How To Calculate The Unit Weight of Steel Bars

How to Calculate the Unit Weight of
Steel Bars
There is a formula to calculate the unit weight of steel bars. I’ll

come that point later.
Why do we need to know the unit weight of steel bars?
When we estimate the steel bars for a Reinforced

Concrete member we get the length of that as a result. For
example, 1000 feet 20mm ø bar or 500 feet 16mm ø bar, etc (ø
– symbol of diameter).
But steel bar suppliers measure the steel bars as weight. So we

have to order them in weight for purchasing. The weight of steel
bars can be expressed in kg or quintal or ton.
1 quintal = 100 kg
1 ton = 1000 kg or 10 quintal
Now come to the point.
How to Calculate the Weight of Steel Bars

We often use a formula for Calculating the weight of Steel Bars.
The formula just converts the length of steel bars to weight. We

can also use this formula to know the unit weight of steel bars of
different diameter.
The Formula: D²L/162

Where,
D = Diameter of steel bar in millimeter

L = Length of steel bars in meter
Understanding the Formula
We know, the weight of a material is,
= Cross sectional area of the material x Length of the material x

Density of the material
For steel bar this is also same.
Weight of steel bars= Cross sectional area of steel bar x Length

of steel bar x Density of steel bar.
That means,
W=AxLxρ
Where,
A = Area = πD²/4
π (pai) = 3.14
D = Diameter of steel bar in millimeter
L = Length of steel bar in meter
ρ (Rho) = Density of steel bar = 7850 kg/m³
Therefore,
W = 3.14 x D²/4 x L x 7850

But there are two conflicting unit in the formula. Those are
millimeter for D and m for ρ (Rho).
We have to convert either D or ρ to same unit.
Let’s convert D from millimeter to meter.
1 millimeter = 1/1000 meter
Lets implement this to the formula,
W= 3.14 x D²/(4x1000x1000) x L x 7850
= D²L/162
Using this formula we can calculate the weight of steel bars.
Calculating Weight of Steel Bars When Length

is in meter
Keep in mind that you always use D as millimeter and L as
meter in this formula.
Lets see some example.
Example-1:
How to calculate the weight of 100 meter long 16mm ø bar?
In this example,
D= 16mm
L = 100 m
So,
W = D²L/162
= 16² x 100/162
= 158 kg (approx)
Answer: Weight of the 100 meter long 16mm ø bar is 158 kg.
Example-2
How to calculate the weight of 100 m long 20mm ø bar?
In this example,
D = 20mm
L = 100 m
So,
W = D²L/162
= 20² x 100/162
= 247 kg (approx)
Answer: Weight of the 100 meter long 20mm ø bar is 247 kg.
Unit Weight of Steel Bar When Length is in
Meter
If you put 1 meter length for each diameter of steel bar in the
formula then you’ll get the unit weight.
Let’s see.
W = D²L/162
Unit weight of,
• 10mm ø bar = 10² x 1/162 = 0.617 kg/m

• 12mm ø bar = 12² x 1/162 = 0.888 kg/m
• 16mm ø bar = 16² x 1/162 = 1.580 kg/m
• 20mm ø bar = 20² x 1/162 = 2.469 kg/m
• 25mm ø bar = 25² x 1/162 = 3.858 kg/m
If you multiply the length of estimated bars with this unit weight
you’ll get the total weight of steel bars for your reinforced
concrete member.
For example, total weight of 1000 meter long 25mm ø steel bar
is,
1000 x 3.858 = 3858 kg.
So far we have seen the unit weight for each diameter of steel
bar in meter basis. That means weight of bar per meter.
But what if you estimate the steel bar length in foot. What will be
the formula to calculate the steel bar’s weight if the length of bar
is in foot?
You May Want to Read:

Concrete Cover for Reinforcement Bar
Types of Rebar Support in RCC Member
Calculating Weight of Steel Bars When Length

is in Foot
Again,
Weight = A x L x ρ
= 3.14 x D²/(4 x 304.80 x 304.80) x 222
= D²L/533
Where,
D = Diameter of bar in mm (1 foot = 304.80 mm)
ρ (Rho) = 7850 kg/m³ = 222 kg/ft³ (actually it is 222.287 kg/ft³)
Keep in mind that you always should use D as millimeter and L

as feet in this formula.
Unit Weight of Steel Bar When Length is in
Foot
If you calculate 1 foot length of any diameter of steel bar you
will get the following result and that will be the unit weight of
steel bars per foot length.
Unit weight of,
• 10mm ø bar = 10² x 1/533 = 0.188 kg/ft

• 12mm ø bar = 12² x 1/533 = 0.270 kg/ft
• 16mm ø bar = 16² x 1/533 = 0.480 kg/ft
• 20mm ø bar = 20² x 1/533 = 0.750 kg/ft
• 25mm ø bar = 25² x 1/533 = 1.172 kg/ft
If you multiply the estimated length of steel bars with these unit
weights you’ll get the total weight of steel bars.
For example,
Weight of 1000 feet long 10mm ø bar is,
1000 x 0.188 = 188 kg.

Your Turn:
If you have any query about this post then ask me in the
comments below. I’ll reply as early as possible.
http://www.acivilengineer.com/2017/05/calculating-steel-bars-
unit-weight.html
https://www.allinterview.com/showanswers/165214/in-steel-bar-weight-formula-d-2-162-so-what-is-
162.html
How do I calculate the weight of

reinforcement/steel bars of different diameters?
Also, I am aware of the formulae (diameter square
multiplied with length divided by 162), what is 162
here?
We know a formula to calculate the weight of bar. That is D²L/162.
Where,
D= Diameter of bar in millimeter
L= Length of bar in meter
Now the question is what the 162 is.
Let's see.
To calculate the weight of something else we often use the following formula. To
calculate the weight of reinforcement same formula can be used.
Weight= volume x unit weight [volume=area x length]
So,
Weight= area x length(L) x unit weight (γ) [area=πD²/4]
Therefore,
Weight (W)= πD²/4 x L x 7850
We know the unit weight of rod is 7850 kg/m³
But there are two conflicting unit in the above formula. Those are D is in millimeter (as
we get the rod as millimeter, such as 16mmø, 20mmø etc.) and unit weight of rod is in
m³ (kg/m3). If we estimate the rod in meter then L also is in meter unit in above
formula.
So if we don't convert all three unit as same unit we can't use the above formula. We
have to convert either D from millimeter to meter or L and γ from meter to millimeter.
Lets convert the D from millimeter to meter.
1 mm= 1/1000 meter
So,
D² (mm) = D²/(1000 x 1000), meter
If we implement this in the above formula, we'll find
W= D²/{4 x (1000 x 1000)} x L x 7850
= D²L/162
Keep in mind that, in this formula D always should be in millimeter and L always should
be in meter.
But what if you estimate the length of reinforcement is in foot?

In that case the formula for calculating the weight of reinforcement is,
D²L/533
How is this come. It is better explained in the following article.
How to Calculate the Unit Weight of Steel Bars
You can use the following shortcut to calculate the weight of reinforcing bar.
If The L is in meter -
Multiply the total length of bar with the following unit weight.
For,
10mm ø bar = 0.617 kg/m
12mm ø bar = 0.888 kg/m
16mm ø bar = 1.580 kg/m
20mm ø bar = 2.469 kg/m
25mm ø bar = 3.858 kg/m
If the L is in foot-
Multiply the total length of bar with the following unit weight.
For,
10mm ø bar = 0.188 kg/ft
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-calculate-the-weight-of-reinforcement-steel-bars-
of-different-diameters-Also-I-am-aware-of-the-formulae-diameter-square-multiplied-
with-length-divided-by-162-what-is-162-here

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How to Calculate the Unit Weight of

There is a formula to calculate the unit weight of steel bars. I’ll

When we estimate the steel bars for a Reinforced

But steel bar suppliers measure the steel bars as weight. So we

Now come to the point.

How to Calculate the Weight of Steel Bars

The formula just converts the length of steel bars to weight. We

The Formula: D²L/162

D = Diameter of steel bar in millimeter

Understanding the Formula

We know, the weight of a material is,

= Cross sectional area of the material x Length of the material x

For steel bar this is also same.

Weight of steel bars= Cross sectional area of steel bar x Length

W = 3.14 x D²/4 x L x 7850

We have to convert either D or ρ to same unit.

Let’s convert D from millimeter to meter.

1 millimeter = 1/1000 meter

Lets implement this to the formula,

W= 3.14 x D²/(4x1000x1000) x L x 7850

Using this formula we can calculate the weight of steel bars.

Calculating Weight of Steel Bars When Length

Lets see some example.

Unit weight of,

• 10mm ø bar = 10² x 1/162 = 0.617 kg/m

You May Want to Read:

Calculating Weight of Steel Bars When Length

= 3.14 x D²/(4 x 304.80 x 304.80) x 222

Keep in mind that you always should use D as millimeter and L

Unit weight of,

• 10mm ø bar = 10² x 1/533 = 0.188 kg/ft

1000 x 0.188 = 188 kg.

How do I calculate the weight of

We know a formula to calculate the weight of bar. That is D²L/162.

L= Length of bar in meter

Now the question is what the 162 is.

Weight= volume x unit weight [volume=area x length]

Weight= area x length(L) x unit weight (γ) [area=πD²/4]

Weight (W)= πD²/4 x L x 7850

We know the unit weight of rod is 7850 kg/m³

Lets convert the D from millimeter to meter.

1 mm= 1/1000 meter

D² (mm) = D²/(1000 x 1000), meter

If we implement this in the above formula, we'll find

W= D²/{4 x (1000 x 1000)} x L x 7850

But what if you estimate the length of reinforcement is in foot?

How is this come. It is better explained in the following article.

How to Calculate the Unit Weight of Steel Bars

10mm ø bar = 0.617 kg/m

12mm ø bar = 0.888 kg/m

16mm ø bar = 1.580 kg/m

20mm ø bar = 2.469 kg/m

25mm ø bar = 3.858 kg/m

10mm ø bar = 0.188 kg/ft

12mm ø bar = 0.270 kg/ft

16mm ø bar = 0.480 kg/ft

20mm ø bar = 0.750 kg/ft

25mm ø bar = 1.172 kg/ft

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