Pipe Weight Calculator
Knowing pipe weight is essential for structural support design, rigging and lifting calculations, shipping estimates, and material procurement. This calculator provides weight per foot and total weight for common pipe materials and sizes based on standard NPS dimensions and schedule wall thicknesses.
Pipe weight is calculated from the annular cross-section: W = π/4 × (OD² - ID²) × 12 × density, where OD is the outer diameter, ID is the inner diameter, and density is the material density in pounds per cubic inch. The inner diameter equals the outer diameter minus twice the wall thickness.
NPS (Nominal Pipe Size) does not equal the actual outer diameter except for sizes 14 inches and above. For example, a 1-inch NPS pipe has an actual OD of 1.315 inches. The schedule number determines wall thickness: Schedule 10 is thin-wall, Schedule 40 is the most common standard wall, and Schedule 80 is heavy-wall for high-pressure applications.
Material density significantly affects weight. PVC pipe weighs only about 18% as much as steel pipe of the same dimensions. Copper pipe is heavier than steel. When specifying pipe for structural applications (handrails, frames, supports), always use the schedule weight for load calculations, not the nominal size.