Introduction
Every steel stud framing job — a commercial office buildout, a basement partition wall, a soffit in a retail space — raises the same practical question: how much does a steel stud weigh? The answer drives your material order, your delivery logistics, how many studs a crew member can carry at once, and the dead load your structure must support. Gauge, depth, and length all change the number, and reading a designation like 362S162-43 without a reference is easy to get wrong.
The Steel Stud Weight Calculator answers that question directly: enter the stud designation and length, and it returns the weight in pounds per foot and kilograms per meter, plus total weight for any quantity. This guide explains everything behind that number — the designation system, the gauge-to-thickness table, the weight formula, a fully worked example in both unit systems, and the judgment calls the calculator can’t make for you.
What Steel Stud Weight Tells You
Cold-formed steel studs are the default framing material for commercial interiors and much residential interior work in North America. They are sold by linear footage, but everything about the job is managed by weight: suppliers quote freight by the ton, delivery trucks have legal weight limits, and crews plan handling around what a person can safely carry up a stairwell.
Weight also matters for the building itself. Steel framing adds dead load to floors and roofs, and engineers need accurate stud weights — not guesses — when they design supporting structure. For the estimator, weight per foot is the bridge between a takeoff (linear feet of wall) and a purchase order (bundles of studs at a known total weight). The estimating guide walks through that takeoff-to-order math step by step.
How Steel Studs Are Designated
Manufacturers in North America use a standardized designation that packs three facts into one code. Take 362S162-43:
- 362 — web depth in hundredths of an inch: 3.62 inches (a “3-5/8 inch” stud, 92 mm).
- S — member type: Stud (C-shaped). A T in this position means track, the U-shaped channel studs slide into.
- 162 — flange width in hundredths of an inch: 1.62 inches (1-5/8 inch, 41 mm).
- 43 — minimum base-metal thickness in mils: 0.043 inches (1.09 mm).
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch, and it is the unit that actually determines weight. Gauge numbers (25, 20, 16) are shorthand for mil ranges, but two “20-gauge” studs from different mills can differ slightly in actual thickness — which is why serious estimating works from mils. The material guide covers stud types, track, and galvanization in detail.
Gauge, Thickness, and Typical Weight
The table below lists the seven standard gauges for the most common interior stud — the 3-5/8 inch (362S162) series — with typical published weights per foot. Values vary slightly by manufacturer; the numbers here are industry-typical per-foot weights for the 362S162 profile:
| Gauge | Thickness (mils) | Thickness (mm) | Weight (lb/ft) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 18 | 0.46 | 0.40 | 0.60 |
| 22 | 27 | 0.69 | 0.53 | 0.79 |
| 20 | 33 | 0.84 | 0.65 | 0.97 |
| 18 | 43 | 1.09 | 1.01 | 1.50 |
| 16 | 54 | 1.37 | 1.28 | 1.90 |
| 14 | 68 | 1.73 | 1.60 | 2.38 |
| 12 | 97 | 2.46 | 2.24 | 3.33 |
Two things stand out. First, weight scales almost linearly with thickness: a 12-gauge stud weighs more than five times what a 25-gauge stud weighs. Second, gauge numbers are counterintuitive — a higher gauge number means a thinner, lighter stud. That inversion is one of the most common sources of ordering mistakes; the common mistakes guide documents it alongside six other errors to avoid.
The Weight Formula
Stud weight comes from the density of steel and the cross-sectional area of the profile. Steel weighs 490 pounds per cubic foot (7,849 kg/m³). For one foot of stud, the volume in cubic inches is the cross-sectional area (in²) times 12 inches of length, and dividing density by 1,728 (cubic inches per cubic foot) gives:
Weight (lb/ft) = cross-sectional area (in²) × 3.402
The constant 3.402 is just 12 × 490 ÷ 1,728. To convert the result to metric:
Weight (kg/m) = weight (lb/ft) × 1.488
For example, a 362S162-43 stud has a published cross-sectional area of about 0.297 in²: 0.297 × 3.402 = 1.01 lb/ft, matching the table above (1.01 × 1.488 = 1.50 kg/m). The formula guide derives these constants from scratch and works a second example independently in both unit systems.
Worked Example: 100 Studs of 20-Gauge
A contractor orders one hundred 8-foot 362S162-33 studs (3-5/8 inch, 20 gauge) for a partition wall package. From the table, each foot weighs 0.65 lb (0.97 kg/m).
Imperial: each stud weighs 8 × 0.65 = 5.2 lb. One hundred studs = 520 lb. Add a 10% cutting-waste and damage allowance: 520 × 1.10 = 572 lb total to plan for.
Metric: an 8-foot stud is 2.438 m; each stud weighs 2.438 × 0.97 = 2.36 kg. One hundred studs = 236 kg. With 10% waste: 236 × 1.10 = 260 kg.
Cross-check: 572 lb × 0.4536 = 259.5 kg ≈ 260 kg — the two systems agree. That is the total weight the delivery truck carries and the number the supplier’s bundle list should roughly confirm.
Why Weight Matters in Practice
Ordering and freight
Studs are bundled in counts that vary by gauge — a bundle of 25-gauge studs may hold 50 pieces while a bundle of 12-gauge holds 10 — and freight is priced by weight. Knowing total job weight before you call the supplier lets you confirm the delivery vehicle is legal and sized right, and it catches takeoff errors early: if the bundle list’s total weight doesn’t match your estimate, something is wrong.
Handling and labor planning
A 10-foot 12-gauge stud weighs about 22 lb (10 kg) — manageable; the same length in 25 gauge is about 4 lb (1.8 kg). Gauge drives how many studs a worker carries per trip and whether stairs or tight corridors need a different delivery plan. Heavier gauges also change fastener and tool selection, covered in the pro tips guide.
Structural dead load
Every pound of framing is load the structure carries permanently. For load-bearing or exterior curtain-wall studs, engineers require accurate member weights in their calculations — this is a licensed-engineer task, not a DIY estimate. The code compliance guide explains where weight data fits into approvals and inspections.
Related Guides
- Steel Stud Weight Formula Explained — full derivation of the 3.402 constant, mils conversion, and a second worked example in imperial and metric.
- Steel Stud Estimating Guide — turning linear-foot takeoffs into bundle counts, total weight, and purchase orders with waste factors.
- Steel Stud Material Guide — C-studs vs. track vs. furring channel, gauge selection by application, and galvanization basics.
- Steel Stud Cost Guide — typical US price ranges per gauge and how weight drives material and freight cost.
- Steel Stud Weight Checklist — a one-page pre-order checklist: designation, gauge verification, waste, and delivery planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 3-5/8″ 20-gauge steel stud weigh?
A 362S162-33 stud weighs about 0.65 lb/ft (0.97 kg/m). An 8-foot stud is therefore about 5.2 lb (2.36 kg).
What does “43 mils” mean on a stud designation?
Mils are thousandths of an inch of base-steel thickness — 43 mils = 0.043 inches (1.09 mm), which corresponds to 18 gauge. Thickness in mils is the value that determines weight.
Is a higher gauge number heavier or lighter?
Lighter. Gauge is inverse: 25-gauge is the thinnest common stud gauge and 12-gauge the thickest. Always verify by the mil thickness printed on the designation.
How do I convert lb/ft to kg/m?
Multiply by 1.488. For example, 1.01 lb/ft × 1.488 = 1.50 kg/m.
Does track weigh the same as a stud of the same size?
Not exactly — track (T designation) has a slightly different profile and is usually a touch lighter per foot than the matching stud, but it is close enough that many estimators use stud weight as a conservative planning figure for track.
How much waste should I add to a stud order?
Plan 5–10% for straightforward partition work and 10–15% for work with many openings, angles, or short pieces. Waste is measured in length, but it adds the same percentage to total weight.
Can I use stud weight for structural design?
Weight per foot is one input engineers need, but member selection for load-bearing or exterior applications requires a licensed structural engineer. Never size structural steel framing from weight tables alone.
Get Your Number
Enter your stud designation and length into the Steel Stud Weight Calculator to get weight per foot and total weight in both imperial and metric units — then cross-check the result against the table above before you order.
Disclaimer: Calculator results are planning estimates… verify with your supplier and consult a licensed professional or your local building authority for structural or code-related decisions.
