Sheet

Steel sheet is a flat product made by rolling a steel slab and supplied as coil or cut sheets. This guide covers the types of steel sheet, the difference between hot and cold rolling, thickness ranges, the steel sheet weight chart and typical applications.

7.85 g/cm³Steel density

1000, 1250 and 1500 mmCommon widths

Coil and sheetSupply form

7.85Weight factor

What is steel sheet?

A sheet is a product whose thickness is very small compared with its length and width. Its raw material is a slab, which is turned into steel strip on a hot rolling line. The strip is either used as it is (hot-rolled sheet) or processed further by pickling, cold rolling, galvanizing and painting to obtain a thinner gauge, a better surface or a protective coating.

Sheet is supplied in two forms: coil, a continuous wound strip, and cut sheets, cut to a fixed length. Common sheet sizes are 1000×2000, 1250×2500 and 1500×6000 mm.

Steel sheet coils in a warehouse — Steel sheet in coil form; coils are later uncoiled and cut into sheets or strips.

Types of steel sheet

Hot-rolled (black) sheetRolled above the recrystallization temperature of steel. The surface is dark with mill scale, and it is produced in medium to heavy thicknesses. It is the basis of most structural and industrial work.

Pickled and oiled sheetHot-rolled sheet whose scale has been removed with acid and whose surface has been oiled, giving a cleaner surface for forming and welding.

Cold-rolled sheetPickled sheet is rolled at room temperature to reach a thinner gauge, a smooth surface and high dimensional accuracy. A thin oil film protects it from rust.

Galvanized sheetSteel sheet is passed through a bath of molten zinc. The zinc coating protects the steel against corrosion, and its amount is stated in grams per square metre.

Pre-painted sheetPrimer and paint are applied to coated sheet on a continuous line and cured in an oven. Used for roof and wall cladding, sandwich panels and appliances.

Chequered plateThe surface has a regular raised pattern that prevents slipping. Used for platforms, stair treads and truck floors.

TinplateThin cold-rolled sheet with a tin coating, used in packaging and can making.

Stainless and alloy sheetStainless steel sheet for corrosive and hygienic environments, and alloy sheet for uses such as pressure vessels and wear-resistant parts.

Thickness range by type

Sheet type	Process	Typical thickness range	Key characteristic
Hot-rolled (black) sheet	Hot rolling	approx. 1.5 to 100 mm and above	High strength, dark rough surface
Pickled and oiled sheet	Hot rolling + pickling	approx. 1.5 to 6 mm	Scale-free surface
Cold-rolled sheet	Cold rolling	approx. 0.3 to 3 mm	Smooth surface, tight tolerances
Galvanized sheet	Hot-dip zinc coating	approx. 0.25 to 3 mm	Corrosion resistance
Pre-painted sheet	Continuous coil coating on coated sheet	approx. 0.2 to 1 mm	Decorative finish, double protection
Chequered plate	Hot rolling with patterned rolls	approx. 2 to 10 mm	Raised anti-slip pattern

Ranges are approximate and indicate typical values; they depend on the capability of the production line.

Hot-rolled versus cold-rolled sheet

Property	Hot-rolled sheet	Cold-rolled sheet
Rolling temperature	Above the recrystallization temperature	Room temperature
Surface quality	Dark, with mill scale	Smooth, bright and uniform
Dimensional accuracy	Wider tolerances	Tighter tolerances
Thickness range	Medium to heavy gauges	Light gauges
Typical use	Structures, tanks, heavy machinery	Car bodies, appliances, metal furniture

Cold rolling work-hardens the steel: strength and hardness rise while formability falls. To restore formability, the sheet is annealed after cold rolling.

Stacked steel sheets of different thicknesses — Steel sheets stacked on one another; the edges show the different thicknesses.

Steel sheet weight chart

Thickness (mm)	Mass per m² (kg)	1000×2000 sheet (kg)	1250×2500 sheet (kg)	1500×6000 sheet (kg)
0.5	3.93	7.85	12.27	35.33
1	7.85	15.70	24.53	70.65
1.5	11.78	23.55	36.80	105.98
2	15.70	31.40	49.06	141.30
3	23.55	47.10	73.59	211.95
4	31.40	62.80	98.13	282.60
5	39.25	78.50	122.66	353.25
6	47.10	94.20	147.19	423.90
8	62.80	125.60	196.25	565.20
10	78.50	157.00	245.31	706.50
12	94.20	188.40	294.38	847.80
15	117.75	235.50	367.97	1059.75
20	157.00	314.00	490.63	1413.00

Theoretical masses based on a density of 7.85 g/cm³. For coated sheet, the mass of the coating is added to these values.

Sheet weight calculator

–Mass per metre of length (kg)

–Total mass (kg)

Theoretical mass based on a density of 7850 kg/m³; actual mass may differ slightly within the tolerance of the standard.

Sheet weight formula

With length and width in metres and thickness in millimetres, the mass in kilograms is:

W = L × B × t × 7.85

For example, a 1.25 × 2.5 m sheet 2 mm thick weighs about 49 kg.

Common steel grades for sheet

Structural hot-rolled sheet: grades S235JR, S275JR and S355JR to EN 10025-2, also known by the older names St37, St44 and St52.
Cold-rolled sheet: grades DC01, DC03 and DC04 to EN 10130, also known as St12, St13 and St14. The higher the number, the better the deep-drawing quality.
Galvanized sheet: grades such as DX51D to EN 10346, together with a coating designation such as Z100 to Z275, which gives the total zinc mass on both sides in grams per square metre.

Applications of steel sheet

Building and structures: plate girders, box columns, connection plates, steel decking and cladding.
Tanks and pipes: storage tanks, pressure vessels and welded pipes.
Automotive and transport: car bodies and chassis, rail wagons and shipbuilding.
Appliances and metal furniture: refrigerator and washing machine bodies, cabinets and shelving.
Building services: air ducts, cable trays and electrical enclosures.

Storage notes

Store cold-rolled, galvanized and pre-painted sheet indoors in a dry place.
Moisture trapped between layers of galvanized sheet causes white rust; good ventilation prevents it.
Stack sheets on a flat surface with proper supports to prevent distortion.
Avoid scratching coated sheet during handling, because damage to the coating is where corrosion starts.

Frequently asked questions about steel sheet

What is the difference between hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheet?

Hot-rolled sheet has a dark, rough surface. Cold-rolled sheet is made by further rolling it at room temperature and is thinner, smoother and more accurate in size.

How is the weight of a steel sheet calculated?

Multiply the length and width in metres by the thickness in millimetres and by 7.85. The result is the mass in kilograms.

Why does galvanized sheet resist rust?

The zinc coating acts as a barrier between the steel and its environment. Zinc is also more reactive than steel, so at small scratches it corrodes in place of the steel and protects it.

What does St37 mean?

St37 is the older name of a structural steel with a minimum tensile strength of about 360 to 370 MPa. In the current European standard it is called S235JR.

What is the difference between coil and sheet?

A coil is a continuous wound strip, while a sheet has been cut to a fixed length. The material and properties are the same.

Rebar I-beam Profile Pipe Angle bar Channel

References and standards

EN 10025-2: Hot rolled products of non-alloy structural steels, technical delivery conditions
EN 10051: Continuously hot-rolled strip and plate/sheet, tolerances on dimensions and shape
EN 10130: Cold rolled low carbon steel flat products for cold forming
EN 10346: Continuously hot-dip coated steel flat products
ASTM A36/A36M: Standard specification for carbon structural steel
ASTM A653/A653M: Standard specification for steel sheet, zinc-coated by the hot-dip process