6061 aluminum square tubing refers to square‑section tubes manufactured from 6061 aluminum alloy. The most common supply temper is 6061‑T6. It belongs to the Al‑Mg‑Si series of aluminum alloys, a medium-high-strength grade that can be strengthened by heat treatment. Its most outstanding features are high strength‑to‑weight ratio and superior corrosion resistance.
Glory Steel is a professional manufacturer and supplier of 6061 aluminum square tubing and 6061 aluminum rectangular tubing. We supply a full range of wall thicknesses and dimensions. Value‑added services include custom‑length cutting, drilling, CNC precision machining, anodizing and powder coating.
Specifications
| Item | 6061 Aluminum Square Tubing / 6061 Aluminum Rectangular Tubing |
|---|---|
| Material | 6061 Al‑Mg‑Si alloy |
| Supply Temper | T6 (mainstream), T4, O |
| Standards | ASTM B221, EN 755‑9, GB/T 4437.1 |
| Side Dimension | 10mm‑200mm |
| Wall Thickness | 0.8mm‑15mm |
| Length | 1‑12m |
| Surface Finish | Mill silver, anodized, powder‑coated, polished, brushed |
| MOQ | 10 Tons |
| Packaging | Standard export‑grade packaging |
Advantages
- Lightweight & High Strength: It weighs only 1/3 as much as steel while delivering strength close to carbon steel, with high deformation resistance for load‑bearing tube applications.
- Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Unlike steel, it forms a native protective aluminum oxide film. Anodizing further improves its anti‑rust performance.
- Superb Fabricability: Suitable for TIG/MIG welding, bending, stamping and milling. High efficiency for extrusion forming.
- Premium Decorative Performance: Multiple surface finishes available, including silver, bronze, gold, black and full RAL‑series powder coating, polishing and brushing.
Explanation of O / T4 / T6 Tempers
Series‑6 aluminum alloys (6063 / 6061) gain hardness and strength via heat treatment. The suffix “T” denotes temper condition.
- O‑temper: Fully annealed, soft state with minimum hardness and excellent ductility. Not for structural load‑bearing purposes.
- T4‑temper: Natural aging at ambient temperature without oven treatment. Medium strength, lower hardness than T6.
- T6‑temper: The dominant temper for 6061 profiles. Delivers maximum hardness & strength with high deformation resistance, ideal for structural components.
Mechanical Properties of 6061‑T6 Aluminum Square Tube
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (min.) | 310 MPa |
| Yield Strength (min.) | 276 MPa |
| Elongation (min.) | 10% |
| Brinell Hardness (HB) | 95 |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 68.9 GPa |
| Shear Strength | 207 MPa |
| Fatigue Strength | 96.5 MPa @ 5×10⁸ cycles |
Chemical Composition
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Al | Remainder |
| Mg | 0.80‑1.20 |
| Si | 0.40‑0.80 |
| Cu | 0.15‑0.40 |
| Cr | 0.04‑0.35 |
| Fe | ≤0.70 |
| Others | Single ≤0.05, Total ≤0.15 |
Common Sizes & Theoretical Weight
| Side Size (mm) | Wall Thickness (mm) | Theoretical Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|
| 20×20 | 1.5 ~ 3.0 | 0.34 ~ 0.64 |
| 25×25 | 1.5 ~ 3.0 | 0.43 ~ 0.82 |
| 30×30 | 1.5 ~ 3.0 | 0.53 ~ 1.01 |
| 40×40 | 1.5 ~ 4.0 | 0.72 ~ 1.82 |
| 50×50 | 2.0 ~ 4.0 | 1.22 ~ 2.31 |
| 60×60 | 2.0 ~ 5.0 | 1.53 ~ 3.64 |
| 75×75 | 2.5 ~ 5.0 | 2.37 ~ 4.53 |
| 80×80 | 3.0 ~ 5.0 | 2.98 ~ 4.81 |
| 100×100 | 3.0 ~ 6.0 | 3.76 ~ 7.25 |
US Standard Equivalent Sizes
| Inch Size | mm Dimension | Wall Thickness (inch/mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1″ × 1″ | 25.4×25.4 | 1/8″ (3.18mm) |
| 1.5″ × 1.5″ | 38.1×38.1 | 1/8″ (3.18mm) |
| 2″ × 2″ | 50.8×50.8 | 1/8″ (3.18mm) or 3/16″ (4.78mm) |
| 3″ × 3″ | 76.2×76.2 | 3/16″ (4.78mm) or 1/4″ (6.35mm) |
| 4″ × 4″ | 101.6×101.6 | 3/16″ (4.78mm) or 1/4″ (6.35mm) |
Theoretical Weight Formula
Aluminum rectangular tube weight calculator (Square tube weight calculator)
W (kg/m) = [2 × (A + B) − 4t] × t × 0.00271
Where A/B = side dimension of square tube (mm), t = wall thickness (mm)
Surface Treatment Options
- Anodizing: Artificially electro‑chemically generated thicker aluminum oxide film (5‑25μm). Natural anodized and black anodized are widely available; finishes include silver, bronze, gold, etc.
- Powder Coated: Thicker coating layer, rich color options and outstanding weather resistance, suitable for outdoor structures.
- Polished: Achievable 4K / 8K mirror finish for automotive trim and display components.
- Brushed: Short‑grain & long‑straight grain textures. Fingerprint‑resistant and scratch‑proof for precision tubular columns for home appliances.
Application Fields
- Building & New Energy: Sun‑room frames, curtain wall sub‑frames, outdoor guardrails & balustrades, exhibition booth structures.
- Transportation: Battery trays, rail transit, trailer & marine handrail frames, bicycle & sports‑equipment frames.
- Industrial Machinery: Automation equipment frames, assembly lines, workbench frameworks, lightweight load‑bearing tubular components.
- Furniture & Decoration: Aluminum alloy doors & windows, food service trailer frames, display racks, office equipment structures.
6061 Aluminum Square Tubing vs 6063 Aluminum Square Tubing
These are the two most popular series‑6 aluminum alloys: 6061 is optimized for load‑bearing structural applications, while 6063 targets decorative applications.
| Comparison Item | 6061 Aluminum Square Tubing | 6063 Aluminum Square Tubing |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (T6) | ≥310 MPa | ≥240 MPa |
| Yield Strength (T6) | ≥276 MPa | ≥215 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥10% | ≥8% |
| Brinell Hardness (HB) | 95 | 73 |
| Extrudability | Good | Excellent |
| Anodizing Surface Performance | Good | Excellent |
| Weldability | Good | Excellent |
Selection Guide
- Choose 6061: For high‑strength, load‑bearing structural purposes.
- Choose 6063: For complex cross‑sections and premium decorative surface requirements.
FAQ
Q: Can 6061 aluminum square tubing be welded?
A: Yes. TIG / MIG welding is applicable. Recommended filler wires: 4043 or 5356. Sound fusion between weld seam and base metal can be achieved.
Q: Is anodizing mandatory for 6061 aluminum square tubing?
A: Not required. It can be used as‑mill for indoor applications without special surface requirements. Apply anodizing if enhanced corrosion resistance or colored finishes are needed.
Q: Can 6061 aluminum square tubing be used outdoors?
A: Yes. It can be deployed outdoors without anti‑rust paint. For marine or chemical‑exposed environments, anodizing or powder coating is recommended to boost oxidation resistance.
Why Choose Glory Steel
- Fully‑integrated manufacturer covering aluminum coil processing, tube extrusion, anodizing / powder coating and in‑house quality inspection. Custom drawings are accepted.
- Products comply with international standards. High dimensional accuracy for bulk orders. Third‑party SGS inspection is supported for customs clearance.
- Complete value‑added deep‑processing services for both mechanical machining and coating finishes.
- Minimum trial order of 10 tons. Larger discounts for full‑container purchases with reliable lead times.
Glory Steel Plant, located in Tianjin, China, is an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and CE-certified factory with an annual output of 100,000 tons. Specialize in the production of aluminum tubes, aluminized tubes, and Zinc-aluminum-magnesium pipe, including round, square, and rectangular cross-sections. With our high-quality products and services, we export to over 120 countries.
| Customization Range | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Aluminium 3000, 5000, 6000, 7000 series | |||
| Temper | T4 | T5 | T6 | T66 |
| Size / Thickness |
WT 0.8‑5.0 mm Anodizing film thickness: 8‑25 μm Powder‑coating thickness: 40‑120 μm |
|||
| Shape | Square | Round | Rectangular | Custom‑extruded |
| Surface treatment | Powder coating | Electrophoresis | Wood grain transfer | Anodized | Brushed | Polishing | |||
| Colors | Refer to RAL color chart; custom colors are acceptable | |||
| Deep processing | CNC machining | Drilling | Milling | Cutting | Welding | Bending | Assembly | |||
| One‑stop Service | Custom design, fabrication, assembly and delivery | |||
