---
title: "Wrought iron — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Wrought iron has a density of 7,700 kg/m³ (7,600–7,800). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/wrought-iron/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Wrought iron

**Density of wrought iron: 7,700 kg/m³ (7,600–7,800)**

7.70 g/cm³ · 480.7 lb/ft³

Genuine wrought iron has not been made commercially since the 1970s: nearly carbon-free iron with fibrous slag stringers rolled through it, which give it a woody grain and remarkable corrosion resistance. Almost everything sold today as "wrought iron" gates is mild steel, bent cold. The real material is worth knowing about because Victorian ironwork survives outdoors far better than modern steel does — the slag fibres blunt the progress of rust.

## Properties

- **Density:** 7,700 kg/m³ (7,600–7,800) — 7.70 g/cm³
- **Melting range:** 1500–1540 °C
- **Tensile strength:** 250–400 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 190 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 59 W/(m·K)
- **Thermal expansion:** 12 µm/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** Yes

## What it is used for

- Victorian gates, railings and chain
- Historic bridges and roof trusses
- Blacksmithing and restoration work
- Anchor chain and rigging (historically)

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- wrought iron: 7,700 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| wrought iron ← | 7,700 kg/m³ | 7.70× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Yes, and readily. Rust is iron oxide, and it is flaky rather than adherent — it does not seal the surface, so oxygen and water keep reaching fresh metal underneath and the process continues until the section is gone. That non-protective quality is what makes rust different from the oxide layers on other metals.

## Is it magnetic?

Iron, nickel and cobalt are the three common ferromagnetic elements, and anything based mostly on them is strongly attracted to a magnet.

## Common questions

### What is the density of wrought iron?

7,700 kg/m³ (7,600–7,800), or 7.70 g/cm³.

### Does wrought iron float?

No. At 7,700 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is wrought iron magnetic?

Iron, nickel and cobalt are the three common ferromagnetic elements, and anything based mostly on them is strongly attracted to a magnet.

## Related pages

- [Does wrought iron float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/wrought-iron/)
- [Mild steel](https://atoneplace.net/material/mild-steel/)
- [Stainless steel 304](https://atoneplace.net/material/stainless-304/)
- [Brass](https://atoneplace.net/material/brass/)
- [Gray cast iron](https://atoneplace.net/material/cast-iron/)
- [High-carbon steel](https://atoneplace.net/material/carbon-steel/)
- [Stainless steel 316](https://atoneplace.net/material/stainless-316/)
- [Aluminum 6061](https://atoneplace.net/material/aluminum-6061/)
- [Bronze](https://atoneplace.net/material/bronze/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)