Pipe Weight Calculator

Weight of Empty Pipe

Weight of empty pipe per unit length can be calculated as

w_p = ρ_m A_m

    = ρ_m π (d_o² - d_i²) / 4 

    = (π / 4) ρ_m (d_o² - d_i²)                               (1)

where

w_p = weight of empty pipe per unit length (kg/m, lb/in)

ρ_m = density of pipe material (kg/m³, lb/in³)

A_m = cross-sectional wall area of pipe (m², in²)

d_o = outside diameter (m, in)

d_i = d_o - 2 t = inside diameter (m, in)

t = wall thickness (m, in)

Weight of Liquid in Pipe

Weight of liquid in pipes per unit length can be calculated as

w_l = ρ_l A_i

    = ρ_l π (d_i / 2)² 

    = (π / 4) ρ_l d_i²                                    (2)

where

w_l = weight of liquid in pipe per unit length of pipe (kg, lb)

A_i = cross-sectional inside area of pipe (m², in²)

ρ_l = density of liquid (kg/m³, lb/in³)

• water content in pipes

Weight of Pipe with Liquid

Weight of pipe with liquid can be calculated as

w = w_p + w_i

   = ρ_m A_m + ρ_l A_i     

   =  (ρ_m π (d_o² - d_i²) / 4) + (ρ_l π d_i² / 4)

   = (π / 4) [ρ_m (d_o² - d_i²) + ρ_l d_i²]                      (3)           

• mass and weight - the difference

Weight of Pipe Calculator

This calculator can be used to calculate the weight of a pipe with - or without - liquid. The calculator is generic and can be used for both SI and Imperial units as long as the use of units are consistent.

d_o - outside diameter (m, in)

d_i - inside diameter (m, in)

ρ_m - density of piping material (kg/m³, lb/in³)

ρ_l - density of liquid (kg/m^3, lb/in³) (zero for empty pipe)

• 1 m = 10³ mm
• 1 m² = 10⁶ mm²
• 1 in = 1/12 ft
• 1 in² = 1/144 ft²
• 1 lb/in³ = 1728 lb/ft²

Example - Weight of 4" Schedule 40 Steel Pipe with Water - SI Units (default values in the calculator above)

The outside diameter  of 4" Schedule 40 Steel Pipe is 114.3 mm. The inside diameter is 102.3 mm. The density of steel is 7850 kg/m³. The density of water is 1000 kg/m³.

The weight of empty pipe per unit length can be calculatet with (1) as:

w_p = (π / 4) (7850 kg/m³) ((0.1143 m)² - (0.1023 m)²)

     = 16 kg/m  

The weight of the liquid in the pipe per unit length can be calculatet with (2) as:

w_l = (π / 4) (1000 kg/m³) (0.1023 m)²

     = 8.2 kg/m  

The weight of pipe filled with water per unit length can be calculated with (3) as

w = (π / 4) [(7850 kg/m³)((0.1143 m)² - (0.1023 m)²) + (1000 kg/m³) (0.1023 m)²] 

   = 24.2 kg/m

Example - Weight of 4" Schedule 40 Steel Pipe

The outside diameter  of 4" Schedule 40 Steel Pipe is 4.500 inches. The wall thickness is 0.237 inches and the inside diameter is 4.026 in. The density of steel is 490 lb/ft³ (0.28 lb/in³). The weight of empty pipe per unit length can be calculated as

w = (π / 4) (0.28 lb/in³) ((4.500 in)² - (4.026 in)²)   

   = 0.89 lb/in

   = 10.7 lb/ft

Typical Weight of Schedule 40 Steel Pipe with/without Water

Weight of Insulation on Pipe

Weight of stone wool insulation mat on pipe.

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