The weight of a 1.2mm thick steel cable tray typically ranges from 2.5 to 5 kg per meter, depending on tray type, width, and material density.

Factors Affecting Cable Tray Weight

Material Density: Steel is commonly used, with a density around 7,850 kg/m³, while aluminum is lighter at approximately 2,700 kg/m³, and FRP trays range from 1,800–2,000 kg/m³ . Tray Type:

• Ladder trays consist of two side rails and rungs; rung spacing (usually 200–300 mm) affects total weight .
• Perforated trays reduce metal volume by 10–35% depending on the open area, lowering weight .
• Solid trays are heavier due to full metal coverage. Dimensions: Wider trays and taller side rails increase the developed sheet width, which directly increases weight per meter . Thickness: Increasing thickness from 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm can raise weight by roughly 25% for the same profile .

Estimating Weight

The general formula for tray weight per meter is: Weight (kg/m) = Material Density × Tray Volume per Meter For a 1.2mm thick steel tray:

• Example: A 300mm × 50mm perforated steel tray with 1.2mm thickness has an approximate cross-sectional metal area of 0.0005 m².
• Weight per meter: 0.0005 × 7,850 ≈ 3.9 kg/m . For ladder trays, the weight includes side rails and rungs:
• Side rails: 2 × (height × thickness) × density
• Rungs: (rung area × number of rungs per meter) × density
• Total weight per meter typically falls between 3–5 kg/m for standard steel trays with 1.2mm thickness .

Practical Considerations

• Covers and coatings (e.g., HDG) add 2–4% to the weight .
• Safety factors are often applied in structural calculations to account for installation and cable load .
• Always verify with manufacturer catalogs for precise weights, especially for long spans or heavy cable loads . In summary, a 1.2mm thick steel cable tray generally weighs around 3–4 kg per meter for standard ladder or perforated types, with variations depending on width, side height, and perforation.