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How to Calculate Steel Material

Calculating your steel material correctly could mean the difference between a dangerous overloaded structure and one properly meeting safety regulations. Weighing in kilograms is the most common way to calculate, buy and sell steel. Determining the weight of steel material is as easy as knowing your steel's dimensions, and manipulating the dimensions through simple arithmetic. Knowing the correct steel weight will ensure that you stay within your budget and avoid potential errors in construction.

Instructions

- 1
  Calculate the material's volume by multiplying its length, width and height measurements, in terms of centimeters. The metric system is most commonly used when calculating steel.
- 2
  Multiply the volume (measured in cubic centimeters) by the average density of steel material. Currently, the average density for all steel material is 7.8 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 3
  Divide the weight (in grams) by 1,000. This will change the weight measurement of your material from grams to kilograms, which is the most popular way to communicate steel material within the steel industry.

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