About

Construction logistics often involves receiving materials by weight rather than count. When a crane operator lifts a bundle of steel pipes weighing 5 tonnes, the site engineer must quickly verify the total footage to ensure it matches the order. This tool reverses the standard weight calculation. It takes the physical dimensions (Outer Diameter and Wall Thickness) and the material density to determine the total linear length of the pipe stack.

Formulas

The calculation treats the pipe as a hollow cylinder. First, we find the cross-sectional area A of the material.

A = π × [(OD2)² − (OD − 2t2)²]

Then, we solve for Length L using the Mass m and Density ρ.

L = mA × ρ

Reference Data

Material	Density kg/m³	Common Use Case
Carbon Steel	7850	Structural, Oil & Gas
Stainless Steel (304/316)	7950	Food Process, Marine
Cast Iron	7200	Drainage, Water
Copper	8960	Plumbing, HVAC
Brass	8730	Fittings, Decor
Aluminum	2700	Aerospace, Lightweight structures
PVC (Rigid)	1380	Water, Waste lines
HDPE	950	Underground gas/water
Concrete	2400	Culverts, Drainage
Lead	11340	Radiation shielding

Frequently Asked Questions

No. This tool calculates the length of straight pipe only. Flanges, elbows, and valves add significant weight without adding length, which would skew the result.

In industry standards (ASTM/ISO), pipes are specified by Outer Diameter (OD) and Wall Thickness. ID is a derived dimension.

This calculator assumes empty pipes. If the pipes are filled, the weight input must be adjusted to subtract the fluid weight first, or the result will be incorrect.

No. The geometric formula used here involves Pi (π), which applies strictly to round cylindrical objects.