The Short Answer: About 4,050 Pounds — Just Over 2 Tons
One cubic yard of standard cured concrete (the ~4,000 psi mix used for most slabs, driveways, and footings) weighs about 4,050 pounds, or 2.03 US tons. That figure comes from concrete’s density of roughly 150 pounds per cubic foot: 150 × 27 cubic feet = 4,050 pounds.
But not every yard of concrete weighs the same. Fresh, wet ready-mix runs a little heavier at about 4,150 lb per yard because of the mixing water; a dry bagged mix before water is added is about 3,600 lb per yard; and lightweight mixes can drop to 2,430–2,970 lb per yard. Broken-up concrete rubble weighs roughly half of solid concrete — about 2,025 lb per yard — because of all the air between the chunks.
The calculator below answers the question for your exact situation: enter cubic yards directly, or enter your slab dimensions, pick the mix type, and get the weight in pounds, US tons, kilograms, and metric tonnes — with a full breakdown of the math.
How this was calculated
Weight = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard for the selected mix. Actual density varies with aggregate type, air content, and moisture — confirm with your ready-mix supplier for structural or hauling decisions.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose how you know the volume. Pick I know the cubic yards if you have the figure from a supplier quote or a ready-mix ticket, or Enter dimensions to compute it from your slab.
- Enter the volume or the dimensions. For dimensions, type length and width in feet and the thickness in inches (the default) — 4 inches is standard for patios and walkways, 5–6 inches for driveways.
- Select the concrete mix. Standard cured concrete suits most projects; choose wet ready-mix if you are pricing a delivery, lightweight if your plans specify it, or broken concrete if you are hauling away demolition.
- Click Calculate Concrete Weight. The headline shows the weight in pounds with the ton equivalent underneath, plus kilograms, metric tonnes, and pounds per cubic foot — and a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation.
What Determines How Much Concrete Weighs?
Concrete’s weight comes almost entirely from its ingredients: cement, sand, stone aggregate, and water. A standard mix packs about 150 pounds into every cubic foot, which is why the per-yard number lands at 4,050. Three things move that number:
- Water content. A yard of wet, freshly mixed concrete carries roughly 10–14 gallons of extra water — about 100 pounds — compared with the same yard after curing. Most of that water evaporates or chemically combines as the concrete hardens.
- Aggregate type. Normal mixes use dense stone and sand. Lightweight mixes swap in expanded shale, clay, or slate, dropping the density to 90–110 lb per cubic foot for roof decks and fills where dead load matters.
- Air and voids. Intentionally entrained air (for freeze-thaw durability) shaves a little weight; unintentional voids and the gaps in broken rubble shave a lot — which is why demolished concrete weighs about half per yard.
For structural design, engineers use the 150 lb/ft³ figure for normal-weight concrete and 110 lb/ft³ for structural lightweight — the same numbers in this calculator’s mix selector.
Concrete Weight by Mix Type
| Concrete type | Density (lb/ft³) | Weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cured (~4,000 psi) | 150 | 4,050 lb (2.03 tons) |
| Fresh / wet ready-mix | 154 | 4,150 lb (2.08 tons) |
| High-strength cured (5,000+ psi) | 155 | 4,185 lb (2.09 tons) |
| Dry bagged mix (before water) | 133 | 3,600 lb (1.80 tons) |
| Lightweight structural | 110 | 2,970 lb (1.49 tons) |
| Lightweight insulating | 90 | 2,430 lb (1.22 tons) |
| Broken concrete / rubble | 75 | 2,025 lb (1.01 tons) |
The Formula (With a Worked Example)
US tons = pounds ÷ 2,000 · Kilograms = pounds × 0.4536
From dimensions: cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × thickness ft) ÷ 27.
Worked example — a 20 ft × 12 ft driveway section, 4 inches thick, standard mix.
- Convert thickness: 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet.
- Volume: 20 × 12 × 0.333 = 80 ft³ ÷ 27 = 2.96 cubic yards.
- Weight: 2.96 × 4,050 = 12,000 lb.
- In tons: 12,000 ÷ 2,000 = 6 tons — plus a 5–10% waste allowance, the standard order would be about 3.25 yards.
Tips for Working With Concrete Weight
- Use cured weight for structures, wet weight for deliveries. What the truck carries (wet) is heavier than what stays in your forms (cured) — the difference is the water that evaporates.
- Add 5–10% waste, not the full 10% used for soil. Concrete in well-built forms wastes less than loose material; contractors typically order 5–10% over the calculated volume.
- Count the bags correctly. It takes about forty-five 80 lb bags of premix to make one cubic yard — at that scale, ready-mix delivery is almost always cheaper than bags.
- Check floor and soil capacity. A 4-inch slab weighs 50 lb per square foot (150 ÷ 3). Make sure upper floors, decks, and soft subgrades are rated for it.
- Do not overload the tow vehicle. Hauling bagged concrete or rubble? A yard of broken concrete still weighs over a ton — most pickups and trailers hit their rating at a fraction of a yard.
- Confirm the mix with your supplier. If your plans call for lightweight or high-strength concrete, the weight per yard changes substantially — get the specified density in writing.
How Much Do Common Concrete Elements Weigh?
Per-yard numbers are useful for ordering, but most weight questions are really about a specific slab — usually one being demolished, hauled, or checked against a floor’s load limit. At the standard 150 lb per cubic foot, any flat slab weighs 50 lb per square foot for every 4 inches of thickness:
| Element | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Patio / walkway slab | 10 × 10 ft, 4 in thick | ≈ 5,000 lb (2.5 tons) |
| Driveway slab | 10 × 10 ft, 6 in thick | ≈ 7,500 lb (3.75 tons) |
| Sidewalk square | 5 × 5 ft, 4 in thick | ≈ 1,250 lb |
| Full cubic yard | 27 cu ft, any shape | ≈ 4,050 lb (2.02 tons) |
The sidewalk row explains why demo crews break slabs before lifting: even one 5-foot square outweighs two adults several times over.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
About 4,050 pounds (2.03 US tons) for standard cured concrete at roughly 4,000 psi. That is 150 pounds per cubic foot times 27 cubic feet per cubic yard.
How much does a yard of wet concrete weigh?
About 4,150 pounds (2.08 tons). Fresh ready-mix carries roughly 10–14 gallons of extra water per yard — around 100 pounds — most of which evaporates or chemically combines as the concrete cures.
How much does a cubic foot of concrete weigh?
150 pounds for standard cured concrete. Broken-up concrete weighs about 75 pounds per cubic foot because of the air gaps between chunks.
How much does lightweight concrete weigh per yard?
Structural lightweight concrete weighs about 2,970 lb per yard (110 lb/ft³), and insulating lightweight mixes about 2,430 lb per yard (90 lb/ft³) — roughly 25–40% lighter than standard concrete.
How much does a yard of dry concrete mix weigh?
About 3,600 pounds (1.8 tons), or 133 pounds per cubic foot. That is the bagged premix before water is added — water brings it up to roughly 4,050 lb per yard once mixed and cured.
How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
About 45 bags. An 80 lb bag yields roughly 0.6 cubic feet, so 27 ÷ 0.6 = 45 bags per cubic yard. For anything near a full yard, ready-mix delivery is far cheaper than bags.
How much does 5 yards of concrete weigh?
About 20,250 pounds (10.13 US tons) of standard cured concrete — 5 × 4,050. That is more than a full ready-mix truck load, so plan the delivery and site access accordingly.
Why does concrete weight matter for my project?
Three reasons: delivery logistics (a mixer truck hauls 16–20 tons), structural loading (a 4-inch slab adds 50 lb per square foot of dead load), and hauling limits for bagged mix or demolition rubble against your vehicle’s payload rating.
How much does a 10×10 concrete slab weigh?
At the standard 4-inch thickness, about 5,000 lb (2.5 tons): 10 × 10 × 4/12 = 33.3 cubic feet, times 150 lb per cubic foot. A 6-inch driveway slab of the same size weighs about 7,500 lb. Reinforced slabs run slightly heavier — add roughly 3-5% for the rebar.
Can I haul a yard of concrete in a pickup truck?
No — a cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,050 lb, while a typical half-ton pickup’s payload rating is only 1,500-2,000 lb. Half a yard is the practical ceiling for most pickups, and even that assumes the truck is otherwise empty. Check the payload sticker on the driver’s door jamb before loading any stone or concrete.