Technical library
Use actual dimensions and an appropriate density, then account separately for tolerances, corners, coatings and packing.
Volume comes first
For a uniform section, volume is cross-sectional area multiplied by length. Multiply volume in cubic metres by density in kilograms per cubic metre to obtain mass in kilograms. The calculator converts metric or imperial input into a consistent geometry before computing mass.
Use a defensible density
The default 2700 kg/m³ is a rounded reference for 6061, not a universal measured value for every alloy. Select a verified record or enter the supplier density. Keep the reporting temperature and rounding in mind.
Know what the geometry excludes
Angle, channel and rectangular hollow-section calculations use sharp corners and uniform walls. Real extrusions may contain fillets, tapers and corner radii. Use supplier section area in the custom-section calculator when available.
Separate metal and shipment
Calculated metal mass excludes packing and may exclude coatings. Coil calculations assume tightly packed bare metal and exclude the core. Actual weighing and supplier tolerance determine shipped mass.
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Alloy database · Product guides · Engineering calculators
Sources and verification
Selected facts checked 14 October 2026. Source data is reference information, not certification of supplied material.
- Kaiser • 6061 sheet, coil and plate — 05/06 · checked 2026-10-14
Choose a geometry that describes actual metal
Alcoa separates slab, billet and remelt ingot shapes. A uniform cylinder, a rolled rectangle and a tapered casting therefore need different mass inputs. Use actual net area for hollow or complex constant sections, supplier mass for irregular ingots, and developed material geometry for formed sheet. A theoretical weight supports estimation; it does not measure crop yield or certify receiving mass.
Source: www.aluminum.org, www.alcoa.com
