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Plastic core weight calculator
Plastic core weightTell me material, diameter and wall: I’ll tell you the weight per metre, per piece and how many pieces make a tonne.
Typical density of the chosen material. Formula: π/4 × (OD² − ID²) × density.
ROLL Lab estimate, not a test certificate. Prepare your enquiry for the manufacturer →
How the calculation works
The core is an annulus. The calculator multiplies the area of the annulus by the length and by the density of the material:
Weight = π/4 × (OD² − ID²) × L × ρ, with OD = ID + 2 × wall.
Densities used as default values (editable):
| Material | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|
| Virgin rigid PVC | 1.40 |
| Recycled rigid PVC | 1.45 |
| PP | 0.905 |
| CaCO₃-filled PP (about 20%) | 1.05 |
| HDPE | 0.955 |
| PS | 1.05 |
| ABS | 1.05 |
| Cardboard (comparison) | 0.80 |
The resulting weight ratios are consistent with those in Fiaptech technical documentation (a company with corporate ties to ROLL) for cores of the same size: PVC 1.76–1.85, PP 1.13, HDPE 1.14 times cardboard.
Limits: real densities depend on the compound (fillers, recyclate, pigments); a ribbed bore slightly reduces the cross-section; production tolerances are not considered. The result is a ROLL Lab estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3" PVC core weigh?
With a 76.5 mm inside diameter and a 7.5 mm wall, about 2.8 kg per metre at a density of 1.40 g/cm³. The same core in cardboard weighs about 1.6 kg per metre.
Why are PVC cores heavier than PP cores?
Because of density: about 1.40 g/cm³ for rigid PVC against 0.905 for PP. At the same size a PVC core weighs about 55% more than a PP one.
Does weight only matter for freight?
No: it also matters for price, because polymer is bought by the kilo, for manual handling of long cores and rolls, and in the UK for Plastic Packaging Tax, which is charged per tonne.
Sources
- Typical densities from technical literature on polymers
- Fiaptech technical documentation, Smart Book “Which core?” (a company with corporate ties to ROLL)
- ROLL Lab analysis
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