Wire Weight Calculator
body {
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margin-bottom: 40px;
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.calc-grid {
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margin-bottom: 20px;
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@media (max-width: 600px) {
.calc-grid {
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Wire Weight Calculator
Wire Material
Copper (8.96 g/cm³)
Aluminum (2.70 g/cm³)
Steel, Carbon (7.85 g/cm³)
Stainless Steel 304 (7.90 g/cm³)
Nichrome (8.40 g/cm³)
Brass (8.73 g/cm³)
Gold (19.32 g/cm³)
Silver (10.49 g/cm³)
Titanium (4.50 g/cm³)
Measurement Standard
AWG (American Wire Gauge)
Diameter (mm)
Diameter (inches)
AWG Size (e.g., 12, 24)
Quantity (Strands/Coils)
Calculate Weight
Total Weight
0.00 lbs
Weight in Kilograms:
0.00 kg
Weight in Grams:
0.00 g
Calculated Diameter:
0.00 mm
Total Volume:
0.00 cm³
Calculating Wire Weight: Logic and Formulas
Understanding the weight of wire is crucial for logistics, structural engineering, and cost estimation (especially for scrap metal valuation). This calculator determines the mass of a round wire based on its material density, dimensions, and length.
The Calculation Formula
The weight of a wire is derived from its volume multiplied by the density of the material. Since wire is essentially a long cylinder, we use the cylindrical volume formula:
Weight = (π × r² × L) × Density
r : Radius of the wire (half of the diameter).L : Total length of the wire.Density : The mass per unit of volume (e.g., g/cm³) specific to the material.
Step 1: Determine Diameter
If you are using AWG (American Wire Gauge) , the diameter is calculated using the following logarithmic formula:
Diameter (mm) = 0.127 × 92(36 – AWG) / 39
As the AWG number increases, the wire diameter decreases. For example, AWG 0 is much thicker than AWG 24.
Step 2: Calculate Volume
Once the diameter is converted to a uniform unit (typically centimeters for density calculations), the cross-sectional area (πr²) is multiplied by the length.
Step 3: Apply Material Density
Different metals have vastly different densities. For instance, Gold is over twice as heavy as Copper for the same volume, while Aluminum is roughly 30% the weight of Copper.
Common Wire Material Densities
Material
Density (g/cm³)
Density (lbs/in³)
Copper
8.96
0.324
Aluminum
2.70
0.098
Steel (Carbon)
7.85
0.284
Stainless Steel (304)
7.90
0.285
Silver
10.49
0.379
Why Calculate Wire Weight?
Shipping & Logistics: Large spools of copper or steel cable can weigh thousands of pounds. Accurate calculation is vital for freight limits.Scrap Value: Copper wire is a valuable commodity. Knowing the exact weight of stripped wire helps in estimating the payout at a recycling center.Electrical Engineering: Heavier wires require sturdier supports, conduits, and cable trays.
function toggleInputs() {
var type = document.getElementById('measurementType').value;
var label = document.getElementById('sizeLabel');
var input = document.getElementById('wireSize');
if (type === 'awg') {
label.textContent = "AWG Size (e.g., 12, 14, 24)";
input.placeholder = "Enter AWG number";
} else if (type === 'mm') {
label.textContent = "Diameter (millimeters)";
input.placeholder = "Enter diameter in mm";
} else if (type === 'inch') {
label.textContent = "Diameter (inches)";
input.placeholder = "Enter diameter in inches";
}
}
function calculateWireWeight() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var density = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wireMaterial').value);
var measureType = document.getElementById('measurementType').value;
var sizeVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wireSize').value);
var lengthVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wireLength').value);
var lengthUnit = document.getElementById('lengthUnit').value;
var quantity = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wireQuantity').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(sizeVal) || isNaN(lengthVal) || isNaN(quantity)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for size, length, and quantity.");
return;
}
if (sizeVal < 0 || lengthVal < 0 || quantity < 0) {
alert("Values must be positive numbers.");
return;
}
// 2. Normalize Diameter to Centimeters (cm)
var diameterCm = 0;
var displayDiameterMm = 0;
if (measureType === 'awg') {
// Formula: D(mm) = 0.127 * 92^((36-AWG)/39)
// Note: This formula is for solid round wire.
// Handle specific cases for 00, 000, 0000 if needed, but standard number input treats 0 as 0.
// Negative numbers in AWG usually represent 00 (-1), 000 (-2) etc, but simple calc uses mathematical int.
// Standard formula handles negatives mathematically correctly for 00 etc if input as such.
var diameterMm = 0.127 * Math.pow(92, (36 – sizeVal) / 39);
displayDiameterMm = diameterMm;
diameterCm = diameterMm / 10;
} else if (measureType === 'mm') {
displayDiameterMm = sizeVal;
diameterCm = sizeVal / 10;
} else if (measureType === 'inch') {
displayDiameterMm = sizeVal * 25.4;
diameterCm = sizeVal * 2.54;
}
// 3. Normalize Length to Centimeters (cm)
var lengthCm = 0;
if (lengthUnit === 'meters') {
lengthCm = lengthVal * 100;
} else if (lengthUnit === 'feet') {
lengthCm = lengthVal * 30.48;
} else if (lengthUnit === 'inches') {
lengthCm = lengthVal * 2.54;
} else if (lengthUnit === 'cm') {
lengthCm = lengthVal;
}
// 4. Calculate Volume (Cylinder: pi * r^2 * h)
var radiusCm = diameterCm / 2;
var volumeCm3 = Math.PI * Math.pow(radiusCm, 2) * lengthCm;
// Apply quantity
volumeCm3 = volumeCm3 * quantity;
// 5. Calculate Weight (Mass = Volume * Density)
// Density is in g/cm³
var weightGrams = volumeCm3 * density;
// 6. Conversions
var weightKg = weightGrams / 1000;
var weightLbs = weightGrams * 0.00220462;
// 7. Display Results
document.getElementById('results-area').style.display = 'block';
// Formatting with commas for readability
document.getElementById('res-weight-lbs').textContent = weightLbs.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " lbs";
document.getElementById('res-weight-kg').textContent = weightKg.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 3, maximumFractionDigits: 3}) + " kg";
document.getElementById('res-weight-g').textContent = weightGrams.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 1, maximumFractionDigits: 1}) + " g";
document.getElementById('res-diameter').textContent = displayDiameterMm.toFixed(4) + " mm";
document.getElementById('res-volume').textContent = volumeCm3.toFixed(2) + " cm³";
}
function updateDensityDisplay() {
// Optional: Could update UI to show selected density, but the dropdown shows it already.
}