Metal Density Chart: Steel & Aluminum

Quick Reference

Metal density = mass per unit volume (kg/m³ or g/cm³). Formula: ρ = m/V. Reference values: carbon steel 7.85 g/cm³, stainless steel 7.75-8.0 g/cm³, aluminum 2.7 g/cm³, copper 8.96 g/cm³, titanium 4.51 g/cm³. Lightest metal: lithium (0.534 g/cm³). Densest: osmium (22.59 g/cm³). Use our steel weight calculator for weight calculations.

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Density of Metals: Steel, Aluminum, Iron & More

What Is the Density of Metal?

Density is a fundamental property in materials science, physics, and engineering. It measures the compactness of a material’s mass within a given volume.

Density is defined as mass per unit volume and is expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).

For metals and alloys, density directly affects material selection, application suitability, and performance across industries.

The density of metals and alloys reflects their atomic structure and bonding. Metals consist of closely packed atoms with a sea of delocalized electrons that enable their high conductivity. The nature of metallic bonding, combined with the size and mass of the constituent atoms and the efficiency of their packing, determines the metal’s density. Alloys, through the introduction of additional elements into the base metal, can exhibit densities that differ from those of their pure metal counterparts, depending on the type and proportion of alloying elements.

Density of Metals Atomic Structure

Metals exhibit a broad range of densities. At the low end, lithium has a density of approximately 0.534 g/cm³, low enough to float on water. At the high end, osmium is the densest naturally occurring element at about 22.59 g/cm³. Alloys, which are mixtures of metals and other elements engineered to improve properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, or fabricability, show similarly varied densities.

Metals Density Calculation Formula

The formula for calculating density (ρ) is:

ρ = m / V

where “m” represents mass, and V denotes volume.

Despite its simplicity, this equation conveys significant information about a material’s structure, composition, and potential applications.

Density is a fundamental property that influences material characteristics and applications across engineering disciplines. From design to fabrication, density considerations affect the performance, durability, and environmental impact of metal and alloy-based products. As materials science advances and atomic-level engineering improves, targeted manipulation of density will continue to enable new material innovations.

Relevance of Metal Density

Knowing a metal’s density provides practical information about its properties and suitability for specific applications. Density data supports material selection, design decisions, and application feasibility assessments.

Here are several aspects that can be deduced from a metal’s density:

Material Selection

Common Mistake

Calculating lifting weights using theoretical density without accounting for manufacturing tolerances and surface coatings. Actual weights can vary by ±5-10% from theoretical - always add a safety factor for rigging calculations. I’ve seen lifts fail because engineers calculated the exact theoretical weight without margin.

Density is a determining factor in material selection, particularly for weight-sensitive applications in aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics. The choice between aluminum and titanium for aircraft components, for example, depends on balancing density with strength, cost, and performance (this ratio is called “Strength-to-Weight Ratio,” a concept widely used in the automotive industry as well).

Design Considerations

Engineers must account for material density when designing products and structures to ensure they withstand operational stresses while maintaining efficiency. High-density materials may be preferred for their inherent weight and stability, while low-density materials are suited for lightweight construction.

Thermal and Electrical Performance

While not directly proportional, density can influence a material’s thermal and electrical conductivities. Metals with high electron mobility, which depends partly on atomic arrangement and therefore density, typically exhibit good conductivity.

Corrosion Resistance

Density is not a direct indicator of corrosion resistance, but it can serve as a starting reference. Metals with higher densities often have compact atomic structures that may resist corrosion better in certain environments.

Wear and Durability

In certain applications, a metal’s density can indicate its wear resistance and durability under specific operating conditions, particularly for parts subjected to friction and abrasion.

Material Identification

Density can help identify a metal or distinguish between two similar-looking materials, since each metal has a characteristic density.

Field Note

When you suspect material mix-up (common with unmarked pipe or fittings), a simple weight check can identify the material. Weigh a known-dimension piece and calculate its density. Carbon steel is about 7.85 g/cm³, stainless around 8.0, and aluminum 2.7. If the calculated density doesn’t match the claimed material, investigate before installation.

Fabrication and Machinability

A metal’s density influences fabrication and machining processes. Heavier metals may require more energy to machine, weld, or form compared to lighter ones.

Cost and Availability

Denser metals, especially those that are rare or difficult to extract, tend to be more expensive. Density data helps with preliminary cost estimation during material selection.

Environmental and Economic Impact

Metal density affects sustainability and recyclability. High-density materials may require more energy to extract, refine, and process, but they can offer longer service lives and better recyclability, affecting overall environmental footprint.

Innovative Applications

Controlling the density of alloys allows engineers to create materials with tailored properties for advanced applications, from superalloys that withstand extreme temperatures in jet engines to lightweight alloys for electric vehicle batteries.

Metals Density Chart

Key Metals

The table below lists densities for commonly used metals in piping, structural steel, and related products. To estimate the weight of an item made from a specific material, based on its weight in carbon steel, multiply the nominal carbon steel weight by the density ratio relative to steel (for example, if a 4” Class 150 Threaded Flange in Carbon Steel weighs 3 kilograms, the corresponding flange in Copper will weigh 3 × 1.14 kg):

Pro Tip

Use the “Density vs. Steel” ratio for quick field estimates. If you know the weight of a carbon steel item (from a catalog or MTC), multiply by the ratio to get the weight in another material. A stainless steel flange is roughly the same weight as carbon steel (ratio ~1.0), but an aluminum flange is only 35% of the weight.

Metal	Density (g/cm³)	Density vs. Steel
Steel	7.85	1
Iron	7.85	1.00
Aluminum	2.73	0.35
Brass	8.5	1.08
Chromium	7.19	0.92
Copper	8.94	1.14
Gold	19.3	2.46
Lead	11.3	1.44
Magnesium	1.74	0.22
Mercury	13.6	1.73
Nickel	8.9	1.13
Platinum	21.4	2.73
Silver	10.5	1.34
Sodium	0.97	0.12
Tin	7.28	0.93
Zinc	7.14	0.91

All Key Metals, Alloys, and Elements

The table shows the density of the most common metals, alloys, and elements in kgs/m3 and in Lbs/ft3:

Metal/Alloy/Element	Density in kilograms per m3	Density in Pounds per ft3
Actinium	10070	629
Admiralty Brass	8525	532
Aluminum	2712	169
Aluminum - melted	2560 - 2640	160 - 165
Aluminum alloy - 1100	2720	170
Aluminum alloy - 6061	2720	170
Aluminum alloy - 7050	2800	175
Aluminum alloy - 7178	2830	177
Aluminum alloy 2014, annealed	2800	175
Aluminum alloy 3003, rolled	2730	170
Aluminum alloy 360	2640	165
Aluminum bronze (3-10% Al)	7700 - 8700	481- 543
Aluminum foil	2700 -2750	169 - 172
Antifriction metal	9130 -10600	570-662
Antimonial lead (hard lead)	10900	680
Antimony	6690	418
Babbitt	7272	454
Barium	3594	224
Beryllium	1840	115
Beryllium copper	8100 - 8250	506 - 515
Bismuth	9750	609
Brass - casting	8400 - 8700	524- 543
Brass - rolled and drawn	8430 - 8730	526 - 545
Brass 60/40	8520	532
Bronze - lead	7700 - 8700	480- 543
Bronze - phosphorous	8780 - 8920	548 - 557
Bronze (8-14% Sn)	7400 - 8900	462 - 556
Brushed metal	7860	491
Cadmium	8640	539
Cesium	1873	117
Calcium	1540	96
Cast iron	6800 - 7800	425 - 487
Cerium	6770	423
Chemical Lead	11340	708
Chromium	7190	449
Cobalt	8746	546
Columbium	8600	537
Constantan	8920	557
Constantan	8880	554
Copper	8940	558
Cupronickel	8908 - 8940	556 - 558
Delta metal	8600	537
Duralumin	2790	174
Dysprosium	8550	534
Electrum	8400 - 8900	524 - 555
Erbium	9070	566
Eroded metal	7860	491
Europium	5243	327
Gadolinium	7900	493
Gallium	5907	369
Germanium	5323	332
Gold	19320	1206
Hafnium	13310	831
Hastelloy C	8940	558
Holmium	8800	549
Incoloy	8027	501
Inconel	8497	530
Indium	7310	456
Iridium	22650	1414
Iron	7850	490
Lanthanum	6145	384
Lead	11340	708
Light alloy based on Al	2560 - 2800	160 - 175
Light alloy based on Mg	1760 - 1870	110-117
Lithium	534	33
Lutetium	9840	614
Magnesium	1738	108
Magnesium alloy AZ31B	1770	110
Manganese	7440	464
Manganese Bronze	8359	522
Manganin	8500	531
Mercury	13593	849
Molybdenum	10188	636
Monel	8360 - 8840	522 - 552
Neodymium	7007	437
Neptunium	20200	1261
Nichrome	8400	524
Nickel	8908	556
Nickel 20	8090	505
Nickel 200	8890	555
Nickel silver	8400 - 8900	524 - 556
Nickeline	8770	547
Nimonic	8100	506
Niobium	8570	535
Osmium	22610	1411
Palladium	12160	759
Phosphor bronze	8900	556
Platinum	21400	1336
Plutonium	19816	1237
Polonium	9200	574
Potassium	890	56
Praseodymium	6770	423
Promethium	7260	453
Protactinium	15400	961
Radium	5000	312
Red Brass	8746	546
Rhenium	20800	1299
Rhodium	12400	774
Rubidium	1530	96
Ruthenium	12100	755
Samarium	7520	469
Scandium	2990	187
Silver	10490	655
Sodium	971	61
Solder 50/50 Pb Sn	8885	555
Stainless Steel 304/L	7930	495
Stainless Steel 316/L	8000	499
Steel	7850	490
Strontium	2640	165
Tantalium	16400	1024
Technetium	11000	687
Terbium	8230	514
Thallium	11800	737
Thorium	11700	730
Thulium	9320	582
Tin	7280	454
Titanium	4500	281
Tungsten	19600	1224
Uranium	18900	1180
Vanadium	5494	343
White metal	7100	443
Wrought Iron	7750	484
Yellow Brass	8470	529
Ytterbium	6900	431
Yttrium	4470	279
Zinc	7135	445
Zirconium	6570	410

Ranking by Density (Highest to Lowest)

The table shows that Californium is the highest-density material, while Hydrogen is the lowest:

Density	Name	Symbol	Rank
15.1 g/cc	Californium	Cf	98
14.78 g/cc	Berkelium	Bk	97
13.5 g/cc	Curium	Cm	96
13.67 g/cc	Americium	Am	95
19.84 g/cc	Plutonium	Pu	94
20.2 g/cc	Neptunium	Np	93
18.95 g/cc	Uranium	U	92
15.4 g/cc	Protactinium	Pa	91
11.724 g/cc	Thorium	Th	90
10.07 g/cc	Actinium	Ac	89
5.5 g/cc	Radium	Ra	88
9.73 g/L	Radon	Rn	86
9.3 g/cc	Polonium	Po	84
9.75 g/cc	Bismuth	Bi	83
11.35 g/cc	Lead	Pb	82
11.85 g/cc	Thallium	Tl	81
13.546 g/cc	Mercury	Hg	80
19.32 g/cc	Gold	Au	79
21.45 g/cc	Platinum	Pt	78
22.4 g/cc	Iridium	Ir	77
22.6 g/cc	Osmium	Os	76
21.04 g/cc	Rhenium	Re	75
19.35 g/cc	Tungsten	W	74
16.65 g/cc	Tantalum	Ta	73
13.31 g/cc	Hafnium	Hf	72
9.84 g/cc	Lutetium	Lu	71
6.9 g/cc	Ytterbium	Yb	70
9.32 g/cc	Thulium	Tm	69
9.07 g/cc	Erbium	Er	68
8.8 g/cc	Holmium	Ho	67
8.55 g/cc	Dysprosium	Dy	66
8.23 g/cc	Terbium	Tb	65
7.895 g/cc	Gadolinium	Gd	64
5.24 g/cc	Europium	Eu	63
7.52 g/cc	Samarium	Sm	62
7.3 g/cc	Promethium	Pm	61
7.01 g/cc	Neodymium	Nd	60
6.77 g/cc	Praseodymium	Pr	59
6.77 g/cc	Cerium	Ce	58
6.15 g/cc	Lanthanum	La	57
3.59 g/cc	Barium	Ba	56
1.873 g/cc	Cesium	Cs	55
5.9 g/L	Xenon	Xe	54
4.93 g/cc	Iodine	I	53
6.24 g/cc	Tellurium	Te	52
6.684 g/cc	Antimony	Sb	51
7.31 g/cc	Tin	Sn	50
7.31 g/cc	Indium	In	49
8.65 g/cc	Cadmium	Cd	48
10.5 g/cc	Silver	Ag	47
12.02 g/cc	Palladium	Pd	46
12.41 g/cc	Rhodium	Rh	45
12.37 g/cc	Ruthenium	Ru	44
11.5 g/cc	Technetium	Tc	43
10.22 g/cc	Molybdenum	Mo	42
8.57 g/cc	Niobium	Nb	41
6.51 g/cc	Zirconium	Zr	40
4.47 g/cc	Yttrium	Y	39
2.54 g/cc	Strontium	Sr	38
1.63 g/cc	Rubidium	Rb	37
3.75 g/L	Krypton	Kr	36
3.119 g/cc	Bromine	Br	35
4.79 g/cc	Selenium	Se	34
5.72 g/cc	Arsenic	As	33
5.323 g/cc	Germanium	Ge	32
5.907 g/cc	Gallium	Ga	31
7.13 g/cc	Zinc	Zn	30
8.96 g/cc	Copper	Cu	29
8.9 g/cc	Nickel	Ni	28
8.9 g/cc	Cobalt	Co	27
7.874 g/cc	Iron	Fe	26
7.43 g/cc	Manganese	Mn	25
7.19 g/cc	Chromium	Cr	24
6.11 g/cc	Vanadium	V	23
4.54 g/cc	Titanium	Ti	22
2.99 g/cc	Scandium	Sc	21
1.55 g/cc	Calcium	Ca	20
0.862 g/cc	Potassium	K	19
1.7824 g/L	Argon	Ar	18
3.214 g/L	Chlorine	Cl	17
2.07 g/cc	Sulfur	S	16
1.82 g/cc	Phosphorus	P	15
2.33 g/cc	Silicon	Si	14
2.702 g/cc	Aluminum	Al	13
1.738 g/cc	Magnesium	Mg	12
0.971 g/cc	Sodium	Na	11
0.9 g/L	Neon	Ne	10
1.696 g/L	Fluorine	F	9
1.429 g/L	Oxygen	O	8
1.2506 g/L	Nitrogen	N	7
2.26 g/cc	Carbon	C	6
2.34 g/cc	Boron	B	5
1.848 g/cc	Beryllium	Be	4
0.534 g/cc	Lithium	Li	3
0.1785 g/L	Helium	He	2
0.0899 g/L	Hydrogen	H	1