Material density table
Check this before converting volume to weight — bulk and solid density differ by a factor of two, and picking the wrong one ruins the tonnage.
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | State |
|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete | 2200~2400 | Solid |
| Reinforced concrete | 2400~2500 | Solid, usually 2500 |
| Lightweight aggregate concrete | 1400~1900 | Solid |
| Cement mortar | 2000 | Solid |
| Compo mortar | 1900 | Solid |
| Clay brick | 1800 | Solid, about 2.6 kg each |
| AAC block | 500~700 | Solid, grades B05-B07 |
| Hollow concrete block | 1200~1400 | Solid, by void ratio |
| Cement (bulk) | 1200~1300 | Loose |
| Cement (particle) | 3100 | For mix design |
| Medium sand (dry) | 1450~1550 | Bulk |
| Medium sand (wet) | 1600~1800 | Bulk, 5-8% moisture |
| Crushed stone | 1450~1550 | Loose, 5-40 mm |
| Lime putty | 1350 | Paste |
| Carbon steel | 7850 | Solid |
| Stainless steel | 7930 | Solid, 304 |
| Aluminium | 2700 | Solid |
| Glass | 2500~2560 | Solid |
| Granite | 2800 | Solid |
| Marble | 2700 | Solid |
| Softwood | 500~600 | Solid, air dry |
| Hardwood | 700~900 | Solid, air dry |
| Bitumen | 1000~1100 | Solid |
| Asphalt concrete | 2300~2400 | Solid, compacted |
| Water | 1000 | At 4°C |
| Clay (natural) | 1800~2000 | In situ |
| Sandy soil (natural) | 1600~2000 | In situ |
| EPS board | 20~30 | Solid |
| XPS board | 30~40 | Solid |
| Rock wool board | 100~150 | Solid |
All values are computed from the stated formulas; ranges show the usual spread. Use measured data or the local code where it differs.
How to use this table
- Buying aggregate: convert m³ to t with the bulk density; 1.5 t/m³ is the usual working figure for medium sand.
- Structural self-weight: use solid density, and take 2500 kg/m³ for reinforced concrete.
- Mix design: use particle densities (cement 3100, sand 2650, stone 2700) in the absolute volume method, never bulk density.
- Permanent floor load: finish thickness × density gives the finish's self-weight, which is added to the structural self-weight as design input.
- Transport: convert m³ to tonnes before checking the vehicle's rated payload — a nominal 10 t truck holds only 6-7 m³ of sand, so ordering by volume always overloads it.
- Stockpiling: stack loads must stay under the floor's live load. A 2 m heap of sand is 3 t/m², far above the 2.0 kN/m² live load of a dwelling, and the slab will crack.
Common misuse
- Using sand's bulk density (1500) to compute aggregate volume in a mix — the whole mix is then wrong.
- Ignoring moisture: wet sand is 10% heavier, so 30 t ordered against dry density delivers 27 t of volume.
- Assuming 700 kg/m³ for AAC when grade B05 is 525 — a 25% error in wall weight that fails the compression check.
- Confusing bulk density with apparent density. Sand's apparent density is about 2650 kg/m³, while its loose bulk density is only 1450-1600. Pricing, haulage and stockpiling all use bulk density — using 2650 overstates by 70%.
- Taking concrete as 2400 kg/m³ universally. Reinforced is 2500, plain 2350-2400, lightweight aggregate 1800-1950, and pumped mixes run 1-2% heavier because of the higher sand content.
Calculate the actual number
Concrete Mix Design CalculatorWork out cement, sand, gravel and water per cubic metre from the target grade and water-cement ratio.Sand and Gravel Tonnage ConverterCubic metres to tonnes by bulk density, with truck loads.Concrete Volume CalculatorEnter length, width and thickness to get the concrete volume you need and how many truck loads that is.
Other reference tables
FAQ
How many tonnes in a cubic metre of sand?
Bulk density of medium sand is 1450-1650 kg/m³, so 1.45-1.65 t per cubic metre; use the top of the range when wet.
How much does a cubic metre of reinforced concrete weigh?
2400-2500 kg, and 2500 is the normal design figure. That is solid density, not loose.
What is the density of cement?
Particle density is 3100 kg/m³ while bulk density is only 1200-1300. Mix design uses particle density; storage and haulage use bulk.
How much does a cubic metre of water weigh?
1000 kg. Density peaks at 1000 kg/m³ at 4 °C and is about 998 at room temperature, a negligible difference. Tank volumes and pump heads should still use 1000.
How different are steel and aluminium densities?
Steel 7850 kg/m³ and aluminium 2700 kg/m³, a factor of 2.9. The same section in aluminium weighs 34% of the steel version, but its modulus is only a third (70 GPa against 206 GPa), so stiffness cannot be scaled from weight.
What densities do lightweight concretes have?
Foamed concrete 300-800 kg/m³, expanded clay aggregate concrete 1200-1800, AAC blocks 500-700 and lightweight aggregate concrete 1800-1950. Lower density means lower strength, and loadbearing elements rarely go below 1200.
Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.