Cable tray prices in Egypt: what decides the price per metre?
The price of a metre of cable tray is not a fixed number. It depends on weight, steel price, finish and labour. Here is how it is calculated and how to compare quotations fairly.
Every day someone asks us: "How much is a metre of cable tray?" The honest answer is that it depends on size, thickness, finish and the steel price on the day. This article explains the formula a serious manufacturer uses, so you can read any quotation and compare offers fairly.
1. Weight per metre comes first
A cable tray is a steel sheet that is cut, punched and bent. So the base of the price is the weight of steel in each metre:
Weight (kg/m) = (width + 2 × side height) in mm × thickness in mm × 7.85 ÷ 1000
| Size (W × H) | Thickness | Approx. weight per metre |
|---|---|---|
| 100 × 50 mm | 1.5 mm | 2.35 kg |
| 200 × 50 mm | 1.5 mm | 3.53 kg |
| 300 × 100 mm | 1.5 mm | 5.89 kg |
| 400 × 100 mm | 2 mm | 9.42 kg |
| 600 × 100 mm | 2 mm | 12.56 kg |
| 1000 × 100 mm | 2 mm | 18.84 kg |
Returned-flange and snap-on trays add 10–15 mm to each side, which adds a little weight.
2. The finish
- Pre-galvanized: priced on pre-galvanized sheet, no galvanizing after fabrication.
- Hot-dip galvanized: black steel plus the galvanizing price per kg. Costs more but lasts far longer outdoors and in humid areas.
- Powder coated: black steel plus coating.
- Stainless 304 / 316: much more expensive material, used in food, pharma and coastal sites.
3. Labour and margin
Then comes labour (cutting, punching, bending), usually a percentage of the material cost, plus the manufacturer's margin.
4. Fittings and delivery
The price per metre usually excludes bends, tees, reducers, covers, supports, bolts and transport. Ask for them in the same quotation so you compare like with like.
How to compare two quotations
- Check the thickness is the same — half a millimetre changes the weight by 30% or more.
- Check the galvanizing type — a pre-galvanized offer is naturally cheaper than hot-dip.
- Ask whether the price includes splice plates and bolts.
- Ask for the galvanizing certificate or coating thickness if a consultant will inspect.
Work it out yourself
Try our price calculator: enter the size, thickness and finish to get the weight and an indicative price per metre. For a formal offer, send us your sizes and quantities and we will reply the same day.