Racking Material Calculator

Compare aluminum vs. steel racking systems for weight, cost, and corrosion resistance in PV mounting applications.

Input Parameters

Results

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Number of Modules
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Aluminum Racking Weight
lbs
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Steel Racking Weight
lbs
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Cost Difference (Al − Steel)
$
Note: Aluminum (6061-T6) is lighter and corrosion-resistant but ~3× the cost per pound. Steel (HDG) is heavier but cheaper. Coastal/corrosive environments favor aluminum.

Reference

Modules = ceil(System kW × 1000 / Module Watt) Aluminum: ~4.5 lbs/module (6061-T6) Steel: ~8.0 lbs/module (HDG) Cost = Weight × $/lb Aluminum density = 0.098 lb/in³ vs Steel = 0.284 lb/in³