Square and Rectangular Steel Tube Weight Sizing Guidelines

Hollow structural sections (HSS), such as square and rectangular tubing, are widely used in structural frames and architectural metalwork. Calculating their weight requires accounting for the hollow center.

The Hollow Cross-Section Formula

To calculate the weight of a square or rectangular tube, you must calculate the outer volume and subtract the inner hollow volume. The cross-sectional area of a rectangular tube is calculated using:

$$\text{Area} = (W \times H) - (W - 2t)(H - 2t)$$

Where (W) is the outer width, (H) is the outer height, and (t) is the wall thickness. Once you have the cross-sectional area, multiply by the tube's length to find the volume, and multiply by the steel density to calculate the weight.

Calculate tubing weights using our interactive length to weight steel calculator. For cylindrical pipes, refer to our steel pipe weight calculation formulas.