By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Pipe weight is the metal in the annulus between the outside diameter and the bore. Because it scales with wall thickness, a schedule 80 pipe can weigh 60% more than schedule 40 of the same nominal size — which matters for hangers, supports and shipping.
Pipe weight per foot and per length, from OD and wall thickness.
m = π/4 × (D² − d²) × L × ρ
D is outside diameter, d is inside diameter (D − 2 × wall) and L is length. For steel use 7,850 kg/m³, PVC 1,400, HDPE 960 and copper 8,940. Wall thickness must be less than half the OD.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| D | Outside diameter. |
| d | Inside diameter, D − 2t. |
| t | Wall thickness. |
| ρ | Material density. |
The metal area is π/4 × (2.375² − 2.067²) = 1.07 sq in, so the pipe weighs 3.66 lb per foot and 73.1 lb for 20 ft.
Continue with the Gravel Calculator, Sand Calculator, Rock Calculator, or the River Rock Calculator — or browse more materials & quantities and all construction calculators.
It is a wall-thickness series, not a size. A 2-inch schedule 40 steel pipe has a 0.154-inch wall; schedule 80 has 0.218 inch.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026