Metal Density & Weight–Volume Conversion
Density for 14 metals and 20 common alloys, with the four formulas that actually get used on a shop floor — bar, tube, sheet and cable conductor. Every example below is computed from the formula shown, not typed in.
Pure metals
At 20 °C. The last column is how much space one metric ton takes up — the number you need when a container books out on volume before it books out on weight.
| Metal | g/cm³ | kg/m³ | lb/in³ | m³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 8.96 | 8,960 | 0.3237 | 0.1116 |
| Aluminum | 2.70 | 2,700 | 0.0975 | 0.3704 |
| Lead | 11.34 | 11,340 | 0.4097 | 0.0882 |
| Zinc | 7.14 | 7,140 | 0.2579 | 0.1401 |
| Tin | 7.31 | 7,310 | 0.2641 | 0.1368 |
| Nickel | 8.91 | 8,910 | 0.3219 | 0.1122 |
| Iron/Steel | 7.87 | 7,870 | 0.2843 | 0.1271 |
| Gold | 19.32 | 19,320 | 0.6980 | 0.0518 |
| Silver | 10.49 | 10,490 | 0.3790 | 0.0953 |
| Titanium | 4.51 | 4,510 | 0.1629 | 0.2217 |
| Magnesium | 1.74 | 1,740 | 0.0629 | 0.5747 |
| Molybdenum | 10.28 | 10,280 | 0.3714 | 0.0973 |
| Cobalt | 8.90 | 8,900 | 0.3215 | 0.1124 |
| Tungsten | 19.35 | 19,350 | 0.6991 | 0.0517 |
Alloys — nominal density
Using 8.96 for a brass part overstates its weight by about 6%. On a theoretical-weight quotation that is the whole margin.
| Grade | Material | g/cm³ | m³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper alloys | |||
| T2 / C11000 | ETP copper | 8.90 | 0.1124 |
| H62 | Yellow brass | 8.43 | 0.1186 |
| H68 | Cartridge brass | 8.50 | 0.1176 |
| HPb59-1 | Leaded brass | 8.50 | 0.1176 |
| QSn6.5-0.1 | Phosphor bronze | 8.80 | 0.1136 |
| QAl9-4 | Aluminium bronze | 7.50 | 0.1333 |
| B10 / C70600 | Cupronickel 90/10 | 8.90 | 0.1124 |
| B30 / C71500 | Cupronickel 70/30 | 8.90 | 0.1124 |
| Aluminium alloys | |||
| 1060 | Commercial pure Al | 2.71 | 0.3690 |
| 2024 | Duralumin | 2.78 | 0.3597 |
| 5052 | Al-Mg sheet | 2.68 | 0.3731 |
| 6061 | Structural extrusion | 2.70 | 0.3704 |
| 6063 | Architectural extrusion | 2.70 | 0.3704 |
| 7075 | High-strength Al | 2.81 | 0.3559 |
| ADC12 | Die-cast Al (JIS) | 2.82 | 0.3546 |
| A356 | Cast Al | 2.68 | 0.3731 |
| Zinc alloys | |||
| Zamak 3 | Zinc die-cast 3 | 6.60 | 0.1515 |
| Zamak 5 | Zinc die-cast 5 | 6.70 | 0.1493 |
| Stainless steel | |||
| 304 | Austenitic SS | 7.93 | 0.1261 |
| 316 | Mo-bearing SS | 7.98 | 0.1253 |
Nominal values from the governing grade standards. Actual density moves with the composition inside the allowed range, so treat these as quotation figures, not as an acceptance criterion.
Four weight formulas
ρ in g/cm³, dimensions in mm. These are the theoretical weights — mill tolerance is on top.
Bulk density is not material density
Everything above describes solid material. A pile of scrap is mostly air. A ton of copper occupies 0.112 m³ as a solid billet; the same ton as loose wire, shredded sheet or unbaled radiators can take several times that.
Which means you cannot get from a volume to a weight for scrap using this table. The ratio depends on the form, on how tightly it was baled, and on who loaded it — it is not a material property and there is no honest single number for it. We deliberately do not publish one.
In practice: weigh it. Where volume is the binding constraint (a 20'GP tops out around 28 t of payload but only about 33 m³ of space), take the bale dimensions from your own supplier's last few shipments rather than any published figure.