
- Total Weight: 7.7 kg × 20 = 154 kg.
- Financial Interpretation: At $4.50/kg, the material cost is approximately $693.
Example 2: Unequal Angle for Trim
An architect specifies an unequal angle for architectural trim: 100mm x 50mm x 3mm. 100 meters total length is required.
- Input: Leg A = 100mm, Leg B = 50mm, Thickness = 3mm, Total Length = 100m.
- Area Calculation: (100 × 3) + ((50 – 3) × 3) = 300 + 141 = 441 mm².
- Weight per meter: 441 × 1000 × 0.0000027 ≈ 1.19 kg/m.
- Total Weight: 1.19 kg/m × 100m = 119 kg.
How to Use This Aluminium Angle Weight Calculator
This tool is designed to simplify the workflow for metal buyers and engineers. Follow these steps to calculate weight for aluminium angles effectively:
- Measure Dimensions: Input the outer dimensions of both legs in millimeters. For equal angles, Leg A and Leg B will be the same.
- Specify Thickness: Enter the wall thickness. Ensure the thickness is not greater than the leg width.
- Set Length: Enter the length of the bar in meters. Standard stock lengths are often 6m or 12m.
- Adjust Quantity: If you are purchasing a bundle, enter the total number of pieces.
- Review Results: The calculator immediately updates the "Total Weight". Use this figure to request shipping quotes or estimate material handling requirements.
Key Factors That Affect Calculation Results
Several variables can influence the final weight and cost when you calculate weight for aluminium angles:
- Alloy Density Variations: While 2700 kg/m³ is the standard, alloys like 7075 are slightly heavier (2810 kg/m³), while 5052 is slightly lighter (2680 kg/m³). This can cause a variance of up to 4%.
- Dimensional Tolerances: Extrusions are not perfect. Manufacturing tolerances (e.g., ±0.5mm) can result in actual weights differing from theoretical weights.
- Corner Radii: Structural angles often have rounded internal corners (fillets) for strength. This calculator assumes sharp corners. Rounded corners add a small amount of extra mass.
- Surface Treatment: Anodizing or powder coating adds a negligible amount of weight but significant cost.
- Scrap Factor: When cutting from standard lengths (e.g., cutting 6m bars into 1.5m pieces), there is kerf loss (material lost to the saw blade). Financial estimates should include a 5-10% waste margin.
- Market Volatility: The "Price per kg" input allows you to estimate cost, but aluminium prices fluctuate daily on the LME (London Metal Exchange).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I use this calculator for steel angles?
No. Steel is approximately 3 times heavier than aluminium (7850 kg/m³ vs 2700 kg/m³). Using this tool for steel would result in dangerous under-estimations of load.
2. Why is the calculated weight different from the shipping weight?
Shipping weight often includes packaging (pallets, straps, plastic wrap), which can add 20-50kg per bundle.
3. How do I calculate weight for aluminium angles that are unequal?
Simply enter different values for Leg A and Leg B in the input fields above. The math handles unequal legs automatically.
4. Does this include the weight of powder coating?
No. Coatings are microns thick and usually disregarded for structural weight calculations, though they affect the price.
5. What is the standard length for aluminium angles?
Most suppliers stock 6.0 meter or 6.5 meter lengths. Some offer custom extrusions up to 12 meters.
6. Is the formula accurate for structural analysis?
It is accurate for dead load estimation. However, for structural failure analysis, you must use the exact Section Modulus and Moment of Inertia provided by the manufacturer.
7. How does temperature affect the weight?
Mass does not change with temperature, though volume does slightly. For trade purposes, temperature is ignored.
8. How do I convert the result to pounds (lbs)?
Multiply the kilogram result by 2.20462 to get pounds.