Material weight calculator for plates & blanks
Calculate the weight and volume of a plate or blank from length, width, height and material. Ideal for pre-calculation before milling.
Hinweis: All values are non-binding reference figures. Actual values depend on machine, tool, material and Bedingungen ab. Beginnen Sie konservativ. Eine Haftung für Werkzeugbruch, Maschinenschäden oder Bearbeitungsergebnisse wird nicht übernommen.
What the Material Weight Calculator Computes
The calculator determines the volume and the resulting weight of a rectangular plate or blank from the three edge dimensions and the selected material. This allows you to estimate before cutting or milling how heavy a component will be, what shipping costs will apply, and how much raw material you require.
The Formula
The basis is a simple physical relationship:
Weight = Volume × Density
The volume of a solid cuboid is calculated from:
Volume = Length × Width × Height
Convert the dimensions to centimetres and use the density in g/cm³, and you will obtain the weight directly in grams. Example: An aluminium plate 20 × 10 × 1 cm has a volume of 200 cm³. Multiplied by the density of 2.70 g/cm³, this gives 540 g, i.e. 0.54 kg.
Density of Common Materials
| Material | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | 2.70 |
| Steel | 7.85 |
| Stainless steel V2A | 7.90 |
| Brass | 8.50 |
| Copper | 8.96 |
| PMMA (acrylic glass) | 1.18 |
| POM | 1.42 |
| PVC | 1.40 |
| Softwood | 0.50 |
| Hardwood | 0.70 |
| MDF | 0.75 |
| Plywood | 0.68 |
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the plate dimensions (length, width, height).
- Select the material – the density is applied automatically.
- Read off the weight and volume.
- Subtract holes and pockets: Milled-out material reduces the weight. Calculate the volume of the recess and subtract it from the solid cuboid volume.
What to Bear in Mind
The stored densities are reference values for pure materials. Alloys, moisture content in wood, or coatings can cause slight deviations. For complex geometries with many cutouts, calculate the negative volumes individually.
Further tools can be found in our overview of CNC calculators. Background information on materials and machining can be read in the Knowledge Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the weight of a metal plate?
Multiply the volume (length × width × height) by the density of the material. With dimensions in cm and density in g/cm³, you will obtain the result in grams. A steel plate 20 × 10 × 1 cm weighs 200 cm³ × 7.85 g/cm³ = 1,570 g.
What is the density of aluminium?
Aluminium has a density of 2.70 g/cm³. This makes it significantly lighter than steel (7.85 g/cm³) or stainless steel V2A (7.90 g/cm³).
How do I account for holes and pockets?
Holes and pockets remove material and thus reduce the weight. Calculate the volume of the recess and subtract it from the volume of the solid cuboid before multiplying by the density.
Is the calculated weight exact?
The calculator provides a theoretical value based on the stored standard densities. Alloys, wood moisture, or coatings can lead to slight deviations from practice.
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