A cubic yard of normal-weight concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds, or roughly 2 tons. Concrete is commonly given as 145 to 150 pounds per cubic foot, and one cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a yard works out to 3,915 to 4,050 pounds. Engineers and contractors usually plan with 150 lb per cubic foot, or 4,050 lb per cubic yard. Lightweight concrete is lighter, and broken concrete (for example in a dumpster) weighs far less per yard because of the air gaps between pieces.
To work out how many yards you need first, use the Concrete Calculator or read how much concrete do I need. Then multiply by the weight per yard below.
How much does concrete weigh? Quick answer
| Volume | Normal-weight concrete (145 to 150 lb/ft³) |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic foot | 145 to 150 lb |
| 1 cubic yard (27 ft³) | 3,915 to 4,050 lb (about 1.96 to 2.03 US tons) |
| 1 cubic meter | about 2,320 to 2,400 kg |
| 1 square foot of slab, 4 inches thick | about 48 to 50 lb |
The numbers come from the density of the mix, which depends on the aggregate, the amount of air and the water in the mix. Ask your supplier for the weight of your specific mix if a limit matters, such as a vehicle, a dumpster or a structure.
Weight by concrete type
| Type | Per cubic foot | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Normal-weight concrete (standard ready-mix, sand and gravel) | 145 to 150 lb | 3,915 to 4,050 lb |
| Reinforced concrete, design value | 150 lb | 4,050 lb |
| Structural lightweight concrete | about 90 to 115 lb | about 2,430 to 3,105 lb |
| Broken concrete (demolition debris) | about 75 lb | about 2,000 to 2,400 lb |
Design loads in a state building code that reproduces standard dead-load tables list reinforced stone concrete at 150 lb per cubic foot. Lightweight concrete uses aggregates such as expanded shale, clay or slate, and industry references give its weight as roughly 90 to 115 lb per cubic foot. Broken concrete is lighter by volume because of the air between pieces: one disposal-industry source gives 2,000 to 2,400 lb per cubic yard, and another gives about 75 lb per cubic foot, which is about 2,025 lb per cubic yard.
How much does a concrete slab weigh?
Multiply the slab volume in cubic feet by the weight per cubic foot. For a 4-inch slab that is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 cubic feet per square foot, or about 48 to 50 lb per square foot.
| Slab thickness | Weight per square foot |
|---|---|
| 4 inches | 48.3 to 50.0 lb |
| 5 inches | 60.4 to 62.5 lb |
| 6 inches | 72.5 to 75.0 lb |
| 8 inches | 96.7 to 100.0 lb |
| Slab | Cubic yards | Weight (145 to 150 lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft, 4 inches | 0.20 | 773 to 800 lb |
| 10 × 10 ft, 4 inches | 1.23 | 4,833 to 5,000 lb |
| 10 × 10 ft, 6 inches | 1.85 | 7,250 to 7,500 lb |
| 12 × 12 ft, 4 inches | 1.78 | 6,960 to 7,200 lb |
| 12 × 40 ft driveway, 5 inches | 7.41 | 29,000 to 30,000 lb |
| 20 × 20 ft, 4 inches | 4.94 | 19,333 to 20,000 lb |
Use these for planning only, for example when checking whether a deck, a trailer or a stack of precast slabs can carry the load. For thickness and cubic yards by slab size, see concrete slab thickness and how much concrete do I need.
How much does a bag of concrete add up to?
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Dry mix per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 90 | 3,600 lb |
| 50 lb | 72 | 3,600 lb |
| 60 lb | 60 | 3,600 lb |
| 80 lb | 45 | 3,600 lb |
Bag counts use the yields in QUIKRETE’s Concrete Mix data sheet (0.30, 0.375, 0.45 and 0.60 cubic feet for the 40, 50, 60 and 80 lb bags). The bags weigh the same total per yard whichever size you buy: about 3,600 lb of dry mix. Mixing water adds weight on top, which is why a yard of mixed concrete is heavier than a yard of dry bags. See how many bags of concrete do I need.
How much does a ready-mix truck load weigh?
Ready-mix is sold by the cubic yard, but its weight sets the limits on the road and on your driveway. NRMCA’s ordering guidance, as summarised by industry sites, describes truck mixers holding about 8 to 12 cubic yards. At 4,050 lb per yard, a 10-yard load is about 40,500 lb of concrete. Industry sources estimate an empty mixer truck at about 26,000 lb, so a full 10-yard truck can weigh in the region of 66,000 lb. Weights vary by truck, so ask your supplier before you order if your driveway, culvert or access road has a load limit.
Does wet concrete weigh more than cured concrete?
Slightly. Industry references note that the dry unit weight of hardened normal-weight concrete is a little below that of fresh concrete as mix water evaporates, but the difference is only a few percent, so 145 to 150 lb per cubic foot covers both for planning.
Worked examples
- 1 cubic yard of ready-mix: about 4,050 lb at 150 lb/ft³ (3,915 lb at 145 lb/ft³).
- A 10 × 10 ft slab, 4 inches thick: 33.33 ft³ × 150 = about 5,000 lb, or 2.5 tons.
- A 12 × 40 ft driveway, 5 inches thick: 200 ft³ × 150 = about 30,000 lb, or 15 tons.
- 10 fence post holes, 10 in × 30 in: about 13.6 ft³ × 150 = about 2,040 lb.
- Removing the 10 × 10 ft slab above: it weighs about 5,000 lb whether it is whole or broken up. Broken pieces take up more space, so a dumpster’s size in yards is no guide to its weight. Check the dumpster’s weight limit.
Common questions
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
About 4,000 lb (3,915 to 4,050 lb), or roughly 2 US tons, for normal-weight concrete.
How much does a cubic foot of concrete weigh?
About 145 to 150 lb. Engineers use 150 lb per cubic foot for design.
How many tons is a yard of concrete?
About 2 US tons (1.96 to 2.03 tons).
How much does a 4-inch slab weigh?
About 48 to 50 lb per square foot. A 10 × 10 ft slab at 4 inches weighs about 5,000 lb.
Does lightweight concrete weigh less?
Yes. Structural lightweight concrete is roughly 90 to 115 lb per cubic foot, so about 2,430 to 3,105 lb per cubic yard.
Bottom line
Plan on about 4,000 lb (2 tons) per cubic yard of normal concrete, or 150 lb per cubic foot. To find your volume, use the Concrete Calculator, then multiply. For ordering, bags and curing, see how much concrete do I need, how many bags of concrete do I need and concrete curing time. For other materials, see how much does a yard of gravel weigh, sand, topsoil and mulch.
Weights here are planning figures. For structural, load-bearing or vehicle-limit decisions, use the weight supplied for your mix and follow local code.
Sources
Concrete unit weight is a standard engineering value, but we did not find a university extension page on it. These are industry and engineering references, and the figures agree closely.
- Massachusetts building code: Unit dead loads for design purposes (reinforced stone concrete, 150 lb/ft³)
- Concrete Calculator Max: Concrete Weight Calculator (normal and lightweight values, citing ACI)
- BuildCalcHub: Concrete weight per cubic foot by mix type
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 data sheet (bag yields)
- Calculating Concrete: Ready-mix delivery, minimums and fees (summarises NRMCA Concrete in Practice 31)
- SANY: Concrete Truck Weight Analysis and Selection Guide (truck weight)
- DisposalAssist: How Much Does Concrete Weigh? (broken concrete)
- Atlanta Concrete Solutions: Weight of Concrete (broken concrete)