← Back to Bead BoardStainless square tube weight calculator
Stainless square tube shows up on railings, food-grade frames, and architectural work. It runs four-plus times the price of mild steel per pound, so a sloppy weight estimate comes straight out of your pocket. 304 is 0.289 lb/in³. A 2×2×1/8 tube is 3.25 lb/ft. A 2×2×1/4 is 6.07 lb/ft. 316 is the same weight. Enter your size below.
Quick answer
Calculate 304 and 316 stainless square tube weight by outside dimension and wall thickness.
Common 304 stainless square tube weights
Weight = (OD² − (OD − 2×wall)²) × length × 0.289. Values use nominal wall and match the calculator above. 304 and 316 are within 1% of each other, so the calculator uses the same number for both.
Questions welders ask about this one
How much does 2×2×1/4 stainless square tube weigh?
About 6.07 lb per foot in 304. Math: (2² − 1.5²) × 12 × 0.289 = 6.07 lb/ft. 316 is the same. That is nearly twice the weight of the same tube in aluminum, and it costs a lot more per pound, so guess high on a cut list and you have eaten the job.
Does 304 and 316 stainless tube weigh the same?
For quoting, yes. 304 is 7.93 g/cm³ and 316 is 7.98 — about 0.6% apart. The calculator uses 0.289 lb/in³ for both. The real difference is corrosion resistance: 316 adds molybdenum for salt and chemical environments.
How do I calculate custom stainless square tube weight?
Outside² minus inside² gives the cross-section, times length times 0.289 lb/in³. Inside = outside − 2 × wall. Example: 1.5 × 1.5 × 1/8 over 6 ft = (1.5² − 1.25²) × 72 × 0.289 = 14.3 lb. Or use the calculator above.
Weight is only half of material cost. To turn these pounds into a number you can quote, run the weld cost calculator for wire, gas, and labor per inch, or the job pricing calculator to build the whole bid.
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