Steel Buyers Basics: Sheet Steel Weight vs. Area

The following article is a continuation of our Steel Buyers Basics series. Today’s article was written by Mario Briccetti.

There is a hidden risk in the cost of sheet steel that many buyers do not consider.  Most cold rolled and coated steel sheet applications require coverage of an area at a minimum steel thickness – think of the amount of area needed for the hood on a car to protect the engine as an example.  Many companies do not ensure that the steel they buy is only as thick as it needs to be in order to cover the area required.  It is pointless to purchase steel at a 3% per pound discount only to have it weigh 5% more per square foot – that discounted steel actually costs 2% more when applied.