About

Procurement of sheet metal typically occurs by weight (tons), but installation and coverage are measured in area (square meters). This discrepancy creates a calculation gap for estimators in roofing, cladding, and automotive manufacturing. A variation of 0.5mm in thickness significantly alters the coverage area per ton.

This tool addresses the density conversion required to translate mass into surface area. It accounts for the specific gravity of standard industrial metals - Steel, Aluminum, Copper, and Stainless Steel. Correct usage prevents material shortages during construction phases where ordering by weight is mandatory but covering a specific square meterage is the deliverable.

Formulas

The calculation determines the volume of the metal first, then divides by the thickness to isolate the area. Note that units must be converted to meters and kilograms before processing.

Area = Massρ × t

Where:

Mass is total weight in kg (1 Ton = 1000 kg).
ρ (rho) is density in kg/m³.
t is thickness in meters (mm / 1000).

Reference Data

Material	Density (kg/m³)	Thickness (mm)	Area per Ton (m²)
Mild Steel	7850	1.0	127.39
Aluminum	2700	1.0	370.37
Stainless Steel (304)	7900	2.0	63.29
Copper	8960	0.6	186.01
Zinc	7140	0.7	200.08
Lead	11340	2.5	35.27
Titanium	4500	0.5	444.44
Brass	8730	1.0	114.55

Frequently Asked Questions

No. This tool calculates theoretical coverage based on nominal density and thickness. Mills often have a thickness tolerance (e.g., +/- 0.05mm), which can affect actual yield by 2-5%.

Density. Aluminum (approx 2700 kg/m³) is roughly one-third the weight of Steel (7850 kg/m³). Therefore, one ton of Aluminum has nearly three times the volume, resulting in greater surface area for the same thickness.

Use the "Steel" setting. The zinc coating in galvanization adds negligible thickness relative to the steel core for general weight-to-area estimations, though strict engineering may require a composite density adjustments.

No. This calculator assumes a solid, flat sheet. Expanded metal or perforated sheets have void spaces, meaning 1 ton covers significantly more area than a solid sheet.