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Calculate the weight and cost of copper for wire, pipe, tube, bar, sheet, and busbar. Supports different copper types including pure copper, brass, and bronze.
The copper weight calculator helps you determine the weight and cost of copper materials including wire, pipe, tube, bar, sheet, plate, and busbar. Copper is one of the most important industrial metals due to its excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and malleability.
This calculator supports various copper types including pure copper (C11000), oxygen-free copper (C101), electrolytic copper (C110), and copper alloys like brass and bronze. Each type has different densities and properties suitable for specific applications.
Understanding copper weight is essential for electrical installations, plumbing systems, HVAC applications, industrial equipment, and scrap metal recycling. Copper pricing fluctuates based on market conditions, making accurate weight calculations important for cost estimation.
| Shape | Volume Formula |
|---|---|
| Wire (AWG) | Volume = π × (AWG Diameter/2)² × Length |
| Pipe/Tube | Volume = π × [(OD/2)² - (ID/2)²] × Length |
| Round Bar | Volume = π × (Diameter/2)² × Length |
| Sheet/Plate | Volume = Length × Width × Thickness |
| Busbar | Volume = Width × Height × Length |
Weight = Volume × Density × Quantity
Where density for pure copper is approximately 0.324 lb/in³ (8,960 kg/m³).
For AWG wire, diameter is calculated using: D = 0.005 × 92^((36-AWG)/39) inches
| Type | Density (lb/in³) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Copper (C11000) | 0.324 | 99.9% pure, excellent conductivity, general purpose electrical applications |
| Oxygen-Free (C101) | 0.323 | 99.95%+ pure, highest conductivity, audio equipment, semiconductors |
| Electrolytic (C110) | 0.324 | Refined copper, wire and cable manufacturing, electrical busbars |
| Phosphorus Deox (C122) | 0.323 | High corrosion resistance, plumbing tubes, heat exchangers |
| Brass (Cu-Zn) | 0.308 | Copper-zinc alloy, decorative hardware, musical instruments, fittings |
| Bronze (Cu-Sn) | 0.318 | Copper-tin alloy, bearings, bushings, ship propellers, sculptures |
American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standardized wire gauge system used primarily in North America for measuring the diameter of round, solid, nonferrous electrical wire. Lower AWG numbers indicate larger wire diameters and higher current capacity.
Common residential wire sizes include 14 AWG (15A circuits), 12 AWG (20A circuits), and 10 AWG (30A circuits). Industrial applications may use larger sizes up to 0000 AWG (4/0) for high-current applications.
Pure copper has a density of approximately 0.324 lb/in³ (8.96 g/cm³ or 8,960 kg/m³). This is significantly higher than aluminum (0.098 lb/in³) but lower than steel (0.283 lb/in³). Copper alloys like brass and bronze have slightly different densities.
The weight of copper wire depends on its AWG size. For example, 12 AWG copper wire weighs about 0.0195 lbs/ft, 10 AWG weighs about 0.0311 lbs/ft, and 8 AWG weighs about 0.0495 lbs/ft. Use this calculator to determine exact weights for any AWG size.
C11000 is standard electrolytic tough pitch copper (99.9% pure) used for general purposes. C101 is oxygen-free copper (99.95%+ pure) with the highest conductivity, used in critical applications. C122 is phosphorus deoxidized copper with better corrosion resistance for plumbing applications.
Copper scrap prices fluctuate daily based on commodity markets. Bright copper (clean, bare wire) typically commands the highest price, followed by #1 copper (clean tubing and bus bar), then #2 copper (unclean or coated). Current prices range from $3-5 per pound depending on grade and market conditions.
Yes, copper is 100% recyclable without any loss of quality. Recycled copper maintains the same properties as newly mined copper. Approximately 80% of all copper ever mined is still in use today. Recycling copper saves about 85% of the energy required to produce new copper from ore.
Copper is the standard material for electrical wiring because it has the second-highest electrical conductivity of all metals (after silver), is highly ductile and can be drawn into fine wire, has excellent corrosion resistance, and is relatively affordable compared to other highly conductive metals.
To calculate busbar weight, multiply width × height × length to get volume in cubic inches, then multiply by copper density (0.324 lb/in³). For example, a 0.25" × 2" × 12" busbar weighs: 0.25 × 2 × 12 × 0.324 = 1.94 pounds.
Copper pipe (Schedule 40/80) is sized by nominal diameter and used for drainage. Copper tube (Type K, L, M) is sized by actual outer diameter and used for water supply and refrigeration. Type K has the thickest walls for underground use, Type L for general plumbing, and Type M has thin walls for low-pressure applications.
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