Material Density Calculator — Mass, Volume, and 232 Materials
This material density calculator supports three modes: find mass from density and volume, find volume from density and mass, or find density from measured mass and volume. It includes a built-in database of 232 materials.
The database covers metals, building materials, liquids, gases, wood, plastics, minerals, and organic materials. Select a known material or enter a custom density, then calculate in SI or Imperial units. For engineering loads with shape templates, use the density to weight calculator.
Select a material to preload density, or choose Enter custom density and type your own value.
Calculation mode
Result
m = ρ × V
Results are based on the standard reference density at 20°C. For temperature-sensitive materials (liquids, gases), use the temperature-corrected values in the material's dedicated page.
The Density Formula
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. The relationship between density, mass, and volume is expressed by the fundamental density equation, which can be rearranged to solve for any one of the three variables when the other two are known. For the underlying concept, see what is density.
Where:
- ρ = density (kg/m³)
- m = mass (kg)
- V = volume (m³)
The SI unit of density is kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³). Other common units include grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm³, numerically equal to kg/L), pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³), and pounds per gallon (lb/gal) in U.S. engineering contexts. The calculator above handles all unit conversions automatically.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Find the mass of a steel plate
Material: Carbon steel (density of steel: 7,850 kg/m³)
Dimensions: 2 m × 1 m × 0.01 m (10 mm thick)
Volume: 2 × 1 × 0.01 = 0.02 m³
Mass = 7,850 × 0.02 = 157 kg
Practical note: A standard 2×1 m steel plate at 10 mm thickness weighs 157 kg — typically requires mechanical handling equipment.
Example 2 — Find the volume of aluminum needed for a 5 kg component
Material: Aluminum 6061 (density of aluminum: 2,700 kg/m³)
Required mass: 5 kg
Volume = 5 / 2,700 = 0.00185 m³ = 1,852 cm³
This is equivalent to a cube approximately 12.3 cm on each side.
Example 3 — Find the density of an unknown material
Measured mass: 2.34 kg
Measured volume: 0.000260 m³ (260 cm³)
Density = 2.34 / 0.000260 = 9,000 kg/m³
This density is consistent with copper alloys (8,400–8,960 kg/m³) or nickel silver alloys (~8,900 kg/m³).
Example 4 — Concrete slab weight for structural check
Material: Reinforced concrete (density of concrete: 2,400 kg/m³)
Slab dimensions: 5 m × 4 m × 0.15 m (150 mm thick)
Volume: 5 × 4 × 0.15 = 3.0 m³
Mass = 2,400 × 3.0 = 7,200 kg
Weight = 7,200 × 9.81 = 70,632 N ≈ 70.6 kN
This is the dead load contribution of the slab for structural design.
Unit Conversion Reference
These conversion factors apply to density, mass, and volume unit conversions.
Density Unit Conversion
| From | To kg/m³ | To g/cm³ | To lb/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg/m³ | 1 | 0.001 | 0.06243 |
| 1 g/cm³ | 1,000 | 1 | 62.43 |
| 1 lb/ft³ | 16.018 | 0.016018 | 1 |
| 1 lb/gal (US) | 119.83 | 0.11983 | 7.481 |
Volume Unit Conversion
| From | To m³ | To cm³ | To L | To ft³ | To in³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m³ | 1 | 1,000,000 | 1,000 | 35.315 | 61,024 |
| 1 cm³ | 0.000001 | 1 | 0.001 | 0.0000353 | 0.06102 |
| 1 L | 0.001 | 1,000 | 1 | 0.03532 | 61.024 |
| 1 ft³ | 0.028317 | 28,317 | 28.317 | 1 | 1,728 |
| 1 in³ | 0.000016387 | 16.387 | 0.016387 | 0.000579 | 1 |
Material Density Quick Reference
The table below lists the most commonly searched material density values. Click a material name to open its dedicated page for complete data. For species-level lumber comparisons, start with density of wood.
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| density of air | 1.225 | Gas |
| Balsa wood | 120–200 | Wood |
| Pine wood | 400–590 | Wood |
| density of ice | 917 | Solid |
| density of water | 1,000 | Liquid |
| density of seawater | 1,025 | Liquid |
| density of concrete | 2,300–2,500 | Building |
| density of aluminum | 2,700 | Metal |
| density of diamond | 3,515 | Mineral |
| density of steel | 7,850 | Metal |
| density of copper | 8,960 | Metal |
| density of lead | 11,340 | Metal |
| density of gold | 19,320 | Metal |
For the complete 232-material database with filtering by category, see the full density table.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate density from mass and volume?
Use the formula ρ = m / V. Divide the mass (in kg) by the volume (in m³) to get density in kg/m³. For example, if an object has a mass of 5 kg and a volume of 0.002 m³, its density is 5 / 0.002 = 2,500 kg/m³ — consistent with concrete or some stone materials.
How do I find the mass of an object if I know its density?
Use the formula m = ρ × V. Multiply the density (kg/m³) by the volume (m³). For example, a block of steel (7,850 kg/m³) measuring 0.5 m × 0.3 m × 0.02 m has a volume of 0.003 m³ and a mass of 7,850 × 0.003 = 23.55 kg.
How many materials are in the database?
The calculator includes 232 materials across 8 categories: metals and alloys, building materials, liquids, gases, plastics and polymers, minerals and gemstones, wood species, and food and organic materials. The full list is available in the density table. Custom density values can also be entered manually for materials not in the database.
What units does the calculator support?
Density: kg/m³, g/cm³, lb/ft³, lb/gal. Volume: m³, cm³, L, ft³, in³. Mass: kg, g, lb, oz. All unit conversions are handled automatically — enter values in any unit and the result is displayed in your preferred output unit.
Why does the density of the same material vary in different sources?
Density values vary because most materials are not perfectly homogeneous. Steel density depends on alloy composition; wood density depends on species, moisture content, and growth conditions; concrete density depends on mix design and aggregate type. The values in this calculator are standard reference values at 20°C for the most common grade or form of each material. For precise engineering calculations, use the material-specific values from certified material data sheets.
Can I use this calculator for liquids and gases?
Yes. The calculator includes density values for common liquids (water, seawater, oils, alcohols) and gases (air, helium, CO₂). Note that liquid and gas densities are more temperature-sensitive than solid densities. The values in the database are at standard reference temperature (15°C or 20°C). For temperature-corrected liquid density, use the liquid density calculator. For gas density at non-standard conditions, use the gas density calculator with the ideal gas law.