What is the density of concrete?

Normal-weight concrete is 2,300–2,400 kg/m³ (145–150 lb/ft³). Design codes use 145 lb/ft³ for plain and 150 lb/ft³ for reinforced concrete (ACI 318); IS 456 uses 24 kN/m³ ≈ 2,400 kg/m³ for RCC.

How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?

About 4,050 lb — just over two US tons. A cubic meter weighs about 2,400 kg. A full 10-yard mixer truck therefore carries over 40,000 lb of concrete alone, which is why trucks stay off finished driveways and septic fields.

Is wet concrete heavier than dry?

Slightly — fresh concrete carries mix water that later evaporates or binds chemically, so it weighs roughly 50–100 kg/m³ more than the cured slab. For formwork design you use the wet (fluid) weight; for structural dead load, the cured weight.

Why does lightweight concrete exist?

Replacing gravel with expanded shale or clay drops density to ~1,750 kg/m³ while keeping structural strength (ASTM C330). On a high-rise floor slab, that 25% dead-load reduction cascades into smaller beams, columns and footings — worth the higher material price.

What concrete is used for radiation shielding?

Heavyweight concrete batched with magnetite, barite or steel punchings reaches 3,200–4,000 kg/m³. Density is the shielding mechanism, so these mixes are specified by required mass per square meter of wall.

Concrete · Reference Chart

Concrete density chart

Every unit weight you need for estimating, batching and load calculations — one page, both unit systems, values consistent with PCA and ACI.

Contents

1.Concrete types compared
2.Density of concrete ingredients
3.Density in the volume-to-weight formula
4.Which density should you design with?

Concrete types compared

Typical as-cured unit weights. Individual mixes vary ±3% with aggregate source and air content.
Material	kg/m³	lb/ft³	t/m³
Normal-weight concrete (plain)PCC, unreinforced	2,300	143.6	2.3
Normal-weight concrete (reinforced)≈1–2% steel by volume	2,400	149.8	2.4
High-density / heavyweight concreteMagnetite or barite aggregate; radiation shielding	3,800	237.2	3.8
Structural lightweight concreteExpanded shale/clay aggregate, ASTM C330	1,750	109.2	1.75
Insulating lightweight concretePerlite/vermiculite; non-structural	800	49.9	0.8
Aerated (AAC) concreteAutoclaved blocks	600	37.5	0.6
Fresh (wet) concreteSlightly heavier than cured	2,450	152.9	2.45

Density by concrete type

Normal-weight (plain)2,300kg/m³

Normal-weight (reinforced)2,400kg/m³

High-density / heavyweight3,800kg/m³

Structural lightweight1,750kg/m³

Insulating lightweight800kg/m³

Aerated (AAC)600kg/m³

Density of concrete ingredients

Batching by volume? These are the loose bulk densities that convert shovel counts to kilograms.

Loose bulk densities — compacted and saturated states differ. Wet sand bulks up to 25% by volume (IS 2386); batch by weight where accuracy matters.
Material	kg/m³	lb/ft³	t/m³
Portland cement (bulk)ASTM C150; a 94 lb US bag ≈ 1 ft³	1,440	89.9	1.44
Sand (dry, loose)	1,600	99.9	1.6
Sand (wet)Bulking — batch by weight when possible	1,900	118.6	1.9
Coarse aggregate 20 mm (¾ in)	1,550	96.8	1.55
Crushed stone base (compacted)	2,000	124.9	2
Water	1,000	62.4	1

Density in the volume-to-weight formula

Formula

Weight = Volume × Density

Weight: total mass of the pour (kg or lb)
Volume: from your takeoff (m³ or ft³)
Density: from the tables above (kg/m³ or lb/ft³)

Example: a 0.5 m³ reinforced pour = 0.5 × 2,400 = 1,200 kg. In imperial: 17.7 ft³ × 150 = 2,650 lb.

Which density should you design with?

For estimating deliveries and dead loads on ordinary work, use 2,400 kg/m³ (150 lb/ft³) — the reinforced normal-weight value that ACI 318 and IS 456 both build their load tables around. Use the plain-concrete 2,300 figure only for unreinforced mass pours, and switch to measured unit weight (ASTM C138) whenever a mix design sheet is available, because specialty aggregates move the number more than any table can capture.

Density questions

What is the density of concrete?: Normal-weight concrete is 2,300–2,400 kg/m³ (145–150 lb/ft³). Design codes use 145 lb/ft³ for plain and 150 lb/ft³ for reinforced concrete (ACI 318); IS 456 uses 24 kN/m³ ≈ 2,400 kg/m³ for RCC.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?: About 4,050 lb — just over two US tons. A cubic meter weighs about 2,400 kg. A full 10-yard mixer truck therefore carries over 40,000 lb of concrete alone, which is why trucks stay off finished driveways and septic fields.
Is wet concrete heavier than dry?: Slightly — fresh concrete carries mix water that later evaporates or binds chemically, so it weighs roughly 50–100 kg/m³ more than the cured slab. For formwork design you use the wet (fluid) weight; for structural dead load, the cured weight.
Why does lightweight concrete exist?: Replacing gravel with expanded shale or clay drops density to ~1,750 kg/m³ while keeping structural strength (ASTM C330). On a high-rise floor slab, that 25% dead-load reduction cascades into smaller beams, columns and footings — worth the higher material price.
What concrete is used for radiation shielding?: Heavyweight concrete batched with magnetite, barite or steel punchings reaches 3,200–4,000 kg/m³. Density is the shielding mechanism, so these mixes are specified by required mass per square meter of wall.

Use these numbers

Concrete CalculatorVolume, weight and bags for any rectangular pour.Calculator Concrete Wall CalculatorFoundation and retaining walls, minus openings.Calculator Concrete Mix Ratio GuideNominal mixes from 1:3:6 to 1:1:2, with yields.Guide

More reference guides

Concrete Coverage Guide How to Calculate Concrete Concrete Cost Guide

Asphalt densities

Asphalt Density Chart Asphalt Weight Chart

Sources & references

[1]Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed. — Portland Cement Association, 2021
[2]ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete — American Concrete Institute, 2019
[3]IS 456:2000 — Plain and Reinforced Concrete: Code of Practice — Bureau of Indian Standards, 2000