Have you ever wanted to know how heavy a giant is or how much a
giant can pick up? (loud refrain — “Anything he wants to”) Well, the
little Kobolds at TSR spent many hours of brain work and reams of
paper-work to come up with an answer. Unfortunately they didn’t
come up with one answer, they came up with many answers. (Democracy
at its finest.) None of the Kobolds could remember how to do
the scientific law about doubling the size and cubing the mass. So we
couldn’t use that one to help us.

Of all the answers we came up with we used the one that appeared
most reasonable. We used the formula that was created by our smartest
Kobold, mainly because none of the rest of us could understand it!!
Apparently what he did was base the weight on the increased volume of
the torso. As a giant gets taller his torso lengthens too.

Einshtein, our smartest Kobold, based his formula on an average
human male, 5'8” tall with a 38” chest size, an 18” torso length and
who weighs 180 lbs. Then he figured that this portion of the body
amounts to 35% of the whole body. Through diabolical methods he
discovered that a cubic foot of a human body weighs 47 lbs. Using all
of this information he created a formula and calculated the following
weights, chest sizes and torso lengths.
 
 
Height 
in Feet		 Weight: Pounds Weight: Tons (appx.) Chest size:
Inches		 Chest size:  Feet Torso Length: 
Inches		 Torso Length: Feet
5'8" 160 - 38" 3'2" 18" 1'6"
6' 185 - 40" 3'4" 19" 1'7"
7' 300 - 47" 3'11" 22" 1'10"
8' 450 - 54" 4'6" 25" 2'1"
9' 630 1/4 ton 60" 5' 29" 2'5"
10' 875 1/4 ton 67" 5'7" 32" 2'8"
11' 1,175 1/2 ton 74" 6'2" 35" 2'11"
12' 1,510 3/4 ton 80" 6'8" 38" 3'2"
13' 1,930 1 ton 87" 7'3" 41" 3'5"
14' 2,240 1 1/4 ton 94" 7'10" 45" - - -
15' 2,950 1 1/2 ton 100" 8'4" 48 - - -
16' 3,600 1 3/4 ton 107" 8'10" 51 4'3"
17' 4,340 2 1/4 ton 114" 9'6" 54 4'6"
18' 5,120 2 1/2 ton 120" 10" 57 4'9"
19' 6,050 3 ton 127" 10'7" 60 5'
20' 7,010 3 1/2 ton 134" 11'2" 64" 5'4"
21' 8,140 4 ton 141" 11'9" 67" 5'7"
22' 9,075 4 1/2 ton 148" 12'4" 70" 5'10"
23' 10,675 5 1/4 ton 154" 12'10" 73" 6'1"
24' 12,130 6 ton 161" 13'5' 76" 6'4"
25' 13,700 6 3/4 ton 168" 14' 79" 6'7"
26' 15,425 7 3/4 ton  174" 14'6" 83" 6'11"
27' 17,275 8 1/2 ton 181" 15'1" 86" 7'2"
28' 19,250 9 1/2 188" 15'8" 89" 7'5"
29' 21,400 10 3/4 ton 194" 16'2" 92" 7'8"
30' 23,660 11 3/4 ton 201" 16'9" 96" 8'

The weight, chest size and torso length columns have two units of
measurement to help you visualize how large these giants really are.

An important note: These weights and sizes are based on the proportions
of an average human male. This means that from 6’ to 30’ the
measurements given are proportionally the same as the 5'8” man. The
30’ giant will look exactly like the 5'8” human only taller. These measurements
then, being based on an average human will give you an
average giant as long as the giant retains the same proportions as the
human.

The normal human we’ve used has a shoulder length of 18” (the
same as his torso length); this is average. If that human had a shoulder
length of 2 1/2 feet, that would change his weight and chest size. The
same is true for giants. Not everybody’s giants look the same. Some are
squat and thick, others broad shouldered and narrow hipped. Unfortunately
the formula only works for the average, proportionally
human-like giants. Those of you with different shaped giants must
make your own compensations. All of the information derived so far is
based on the assumption that the physical, chemical and biological
make up of the giants are identical to normal human standards. Some
Dungeon Masters might want their giants to have hollow bones or three
hearts, etc. Any change from the human norm may possibly affect the
giants weight.

Over and Under weight giants. Again based on the 5'8’ man his
average weight is 160 lbs. but if he were 130 lbs. he would be 20%
lighter than normal. A 30’ tall giant weighing 20% less than average
would weigh 18,836 lbs. A 5'8” man who weighs 200 lbs. is 25% more
than average. A 30’ tall giant who is 25% heavier than average weighs
29,587 lbs. (almost 15 tons). If you need a lighter or heavier giant base
it on the 5'8” man. Find the percent of increase or decrease. ie., 160 to
130 = -20%, 160 to 200 = +25% etc. Multiply the giants normal
weight by the percent and add or subtract the result with the average
weight. (Don’t forget the percents’ decimal point)

The Refined Formula: For those of you who wish to find out the
weight and sizes of a larger giant (perhaps a Talos sized giant) this is the
formula we used.

First multiply the height of the giant (in inches) by .5588, this reveals
the chest size (circumference) in inches. Then multiply the height
in inches by .2647 this gives the torso length (in inches) of the giant.

Now doesn’t that make a lot of sense?! AHHHHHHHHH . . . .
I hope you have a calculator! !
1. Divide the chest size by 6.28,
2. Square that answer, (multiply it by itself, 2x2 = 4)
3. Multiply that by 3.12,
4. Multiply that by the torso length,
5. Divide that by .35,
6. Divide that by 1728,
7. Multiply that by 47 (lbs. per cubic foot)

The answer is the giant’s weight in pounds.

Example: The 30' giant.
30 360" 360"
x12" x.5588 x.2647
360" 2880 2520
- 2880 1440
- 1800 2160
- 1800 720
- 201.1680" chest size 95.2920" torso langr

1. 201.16 (chest) divided by 6.28 = 32.0
2. 32.0 times 32.0 = 1024.0
3. 1024. times 3.12 = 3194.88
4. 3194.88 times 95.29 (torso) = 304,440.1
5. 304,440.1 divided by .35 = 869,828.88
6. 869,828.88 divided by 1728 = 503.373
7. 503.373 times 47 = 23,658.539 or (23,660 pounds).

How much can a giant pick up?
We make the assumption that a giant can proportionally pick up as
much as a man can. This means that like our 160 lb. man, who can carry
on his back another 160 lb. man (fireman carry, or 200 yd. man carry
army style) a giant should be able to carry a weight equal to his own
weight on his back.

Now don’t get carried away with the weights an Olympic weight
lifter can pick up. Those weights are balanced, symmetrical and designed
to be picked up. There aren’t too many 50,000 lb. dumbbells lying
around for titans to practice on.

An average giant (like an average man) would be able to:
Carry his full weight on his back.

1) Hold in his arms 3/4 of his weight as easily as an average man could
carry a 100 lb. box of books (ugh); this would be dead weight and
balanceable.

2) Fairly easily pick up in two arms 1/2 his body weight of dead
weight.

3) With difficulty pick up 1/2 his body weight a struggling animal (like
an average man picking up a struggling German Shepard).

4) With mild difficulty pick up 1/4 his body weight a struggling animal
two handed (like a average man picking up a struggling poodle).

5) Fairly easily pick up 1/4 his body weight in one hand of dead
weight, balanced and somewhat symmetrical (large tree limb, pillar,
spherical rock etc.)

Again let me say, this is an average giant and this is roughly what
he can pick up. A 30’ tall titan who has taken weight lifting classes
should be able to “press” 47,300-71,000 lbs. (2-3 times his weight) if he
had the proper equipment.

Non-flesh Giants
Now then, if you want to know the weight of a non-flesh and
blood monster (of human proportions) only one thing needs to be
changed in the formula. Step 7 is the pounds per cubic foot. For flesh
and blood giants the number 47 is used, but to find the weight of a
stone Golem or a bronze Talos, this number must be changed to reflect
the weight difference of the new body material (stone or bronze). The
table at the end of this article will give the weights per cubic/foot of
various materials. i.e., Bronze weighs 550 lbs. per cu./ft.

Example: A 60 foot tall Bronze giant named Talos.
60 ft. tall = 720 inches tall.
Chest size, 720” times .5588 = 402.33”
Torso length, 720” times .2647 = 190.58".
The following are the steps for the weight formula;
1. 402.33 divided by 6.28 = 64.06
2. 64.06 times 64.06 = 4104.02
3. 4104.02 times 3.12 = 12,804.54
4. 12,804.54 times 190.58 = 2,440,290.9
5. 2,440,290.9 divided by .35 = 6,972,259.7
6. 6,972,259.7 divided by 1728 = 4,034.87
7. 4,034.87 times 550 (wt. of Bronze cu./ft.) = 2,219,17.85
Roughly 2,220,000 lbs. or 1,110 tons of solid Bronze.
If the insides of the giant are molten metal the weight would possibly be
less because heat expands metals and the volume is the constant factor
here. Roughly then, he could weigh 1,000 tons.

Giant Footsteps
A note for those of you who would like to know how deep this
giants foot steps are. His foot size is 71/2 feet by 3 feet (appx.) or 6480
sq./inches of area total for both feet. If he weighed 1,000 tons there
would be 340 lbs. per sq./inch of pressure on the ground. Proportionally
this is similar to a human walking through 2-4 inches of mud or
through fine dry sand on a beach. With every step the giant takes he
would sink into the ground 3-6 feet. It is conceivable though, for Talos
to sink into soft loam until he was supported by bed rock.

    An 8 foot tall Clay Golem weighs 1,435 lbs.
    A 91/2 foot tall Stone Golem (Granite) weighs 2,640 lbs.
    A 12 foot tall Cast Iron Golem weighs 14,155 lbs./apprx. 7 tons.
 
 
Substance Pounds per Cubic Foot
Aluminum 170
Brass -
    Red 545
    Yellow 530
    Forging 525 
Bronze 550
Copper 560
Gold 1,205
Iron -
    Pure Ingots 490
    Wrought 480
    Cast (Gray) 445
    Malleable 450
Lead 710
Magnesium 110
Mercury 845
Nickel 555
Platinum 1,340
Silver 655
Silver, Sterling 645
Steel -
    Cold Rolled 500
    Carbon 485
    Tungsten 505
    Stainless 500
Tin -
    Pure 455
    Soft Solder 525
    White Metal 454
    Pewter 454
    Tin Babbitt 470
Titanium 280
Tungsten 1,205
Zinc 445
-
Substance Pounds per Cubic Foot -
Agate 156-168 Semi-precious stone
Alabaster 168-173 fine pottery
Amber 66-69 use in jewelry
Asbestos 125-175 -
Beeswax 60-61 -
Beryl 168-169 Semi-precious gem
Biotite 170-190 contains iron ore
Bone 106-125 -
Brick 87-137 -
Bone 106-125 -
Brick 87-137 -
Butter 53-54 -
Calamine 255-280 ore containing zinc
Camphor 62 aspirin variant
Cement 170-190 set-hardened
Chalk 118-175 -
Charcoal 35 -
Cinnabar 507 ore containing mercury, useful for poisons and red dye.
Clay 112-162 -
Coal 87-112 -
Coke 62-105 -
Cork 14-16 -
Diamond 188-220 -
Dolomite 177 ore containing magnesium
Feldspar 159-172 ore containing aluminum
Flint 164 -
Galena 460-470 ore containing lead and coal
Garnet 197-268 semi-precious stone
Glass 150-175 -
Granite 165-172 -
Gum Arabic 81-87 a plant derivative used in adhesives, 
confectionary and pharmacy
Hematite 306-330 ore containing iron
Ice 57.2 -
Ivory 114-120 -
Leather (Dry) 54 -
Magnetite 306-324 ore containing iron
Malachite 231-256 Semi-precious stone, also ore containing copper.
Marble 160-177 -
Ochre 218 A red/yellow pigment
Opal 137 Semi-precious stone
Paper 44-72 -
Paraffin 54-57 -
Pitch 67 -
Porcelain 143-156 -
Pyrite 309-318 "Fools Gold" Can contain Gold deposits
Quartz 165 Can contain Gold deposits
Rocksalt 136 -
Rubber - -
    Hard 74 -
    Soft 69 -
Sandstone 134-147 -
Soapstone 162-175 -
Sugar 99 -
Topaz 219-223 -
Wax 112 -
Wood (Seasoned) - -
   Apple 41-52 -
   Ash 40-53 -
   Balsa 7-9 -
   Bamboo 19-25 -
   Cedar 30-35 -
<??> <??> <??>
   Ebony 69-83 -
   Lignum Vitae 73-83 -
   Mahogany 41 -
   Oak 37-56 -
   Pine, White 22-31 -
      Yellow 23-37 -
Sycamore  24-37 -
Teak, Indian 41-55 -
Teak, African 61 -
Willow 24-37 -
-