How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Weigh?

By Emiliano · Last updated 2026-11-13

A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,050 pounds, or 2.02 short tons. That's the number ready-mix suppliers use for delivery weight and what you need for structural load calculations, truck limits, and trailer ratings. But that number shifts based on whether the concrete is wet or cured, its PSI rating, and whether it's normal, lightweight, or heavyweight mix.

Quick math: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Standard concrete density = 150 lb/ft³ wet or 145 lb/ft³ cured. So 27 × 150 = 4,050 lb (wet) or 27 × 145 = 3,915 lb (cured).

Weight of Concrete by Volume

The most common conversions you'll need, in both imperial and metric:

Volume Wet Weight Cured Weight Metric Equivalent
1 cubic foot150 lb145 lb68 kg / 66 kg
1 cubic yard4,050 lb (2.02 tons)3,915 lb (1.96 tons)1,837 kg / 1,776 kg
1 cubic meter5,300 lb (2.65 tons)5,120 lb (2.56 tons)2,400 kg / 2,322 kg
1 short ton (2,000 lb)13.3 cu ft13.8 cu ft0.49 m³ / 0.51 m³
1 metric tonne (1,000 kg)0.42 m³0.43 m³—

Weight by Slab Size

Common slab sizes at standard 4-inch thickness. Useful for trailer load limits, crane ratings, and DIY pickup truck safety:

Slab Size Volume (cu yd) Wet Weight Cured Weight
4 × 4 ft (4 in thick)0.20810 lb783 lb
6 × 6 ft (4 in thick)0.441,782 lb1,723 lb
8 × 8 ft (4 in thick)0.793,200 lb3,093 lb
10 × 10 ft (4 in thick)1.234,982 lb4,815 lb
10 × 20 ft (4 in thick)2.4710,004 lb9,670 lb
12 × 12 ft (4 in thick)1.787,209 lb6,969 lb
20 × 20 ft (4 in thick)4.9420,007 lb19,340 lb
24 × 24 ft (4 in thick)7.1128,796 lb27,836 lb

For a different thickness, multiply the 4-inch weights by (thickness ÷ 4). For 6-inch slabs, multiply by 1.5. For 8-inch slabs, multiply by 2.

Weight by Concrete Type

Not all concrete is the same density. Mix design — specifically the aggregate used — changes the weight significantly:

Type Density (lb/ft³) Weight per cu yd Typical Use
Lightweight concrete110–1202,970–3,240 lbHigh-rise floors, roof decks
Standard concrete145–1503,915–4,050 lbDriveways, patios, footings
Reinforced concrete150–1604,050–4,320 lbStructural slabs, footings with rebar
Heavyweight concrete185–2204,995–5,940 lbRadiation shielding, counterweights

Weight by PSI Strength

Higher PSI means more cement and less water, which makes concrete slightly heavier. The difference is small but real:

PSI Rating Weight per cu yd Typical Use
2,500 PSI3,950 lbResidential footings, non-structural fill
3,000 PSI4,000 lbStandard driveways, patios, sidewalks
3,500 PSI4,050 lbHeavy-duty driveways, garage floors
4,000 PSI4,100 lbStructural walls, high-load slabs
5,000 PSI4,150 lbCommercial, high-stress structural

Need the volume first?

Concrete Slab Cost Calculator →  ·  Concrete Mix Ratio Calculator →

Why the Weight Matters

Concrete weight is not trivia — it drives three real-world decisions. Ready-mix delivery is priced and scheduled by the cubic yard, but the truck is limited to about 10 cubic yards (roughly 20 tons) per load before it exceeds federal and state weight limits on residential roads. That's why large pours arrive in multiple trucks, and why pouring more than 10 yards in a single day usually requires a pumper or a two-load schedule.

Structural design uses concrete weight as dead load. A 4-inch slab on grade weighs about 50 pounds per square foot, which a typical residential foundation handles easily. But a 6-inch structural slab on a second-floor deck weighs 75 pounds per square foot, and that becomes part of the total load calculation that determines beam sizing and column spacing.

DIY safety is the third. If you're picking up bagged concrete in a pickup truck, the payload limit for a standard half-ton (F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500) is about 1,500–2,000 lbs. That's 37–50 bags of 80 lb concrete, or about 1.2–1.6 cubic yards. Loading a full yard of concrete (4,050 lbs) into a half-ton pickup will exceed the truck's payload and flatten the rear suspension. Rent a trailer or schedule delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?

A cubic yard of standard ready-mix concrete weighs about 4,050 pounds, or 2.02 short tons. That is based on 150 pounds per cubic foot for wet concrete. Once cured, the same yard weighs approximately 3,900 to 4,050 pounds depending on the mix and moisture content.

How much does a cubic foot of concrete weigh?

One cubic foot of wet concrete weighs 150 pounds. Cured concrete weighs 145 pounds per cubic foot for standard 4,000 PSI mix. Lightweight concrete can weigh 110 to 120 pounds per cubic foot; heavyweight concrete can exceed 200 pounds per cubic foot.

Does the PSI strength change the weight?

Yes, but only slightly. Higher PSI mixes contain more cement and less water, so they are marginally heavier. A 2,500 PSI mix weighs about 3,950 pounds per cubic yard; a 5,000 PSI mix weighs about 4,150 pounds per cubic yard. The difference is typically 3 to 5 percent across the full range.

Does wet concrete weigh more than cured concrete?

Yes. Wet concrete weighs about 150 pounds per cubic foot because it still contains unreacted water. As concrete cures over 28 days, some water evaporates and some is chemically bound. Cured concrete weighs approximately 145 pounds per cubic foot, or 3.3 percent less than wet.

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