Density Table of Aluminum and Its Alloys

Aluminum is one of the most useful metals in everyday work. It is light, easy to machine, easy to form, and strong enough for a huge range of jobs. That is why aluminum shows up in parts for aircraft, cars, bikes, boats, tools, frames, brackets, housings, and countless shop projects. When a project depends on weight, fit, shipping, or material choice, density matters just as much as strength.

This calculator is built for quick reference. It helps compare aluminum and its common alloys without digging through a long datasheet. The layout is simple. Pick the material, choose the unit system, set temperature and pressure, and read the result. Imperial is the default, so the page opens in a format that feels natural for many American users. Pounds, feet, Fahrenheit, and psi are ready first, while metric is still available with one switch.

The point of the tool is not to make the user work harder. It is to make a common check fast and clear. That matters when a part is being selected, a shipment is being planned, or a material is being compared against another alloy. A small change in alloy content can change density enough to matter in the real world, especially when weight is a big part of the design.

What this calculator is for

This tool gives a practical density reference for aluminum and several widely used aluminum alloys. It is useful for anyone who needs a quick answer instead of a long search. That includes machinists, fabricators, engineers, buyers, students, technicians, and people who work with stock material every day.

📉 Aluminum is often chosen because it stays light. But not all aluminum-based materials weigh the same. Pure aluminum, 6061, 6063, duralumin, silumin, Al-Mg, and Al-Mn are all part of the same family, yet they can behave a little differently in mass, feel, and use. This calculator helps keep those differences easy to see.

The results are meant for practical planning. They are not a substitute for certified lab data when a project needs a formal material test. They are, however, very good for comparison, early planning, and quick field checks.

How to use it

1. Start with the unit selector. Imperial is already selected, so the calculator opens in pounds, feet, Fahrenheit, and psi. If the project uses metric, switch once and the whole page follows that choice.
2. Next, choose the material. The list includes aluminum, Al 6061, Al 6063, duralumin, silumin, Al-Mg, and Al-Mn. Pick the one that matches the material being checked or the closest practical match.
3. Then set temperature. In imperial mode, the field shows °F. In metric mode, it shows °C. Temperature can nudge density a little, so this setting keeps the answer closer to the real condition.
4. After that, set pressure. In imperial mode, pressure is shown in psi. In metric mode, it is shown in MPa. Pressure usually has a smaller effect than temperature in everyday work, but the calculator includes it so the result and graph stay complete.
5. Finally, read the density and specific volume at the top. The graphs below show how density changes across the selected range. That makes it easy to see whether the current condition is near the low end, the middle, or the high end of the expected range.

What each part means

Screen element	What it shows	Why it matters
Units	Imperial or metric	Sets the whole calculator to one system
Material	The selected aluminum or alloy	Controls the base density value
Temperature	Working temperature of the material	Shows how the value changes with heat or cold
Pressure	Working pressure	Gives a more complete reference condition
Density	Mass per unit volume	Main number for weight checks
Specific volume	Volume per unit mass	Useful when thinking in reverse
Graph 1	Density versus temperature	Shows the temperature trend clearly
Graph 2	Density versus pressure	Shows the pressure trend clearly
Screenshot button	Captures the current view	Useful for saving or sharing the result

Density table in imperial units

The table below gives a quick reference for common aluminum materials in imperial units. It is useful for comparing weight and estimating how a part will behave in a project.

Material	Density, lb/ft³	Density, lb/in³	Typical use
Aluminum	168.5	0.0973	General light structural use
Al 6061	168.5	0.0973	Structural parts, machined parts
Al 6063	168.0	0.0970	Extrusions, frames, profiles
Duralumin	173.7	0.1004	Lightweight strength parts
Silumin	167.0	0.0966	Cast parts, housings, automotive pieces
Al-Mg	165.7	0.0958	Marine and corrosion-resistant work
Al-Mn	170.5	0.0986	Sheet goods, containers, general fabrication

Density table in metric units

Metric users can use the same calculator or compare against the table below. The numbers are close to what is shown on the screen after switching modes.

Material	Density, kg/m³	Specific volume, m³/kg	Typical use
Aluminum	2700	0.000370	General light structural use
Al 6061	2700	0.000370	Structural parts, machined parts
Al 6063	2690	0.000372	Extrusions, frames, profiles
Duralumin	2780	0.000360	Lightweight strength parts
Silumin	2680	0.000373	Cast parts, housings, automotive pieces
Al-Mg	2660	0.000376	Marine and corrosion-resistant work
Al-Mn	2730	0.000366	Sheet goods, containers, general fabrication

Quick comparison table

Material	How it feels by weight	Simple memory trick	Why it gets used
Aluminum	Light and easy to handle	Standard light metal	General-purpose light parts
Al 6061	Very close to pure aluminum	Workhorse alloy	Strong, machinable, common
Al 6063	Slightly lighter feeling in many profiles	Extrusion alloy	Frames, trims, shapes
Duralumin	Heavier than basic aluminum grades	Strength-first alloy	Light parts with better strength
Silumin	Close to aluminum, very cast-friendly	Cast aluminum look	Housings and cast components
Al-Mg	Light and corrosion-resistant	Marine-friendly alloy	Boats, exterior parts, sheet work
Al-Mn	Near the same range as standard aluminum	Sheet and container alloy	Fabrication and packaging

Quick conversion table

From	To	Formula	Notes
kg/m³	lb/ft³	ρimp = ρmetric × 0.06243	Imperial density display
lb/ft³	kg/m³	ρmetric = ρimp × 16.0185	Metric density display
m³/kg	ft³/lb	νimp = νmetric × 16.0185	Specific volume display
ft³/lb	m³/kg	νmetric = νimp × 0.06243	Specific volume display
°C	°F	°F = °C × 9 / 5 + 32	Temperature conversion
°F	°C	°C = (°F – 32) × 5 / 9	Temperature conversion
MPa	psi	psi = MPa × 145.0377	Pressure conversion
psi	MPa	MPa = psi / 145.0377	Pressure conversion

Formulas used by the calculator

The main relationships are simple and easy to remember.

Density:

ρ = m / V

Specific volume:

ν = 1 / ρ

Mass from density and volume:

m = ρ × V

Volume from mass and density:

V = m / ρ

These formulas explain the numbers on the page. Density tells how much mass fits in a given volume. Specific volume tells how much volume belongs to 1 unit of mass. That is the basic idea behind the table at the top of the calculator.

Example with real numbers

Imperial mode is the default, so here is a practical example using American-style units.

Suppose the selected material is pure aluminum. The calculator shows about 168.5 lb/ft³. That means 1 cubic foot of aluminum weighs about 168.5 pounds.

To find the specific volume, use the inverse: ν = 1 / 168.5 = 0.005935 ft³/lb

That means 1 pound of aluminum occupies about 0.005935 cubic feet.

Now compare that with Al 6061. The density is very close to pure aluminum, so the weight difference is small in many projects. That is one reason 6061 is such a common general-purpose alloy. It gives a familiar weight, solid strength, and easy machining in a lot of jobs.

Now compare aluminum with duralumin. Duralumin is a little denser. That means a part of the same size will usually weigh a little more. The difference may not look dramatic on paper, but it can matter when a part needs to stay light.

Now switch the same aluminum example to metric mode. The value becomes: ρ = 168.5 × 16.0185 = 2700 kg/m³

That is the same material shown in another unit system. The material did not change. The display changed.

How to read the graphs

The left graph shows density versus temperature at the current pressure. The right graph shows density versus pressure at the current temperature. A point marks the current operating condition.

If the temperature graph slopes down, the metal is getting a little less dense as temperature rises. That is normal. If the pressure graph slopes up, density increases a little as pressure rises. That is also normal.

The graphs are not there to replace the density number at the top. They are there to make the trend easy to see at a glance. That helps when comparing materials or checking whether the current setting is near the low end or high end of the range.

Common situations where this calculator helps

Use case	What the calculator helps with	Why it saves time
Choosing an alloy for a frame	Shows how close the alloy is to standard aluminum weight	Helps balance strength and weight
Comparing 6061 and 6063	Shows that the density difference is small but real	Useful for extrusion and machining choices
Planning a cast part	Helps estimate the weight of silumin or another cast alloy	Useful for handling and shipping
Checking sheet stock	Gives a quick density reference for aluminum sheet materials	Good for inventory and ordering
Comparing marine alloys	Helps look at Al-Mg and related materials	Useful where corrosion resistance matters
Saving a result	Captures the current setup and output	Easy to share with a team member or client

Practical tips for better use

• Pick the correct alloy first. That is more important than any other step, because the density differences between aluminum alloys can change the result enough to matter in a real project.
• Stay in one unit system from start to finish. Imperial mode is already ready for American use, so there is no need to change it unless the job calls for metric.
• Use the temperature field to match the actual condition, not just a generic room-temperature guess.
• Use the pressure field as part of the full picture. The effect is usually small, but it keeps the result and graph in sync with the selected setting.
• Use the screenshot button when a result needs to be saved for later. It is faster than rewriting every value by hand.

Why this calculator is useful in real life

This tool keeps the process simple. A user does not need to scroll through a long set of notes or work through a complicated setup. The material list is ready. The unit selector controls everything. The result is shown clearly. The graphs are there for a quick visual check.

✍ That makes the calculator practical for busy work. A machinist can compare alloys. A designer can check the weight of a part. A buyer can sanity-check a material choice before ordering. A technician can save a result and move on.

The real value is speed without confusion. The calculator gives the answer in a clean format, and the user stays in control of the unit system from the start.

References

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
• ASM Handbook, Properties and Selection of Aluminum Alloys
• MatWeb material property reference data
• Engineering Toolbox unit conversion references
• Standard metallurgy and shop reference charts