Base intensity
| Building use | kg/m2 |
|---|---|
| Warehouse or distribution centre | 30 |
| Workshop or fabrication building | 40 |
| Industrial plant or production building | 45 |
| Cold storage building | 50 |
| Agricultural or storage shed | 28 |
Tools
Steel structure weight estimator
Enter the building envelope and the main drivers, and see an indicative steel weight range with the multipliers shown. Use it to sanity-check a budget or a supplier figure before the design is finished.
Inputs
Describe the building
Approximate figures are enough. Everything can be refined later during the scope review.
Indicative result
Estimated steel structure weight
200 - 275tons
- Floor area
- 7,200 m2
- Steel intensity
- 33 kg/m2
- Indicative 40HQ loads
- 11
- Weight per m2
- 0.033 t
Indicative only. This is not a quotation, a design, or a take-off. The real weight depends on loads, the design code, the framing system and the connection design.
How the figure is built
| Input | Value | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Building use | Warehouse or distribution centre | 1.00 |
| Clear span | 30 m | 1.10 |
| Eave height | 9 m | 1.00 |
| Crane duty | No overhead crane | 1.00 |
| Roof and wall system | Insulated sandwich panel | 1.00 |
- Members longer than about 11.8 m cannot travel in a standard 40-foot container with the doors closed. Confirm the transport method before drawings are frozen.
- Insulated panel weight is not included in this figure. It is a separate supply item.
Next step
Send these inputs for a scope review
The estimate becomes useful when it is checked against real loads and drawings. Send the dimensions above, and add any drawings or a BOQ you already have.
Assumptions
What the calculation is based on
The model starts from a typical steel intensity for each building type and applies the multipliers below. Everything is shown so you can judge whether the result is close to your case.
Multipliers
| Condition | Factor |
|---|---|
| Clear span above 24 m | 1.10 |
| Clear span above 30 m | 1.25 |
| Clear span above 40 m | 1.45 |
| Eave height above 9 m | 1.08 |
| Eave height above 12 m | 1.15 |
| Crane up to 5 tons | 1.15 |
| Crane up to 20 tons | 1.35 |
| Crane above 20 tons | 1.60 |
| Single skin sheeting | 0.97 |
Container assumption
Container counts assume roughly 22 tons of steel per 40HQ load. That is below the container's own maximum, because road weight limits in many destination countries cap a loaded container at about 20 to 24 tons.
Members longer than about 11.8 m cannot travel in a standard 40-foot container with the doors closed. Projects with long members normally need a 40OT, a flat rack, or a designed splice.
Limits
What this estimator cannot tell you
It is not a take-off
A real quantity comes from the member schedule after the design is complete. Two buildings with identical dimensions can differ by a factor of two once loads and framing systems are decided.
It does not include the roof and wall panels
Insulated panels, sheeting, flashings, fasteners and accessories are separate supply items with their own weight and cost.
It does not price the project
Price depends on material grade, connection complexity, surface treatment, packing, transport and commercial terms. A scope-based quotation follows a manual review.
Related reading
Guides that explain the inputs
Steel grades
Q235B or Q355B? How to Choose the Steel Grade for a Building
The two grades used for most Chinese-fabricated steel buildings, what actually differs between them, and the cases where paying more per ton reduces the total cost.
Read GuideStandards
GB, EN and ASTM: Which Standards to Confirm for an Overseas Steel Project
Chinese fabrication is usually done to GB standards. Overseas projects often specify EN or ASTM. This is what has to be confirmed before fabrication starts, and why equivalent grades are not automatically interchangeable.
Read GuideExport packing
Container Loading for Steel Structures: 40HQ, 40OT or 20GP?
Approximate internal dimensions and payloads for the three containers used for steel structures, what each one suits, and the loading constraints that decide the plan before fabrication is released.
Read Guide