SS Pipe Weight Chart: Stainless Steel Pipe Weight per Metre and Foot

Pipe weight matters long before material reaches site. Procurement teams use it to compare quotations, freight teams use it to plan containers and lifting, engineers use it for support loads, and estimators use it to convert ₹/kg into ₹/metre. A central weight chart also helps identify quotation errors when a supplier has used the wrong schedule or wall thickness.

Metinox Overseas supplies stainless steel pipes in common austenitic, duplex and super duplex grades. Use this weight page together with the pipe schedule chart and SS pipe price list for a complete size, weight and commercial comparison.

Formula Weight Chart Common Weight

Stainless Steel Pipe Weight Formula

For a round pipe, theoretical weight is calculated from the metal cross-sectional area and material density. A convenient metric formula is: Weight (kg/m) = pi x (OD - t) x t x density / 1000, where OD and wall thickness t are in millimetres and density is in g/cm³.

Stainless Grade	Approx. Density (g/cm³)	Weight Effect
304 / 304L	7.93	Common reference basis for stainless pipe weight calculations.
316 / 316L	~7.98	Approximately 0.6% heavier than 304 for the same exact dimensions.
904L	~8.00	Approximately 0.9% heavier than 304 for the same exact dimensions.

Theoretical weight is useful for estimating and freight planning. Purchase orders, dispatch documents and billing may use actual mill weight depending on the contract and product standard.

SS Pipe Weight Chart by NPS and Schedule

NPS	OD mm	SCH 10S kg/m	SCH 40S kg/m	SCH 80S kg/m
1/2	21.34	1.01	1.28	1.64
3/4	26.67	1.29	1.70	2.22
1	33.40	2.11	2.53	3.27
1 1/4	42.16	2.72	3.42	4.51
1 1/2	48.26	3.14	4.09	5.46
2	60.33	3.97	5.50	7.56
2 1/2	73.03	5.32	8.72	11.53
3	88.90	6.52	11.41	15.43
4	114.30	8.45	16.24	22.55
5	141.30	11.68	21.99	31.28
6	168.28	13.97	28.55	42.99
8	219.08	20.17	42.98	65.30
10	273.05	28.06	60.92	96.98
12	323.85	36.35	80.53	133.42

These values are theoretical SS 304 weights calculated from nominal dimensions. Manufacturing tolerances, grade density and actual measured wall thickness can create small differences from dispatch weight.

Common SS Pipe Weight in kg/m and lb/ft

NPS	Schedule	kg/m	lb/ft	kg per 6 m
1/2	SCH 40S	1.28	0.86	7.7
1	SCH 40S	2.53	1.70	15.2
2	SCH 40S	5.50	3.69	33.0
3	SCH 40S	11.41	7.67	68.4
4	SCH 40S	16.24	10.91	97.4
6	SCH 40S	28.55	19.18	171.3
8	SCH 40S	42.98	28.88	257.9
10	SCH 40S	60.92	40.93	365.5
12	SCH 40S	80.53	54.12	483.2

Worked example: 4 inch SCH 40S SS 304

OD = 114.30 mm, wall = 6.02 mm. Theoretical weight is about 16.24 kg/m. One 6 metre length is about 97.4 kg. At an illustrative ₹300/kg, material value is about ₹29,220 per 6 metre length before taxes, testing, packing and freight.

How to Estimate Total Order Weight

1. Find the kg/m value for the correct NPS and schedule.
2. Multiply kg/m by the cut length of each pipe.
3. Multiply by the number of lengths for that line item.
4. Repeat for every size and grade, then add the totals.
5. Add a sensible packing allowance when planning freight, lifting or container payload.

For example, 20 lengths of 2 inch SCH 40S SS 304 at 6 metres each weigh approximately 5.50 x 6 x 20 = 660 kg before packing. If the requirement changes to SCH 80S, the weight rises substantially because the wall increases from 3.91 mm to 5.54 mm.

Why Stainless Steel Weight Can Differ from a Generic Steel Chart

Many online pipe charts use a carbon steel density close to 7.85 g/cm³. Stainless steel grades are slightly denser, so copying a carbon steel weight table can understate the expected mass. The difference is small on one metre but can become meaningful across many tonnes of pipe.

The weight can also differ because nominal wall thickness has a manufacturing tolerance. For commercial planning, use theoretical weight consistently across competing quotes. For final dispatch and freight documents, use the supplier’s actual packing list and certified product data.

Using Weight to Compare SS Pipe Prices

When a supplier quotes price per metre, divide that price by kg/m to estimate the effective price per kg. When a supplier quotes price per kg, multiply by kg/m to estimate price per metre. This simple conversion makes it easier to compare offers that use different commercial formats.

Review indicative grade pricing on the stainless steel pipe price list. For exact wall thickness before calculating weight, use the pipe schedule chart.

Weight Considerations by Grade and Product Type

SS 304 pipe is a common reference grade for theoretical calculations. SS 316/316L pipe is slightly denser. SS 321/321H pipe and SS 904L pipe also have grade-specific densities and alloy content. Seamless and welded pipes with the same exact OD and wall thickness have nearly the same theoretical metal weight; the main weight driver is geometry and density, not the presence of a weld seam.

Frequently Asked Questions