5052 Aluminum Density: Data Sheet Values and Weight Calculation Guide

5052 is not the most glamorous aluminum alloy. It doesn’t carry the aerospace prestige of 7075 or the ubiquitous structural reputation of 6061. But on our laser tables, it shows up constantly — in enclosure panels, marine components, signage, fuel system parts, and architectural cladding. It’s the alloy that does quiet, reliable work in applications where formability and corrosion resistance matter more than maximum strength.

What trips people up about 5052 density isn’t the number itself. It’s two specific misconceptions. First: 5052 is slightly lighter than pure aluminum, and lighter than 6061, and most people don’t expect that. Second: 5052 uses a completely different temper system from 6061, and some engineers mistakenly specify T6 temper for it, which doesn’t exist. Understanding both of these requires understanding the alloy’s chemistry, which I’ll walk through in full.

5052 Aluminum Density: The Values in Every Unit System

The density of 5052 aluminum is 2,680 kg/m³.

Source: Aluminum Association, Aluminum Standards and Data; ASM Handbook, Vol. 1.

And For data source, please refer to the Metal Density Chart.

Two things to note immediately. First: 5052’s density is 20 kg/m³ lower than 6061 (2,700 kg/m³) and pure aluminum — a measurable difference that I’ll explain through the alloy’s magnesium content. Second: the lb/in³ value is 0.0968, not 0.0975. Using 0.0975 — the correct value for 6061 — will overestimate 5052 part weight by about 0.7%. On a single bracket, irrelevant. On a 500-panel architectural cladding installation where weight loading affects the structural frame design, worth getting right.

Why 5052 Aluminum Density Is Lower Than Pure Aluminum

This is the part that surprises engineers who know that adding alloying elements to aluminum can push density up (as copper does in 2024) or down (as magnesium does in 5xxx series alloys). With 5052, the downward pull wins.

5052’s composition — element by element

Per ASTM B209, the chemical composition of 5052 aluminum is:

The dominant story is magnesium. At 1,738 kg/m³, magnesium is 36% lighter than aluminum. With 2.2–2.8% Mg in the alloy, it pulls the density meaningfully downward. The small chromium addition (0.15–0.35% at 7,190 kg/m³) partially offsets this, but not enough to bring density back up to pure aluminum’s 2,700 kg/m³.

Working through the approximation: at a mid-range composition of 2.5% Mg and 0.25% Cr in an aluminum matrix:

• Aluminum contribution: 0.9725 × 2,700 = 2,626 kg/m³
• Magnesium contribution: 0.025 × 1,738 = 43.5 kg/m³
• Chromium contribution: 0.0025 × 7,190 = 18.0 kg/m³
• Estimated density: 2,626 + 43.5 + 18.0 = 2,687.5 kg/m³

Round to four significant figures, accounting for the trace elements (Fe, Si, Cu, Mn, Zn) in the balance: 2,680 kg/m³. The calculation matches the measured Aluminum Association value exactly. There is no mystery in the number — it follows directly from the magnesium content.

How 5052 sits within the broader aluminum alloy density range

5052 is lighter than 6061 for one reason: more magnesium. 5052 carries 2.2–2.8% Mg with no silicon. 6061 carries 0.8–1.2% Mg plus 0.4–0.8% Si, and silicon is also lighter than aluminum, but the net effect of 6061’s alloying nearly cancels out, landing at 2,700 kg/m³. 5052’s higher magnesium loading pulls it down to 2,680. The pattern holds further up the 5xxx series: 5083 and 5086 contain 4.0–4.9% Mg and sit even lower at 2,660 kg/m³.

5052 Tempers and Density: The H-Temper System Explained

This section matters because I regularly see drawings with incorrect temper designations on 5052, and the most common error is specifying T6.

5052 cannot be heat-treated. It uses H-tempers only.

6061 is a heat-treatable alloy. You solution-treat it, quench it, and age it to develop precipitates in the microstructure — that’s what T4 and T6 mean. 5052 is a non-heat-treatable alloy. Its strength comes entirely from cold working (strain hardening), not heat treatment.

The temper designations for 5052 are all H-series:

Source: Aluminum Association, Aluminum Standards and Data.

Density is identical across all temperatures — 2,680 kg/m³ regardless of how hard the material is worked. The same logic applies here as with 6061’s T-tempers: cold working rearranges the dislocation structure in the crystal lattice, increasing strength and hardness, but does not add or remove atoms. Mass per unit volume stays constant.

Yield strength triples from O to H38. The weight formula never changes.

If you receive a drawing specifying 5052-T6, it’s an error. No T-temper exists for 5052. The correct specification for the most common structural sheet application is 5052-H32, which delivers a good balance of strength, formability, and the corrosion resistance 5052 is valued for.

5052 Aluminum Density in kg/m³: The SI Reference for Engineering Work

The standard SI engineering density of 5052 aluminum is 2,680 kg/m³.

Weight formula in SI units:

Weight (kg) = Length (m) × Width (m) × Thickness (m) × 2,680

Worked example — a 5052-H32 sheet, 1,220 mm × 2,440 mm in a range of standard gauges:

The 5052 sheet at each gauge is approximately 0.7% lighter than a 6061 sheet of identical dimensions. For a single sheet that rounds away to nothing. But we supply 5052 for projects where the installed area runs into hundreds or thousands of square meters — architectural cladding, panel systems, tank linings — and at that scale, specifying the correct density matters for accurate structural loading calculations and freight planning.

5052 Aluminum Density in lb/in³: The Value North American Fabricators Need

The density of 5052 aluminum in lb/in³ is 0.0968 lb/in³.

Weight formula in imperial units:

Weight (lb) = Length (in) × Width (in) × Thickness (in) × 0.0968

Worked example — a 5052-H32 enclosure panel, 24 in × 18 in × 0.125 in (3.175 mm):

Weight = 24 × 18 × 0.125 × 0.0968 = 5.24 lb

The same panel in 6061-T6 (0.0975 lb/in³) weighs 5.27 lb — a difference of 0.03 lb per panel. On a rack of 200 panels, that’s 6 lb of difference. Negligible in isolation; worth knowing when cross-quoting jobs across materials.

The distinction between 0.0968 and 0.0975 is not large enough to matter on most jobs. What matters is not accidentally using 0.1 lb/in³ — the rough approximation sometimes listed for “generic aluminum.” Using 0.1 overstates 5052’s actual density by 3.3%.

5052 Aluminum Density in Fabrication: Three Applications Where It Matters

Marine enclosures and panel systems

5052 is the standard aluminum for marine panel work — enclosures, electrical cabinet faces, bulkheads, and interior cladding on vessels and offshore platforms. The reason is not density alone; it’s the combination of density and corrosion performance. 5052 carries approximately 2.5% magnesium along with a small chromium addition (0.15–0.35%), and together these produce one of the most saltwater-resistant aluminum alloys available. It resists pitting and stress corrosion cracking in chloride environments where 6061 would require additional coating protection.

In marine panel applications, we quote weight per installation because the total mass of interior cladding affects vessel trim and load distribution. A 5052-H32 bulkhead panel at 2,680 kg/m³ is lighter than the 6061 equivalent at 2,700 kg/m³ — a small difference per panel that adds up across a large vessel interior.

One job stands out in my memory: a customer was fitting out a 30-meter work vessel with aluminum interior paneling across roughly 800 m² of bulkheads and overheads. They had initially specified 6061-T6 sheet because it was on their standard materials list. When we pointed out that 5052-H32 offered better saltwater corrosion resistance without any coating requirement for that application, they switched grades. The 5052 specification also came in slightly lighter — across 800 m² of 2 mm sheet, the 20 kg/m³ density advantage saved approximately 32 kg of installed weight. Not transformational, but everything on a vessel costs.

Fuel tanks and pressure vessel components

5052 is one of the approved aluminum alloys for welded fuel tanks and low-pressure vessels in automotive, marine, and aerospace applications. The density value feeds directly into vessel weight calculations and plays into system weight budgets. A laser-cut 5052 tank blank — flat sheets that will be formed and welded into a three-dimensional tank — uses 2,680 kg/m³ in every weight estimate.

The critical fabrication note for welded 5052 components: welding reduces the strength near the weld joint toward the annealed (O temper) value. For 5052-H32 sheet welded with 5356 or 5554 filler, the weld zone strength approaches 5052-O properties — a yield strength drop from 195 MPa to approximately 90 MPa. The density at the weld joint is still 2,680 kg/m³. Strength is what changes, not mass.

Signage, architectural panels, and enclosure work

This is 5052’s highest-volume application in our facility. Thin-gauge 5052 (0.8 mm to 2.0 mm) laser-cuts cleanly, forms easily on press brakes, and takes paint and anodize well. It’s the backbone of enclosure panel production, traffic signage, and architectural facade elements.

For enclosure design, weight matters for two reasons: the door hinge load specification and the freight class for shipping assembled cabinets. We calculate both from the density up. For enclosure panels specifically, the 0.7% density advantage of 5052 over 6061 rarely drives material selection — formability and surface quality do. But the calculation is the same: length × width × thickness × 2,680.

Density of 5052 vs. 5083: Choosing Between the Two Marine Aluminum Grades

This is the comparison our marine industry customers most often need, and density is one of three factors in the decision.

5083 is lighter because it carries nearly twice the magnesium. It’s also stronger — high enough tensile strength to qualify for structural hull work in vessels certified by classification societies. 5052 is the right choice when you need sheet metal formability, cost efficiency, and good (not maximum) corrosion resistance. 5083 is the right choice when you need certified structural performance in a marine environment.

In our facility, 5052 runs on the laser table as a standard sheet. 5083 comes through primarily for marine structural orders — thicker plate, specific heat numbers, certifications required. The density difference (2,680 vs. 2,660 kg/m³) is real but secondary to the strength and certification requirements driving that choice.

Data source: aluminum density reference guide

Frequently Asked Questions About 5052 Aluminum Density

Q: What is the density of 5052 aluminum in kg/m³?

2,680 kg/m³. This is the Aluminum Association standardized value, consistent across all 5052 tempers (O, H32, H34, H36, H38). It is approximately 0.7% lower than pure aluminum (2,700 kg/m³) due to the magnesium content of the alloy.

Q: What is the density of 5052 aluminum in g/cm³?

2.68 g/cm³. Numerically the same value as expressed in g/mL. This is the value you will see in technical datasheets, material specification documents, and FEA software material libraries.

Q: What is the density of 5052 aluminum in lb/in³?

0.0968 lb/in³. The exact conversion from 2,680 kg/m³ is 0.09682 lb/in³, which rounds to 0.0968. Do not use 0.0975 (the value for 6061) or 0.1 (generic aluminum approximation) — both overstate the actual density.

Q: Does 5052-H32 density differ from 5052-H34 or 5052-H38?

No. All H-tempers of 5052 have a density of 2,680 kg/m³. Temper designations in the H-series reflect the degree of cold working applied — H32 is quarter-hard, H34 is half-hard, H38 is full-hard. Cold working changes the mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, elongation) but does not change mass per unit volume.

Q: Can 5052 aluminum be specified in T6 temper?

No. 5052 is a non-heat-treatable alloy — it cannot be strengthened by solution treatment and aging. The T-series tempers (T4, T6, T651, etc.) do not exist for 5052. If a drawing specifies 5052-T6, it contains an error. The most common structural sheet specification for 5052 is H32. Confirm the correct temperature with the design engineer.

Q: How does 5052 aluminum density compare to 6061?

5052 is 2,680 kg/m³; 6061 is 2,700 kg/m³ — a difference of 20 kg/m³ (0.7%). 5052 is marginally lighter because its higher magnesium content (2.2–2.8%) outweighs 6061’s near-balanced combination of Mg + Si + trace Cu. In practice, this density difference rarely drives alloy selection between the two grades. Corrosion resistance (5052 is superior in saltwater), weldability (5052 maintains corrosion resistance in the HAZ without sensitization), and formability (5052 allows tighter bend radii in thin gauges) are the real drivers.

Q: What is the weight of a standard 5052 aluminum sheet?

For a 1,220 × 2,440 mm sheet: use the formula Weight (kg) = 1.220 × 2.440 × thickness (m) × 2,680. At 1.6 mm gauge: approximately 6.4 kg. At 3.2 mm: approximately 12.7 kg. At 6.4 mm: approximately 25.5 kg.

References

1. ASTM B209, Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate, ASTM International, current edition. (Chemical composition of 5052 per Table 1; mechanical property requirements per Table 3; temper designations and their process definitions.)
2. Aluminum Association, Aluminum Standards and Data, current edition. (Density values by alloy and temper; composition limits; mechanical property minima and typical values for all 5xxx series H-temper conditions.)
3. ASM Handbook, Volume 1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys, 10th Edition. ASM International, 1990. (Physical properties of wrought aluminum alloys; density and thermal expansion data by alloy family.)
4. Aluminum Association, Guidelines for the Use of Aluminum in Marine Vehicles, current edition. (Marine alloy selection guidance distinguishing 5052 from 5083 and 5086 for different marine structural applications.)

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Dr. Liu Che

Dr. Liu Che holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Dalian University of Technology and completed postdoctoral research at the Mechanical Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship of Harbin Institute of Technology. His research focuses on core algorithms for large-scale laser equipment integration, laser cladding remanufacturing, and real-time intelligent monitoring systems for processing. He possesses profound academic expertise in cutting-edge fields such as laser beam spatial shaping and the mechanism analysis of laser processing of special alloys. He has led numerous solutions to technical challenges in cutting and surface modification of high-hardness materials in the heavy machinery industry, demonstrating strong theoretical foundations and outstanding engineering implementation capabilities.

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