How it works
Normal-weight concrete is in the range of 140 to 150 lb per cubic foot, according to the Iowa DOT: concrete weight per cubic foot (IM 340). One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a yard of concrete weighs roughly 3,780 to 4,050 lb, about two tons.
Once broken up, concrete takes more space: the EPA's conversion factor for broken concrete is 860 lb per loose cubic yard (US EPA: volume-to-weight conversion factors (2016)), which we use for the "broken up" volume. Hollow normal-weight 8×8×16 blocks average about 37 lb in a study published by The Masonry Society Journal: concrete masonry unit study; we show a 35–40 lb range. Dumpster loads use the ~2,000 lb weight capacity Fixr lists for a 10-yard (Fixr: dumpster rental cost (updated January 2025)).
Quick reference
- 1 cubic yard of concrete: about 3,780–4,050 lb
- A 10 × 10 ft slab, 4 in thick: about 1.2 cubic yards, roughly 4,700–5,000 lb
- A 20 × 10 ft patio, 4 in thick: about 2.5 cubic yards, roughly 9,300–10,000 lb
Questions
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
About 3,780 to 4,050 lb: normal-weight concrete is 140–150 lb per cubic foot (Iowa DOT: concrete weight per cubic foot (IM 340)) and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How much does a concrete block weigh?
A hollow normal-weight 8×8×16 block is typically in the mid-to-high 30s of pounds; a study in The Masonry Society journal averaged about 37 lb (The Masonry Society Journal: concrete masonry unit study). Solid and lightweight blocks differ.
Can I put concrete in a dumpster?
Usually, but because it's so heavy, many companies want it in a smaller or concrete-only container and may limit how full you fill it. See concrete disposal.