Such different weights of concrete in 1 m3: table for calculating the mass of the solution and finished structures

One of the most adaptable building materials is concrete, which can be utilized for anything from modest residential renovations to enormous infrastructure projects. But not every concrete is made equally. Depending on the kind of mix, the materials used, and the intended use, the weight of concrete can vary greatly. To guarantee structural integrity and project success, architects, builders, and engineers must be aware of these distinctions.

It’s crucial to account for both the finished, cured product and the fresh mix when determining the mass of concrete. For lightweight concrete, the weight of one cubic meter (m3) can vary from 2,200 kg to over 2,500 kg for standard mixes. High-density mixes and other specialized concretes can weigh even more. This variation results from the various kinds and amounts of water, cement, and aggregates that are utilized in each mix.

For a number of reasons, precise concrete weight calculations are crucial. They support the assessment of a structure’s ability to support a given load, provide guidance on handling and transportation needs, and guarantee adherence to building codes. We’ve put together a helpful table that lists the weights of different kinds of concrete per cubic meter to help with these calculations. Whether you’re estimating the mass of an existing structure or planning a new build, this resource will help you quickly and easily determine the mass of your concrete.

What is bulk density and where to get it

The true density of a material is defined as its weight per millimeter, or 1 m^2.

• Depending on this value, there are also different types of concrete — the higher it is, the greater the weight of 1 m3.
• In practice, to determine how much concrete weighs, another value is used — bulk density.
• But this characteristic is not constant, it depends on the components on the basis of which the mixture was prepared, and the amount of water used when mixing the solution.

For comprehensive computations, consult the pertinent regulatory literature. These can be GOSTs, SNiPs, or just a pass for a reinforced concrete product or mix that is manufactured in a factory.

You can find the following qualities there:

Everybody uses the same unit of measurement, which is either t/m3 or kg/m3. Naturally, when it comes to nuances and relativity, they are not interchangeable. However, if we are not discussing space construction, then you can use any of these figures to determine the weight of 1 m3 of concrete.

In particular, for imprecise computations on building sites, or for gathering weight data for estimations or cargo movement.

Note: You must consider the character count if a dimensionless value is given, as in the case of the reinforced concrete passport. In other words, the unit of measurement for a 3- or 4-digit number (500, or 2400, as in the example above) is kg/m3. The value is expressed in t / m3 if it is tiny and fractional (0.5 or 2.4).

To choose specialized equipment with the necessary lifting capacity, it is crucial to determine the weight of the concrete. One ton of concrete weighs one thousand kilograms.

• Now that the bulk density is known — all that remains is to calculate the volume in m3 and multiply one by the other.
• But what to do, how to calculate the weight of concrete, if the required density characteristic cannot be found?
• Then, you will need to determine by eye what type of concrete it is and use the reference values ​​provided in the article.

Weight by concrete types

Following are the different types based on density:

Heavy reinforced concrete is typically used for foundations; however, walls are increasingly being constructed with aerated concrete, expanded clay concrete, and other materials related to cellular and other types. Concrete that is exceptionally heavy is used in the building of nuclear power plants and bunkers used to store radioactive waste. And for thermal insulation, light ones in particular are utilized. Each type’s bulk density will vary significantly.

Note: There are situations when you need to know the weight of a liter of concrete. It’s easy: just multiply the liter-to-cubic-meter conversion by the bulk density reference value. 0.001 m3 is equivalent to 1 liter. In a similar vein, the weight of a bucket of concrete is calculated to be 10 liters. Consequently, 10 l equals 0.01 m3.

The following table can be used to calculate the weight of a cubic meter based on brand and type:

Comprehending the diverse masses of concrete in relation to one cubic meter is imperative for precise construction and design. A detailed table for calculating the mass of both wet concrete mixtures and completed concrete structures can be found in this article. Having an understanding of these weights is beneficial for ensuring stability, economy, and structural integrity whether you are managing a large construction site or mixing concrete for a small project. Our goal in streamlining these computations is to increase the success and manageability of your concrete projects.

Concrete volume calculator

Depending on the type and filler, specific gravity data can be found in the literature:

Concrete grade and class, what is the difference?

The primary measure of concrete strength is its grade, which is expressed as the maximum compressive strength in kgf/cm^. Professional builders are more likely to use class.

Grade and class are comparable indicators. The latter, on the other hand, employs strength with assurance of security and measures average strength in grades. One ton of concrete weighs one thousand kilograms.

Note that class B25 indicates that 95% of the time, the material will be able to withstand a pressure of 25 MPa. which roughly translates to M350 grade. One meter-three of concrete B25 weighs 2502 kilograms.

Using our website’s concrete weight calculator is an additional method of figuring out how much concrete weighs. It will enable you to ascertain the exact amount of concrete required for a screed, house, garage, or summer house construction in a timely manner. or comprehend the weight of a ton of concrete.

Calculating the composition of concrete

Lightweight concrete

These types of building materials are made of cellular fillers or have a very porous structure. For every cubic meter of lightweight concrete, 600 kg of sand can be used. The most common application for it is as prefabricated blocks. One cubic meter of lightweight concrete can weigh up to 1800 kg.

• on porous fillers (perlite concrete, expanded clay concrete);
• on light organic fillers (arbolite, polystyrene concrete);
• cellular concrete (foam concrete, aerated concrete).

The following table lists the weights of concrete according to its technical specifications and intended use.

It should be noted that using lightweight concrete in building is profitable. They lighten the building’s weight, lower construction costs, and enhance thermal and acoustic properties.

Heavy concrete

These are standard concretes that have sand and crushed stone aggregates and are strengthened with steel rods. All forms of construction, including transportation and hydraulic engineering as well as the building of runway and road pavements and foundations, use heavy concretes. A cubic meter of heavy concrete can weigh between 1800 and 2500 kg, with 3000 kg being an exceptionally heavy weight.

Note: There is typically a significant amount of reinforcement (up to 10%) at joints and in the supporting sections of structures. This causes the structure to weigh more in this location. Metal is heavier than stone, after all. Conversely, the average percentage of reinforcement in intermediate sections will be between 3 and 5%. Little—roughly 1%—in areas that aren’t loaded.

Table: heavy concrete’s weight

Name	Unreinforced or slightly reinforced	Medium-reinforced	Heavily reinforced
Bulk density, t/m3	2.4	2.5	2.6

The majority of the time, basic reinforced concrete structures are built using this building material.

Rubble concrete

At least 40% of the filler in this monolithic concrete is made of rubble stone.

Fences and other types of barriers can be constructed with it.

• Often used for the construction of strip foundations in low-rise construction, for example, when building a garage or a bathhouse with your own hands.
• In the production of rubble concrete, high-grade cement is used – B15 and higher.
• B15 concrete weight of 1 m3 – 2432 kg.

Note: Because of the shape of the stone, reinforcement cannot be made in rubble concrete; however, reinforcing belts can be made. In this instance, it is necessary to arrange a protective concrete layer that is at least 3 cm from the reinforcement.

Principal benefits of this kind of foundation:

• resistance to contact with water;
• strength;
• low price;
• easy installation.

The following table can be used to calculate the weight of rubble concrete:

Foundation material	Specific weight, kg/m3
Rubble stone	1600-1800
Rubble concrete, brick	1880-2200
Reinforced concrete	2200-2500

Dry concrete

It is better to use ready-made dry concrete mixes when the volume of work is expected to be minimal and it is challenging to arrange for a place to store concrete components and access for special equipment to the construction site. They are easily reduced to a solution by following the instructions and adding a specific amount of water.

Concrete B15 has a weight of 2432 kg. Remarkably, using a ready-made solution made from a dry mix is just like using regular concrete. It can be used as monolithic concrete as well as for casting products.

The benefits of dry concrete

• long shelf life of the mixture (up to six months without loss of quality);
• ease of use (to prepare the solution, you only need to add water to it);
• affordable price;
• the ability to organize work in cramped conditions.

For every square meter, 90–100 kg are consumed, with a 50 mm layer thickness. They consist of fillers, different additives, and Portland cement with a high strength grade (minimum M400). Use guidelines are created by the manufacturer for each variety of concrete mixture. Watching the video in this article will teach you more.

Note: The composition of dry concrete determines its weight, which is typically stated on the package. Depending on the manufacturer, a large variety is offered on the market. They are all packed in different containers, like bags. Depending on the brand and fillers, the weight of a bucket of concrete should be stated on the packaging.

Dry concrete mixture is appropriate for home remodeling and custom building. It has all the beneficial features of the completed product and is not weaker or less dependable than it. It also doesn’t require difficult transportation, storage, or usage conditions.

How much does reinforced concrete weigh?

These are concrete structures or single completed goods with structural and functional reinforcement (reinforced). They are highly resistant to fire and the damaging effects of low temperatures. Concrete and functional reinforcement in them must absorb the calculated forces from all impacts (p.3.8 SP 63.13330.2012).

The structure is separated into three sections based on the type of manufacturing:

• monolithic;
• prefabricated;
• prefabricated monolithic.

Prefabricated structures

They are constructed from pre-assembled components (reinforced concrete products), whose installation is done on the job site in accordance with the project. Beams, piles, different slabs, and foundation blocks are examples of precast reinforced concrete products. You must consult the documentation for a particular product to determine the weight of reinforced concrete structures.

Note: marking is required for all products made at the plant using reinforced concrete.

Monolithic reinforced concrete structures

This type of work is unique in that the structures are made on the construction site by pouring the mixture into formwork. In the shortest amount of time possible, this enables you to erect a building or structure with a complex shape and unconventional planning solutions.

Reinforcement is used in the construction of monolithic structures to help distribute stresses and deformations evenly.

The weight of monolithic reinforced concrete will vary depending on the structure’s shape and purpose, concrete grade, and chosen reinforcement scheme. It matters how many rods there are and how big they are.

Typically, the amount of reinforcement found in the reinforced concrete’s body is used as a point of reference. The following table helps determine its weight:

How is the weight of concrete calculated? Let us examine a strip foundation constructed from monolithic reinforced concrete grade M350, strengthened by rods measuring 12 mm in diameter.

The following formula can be used to determine how much space reinforcement takes up in a cubic meter of reinforced concrete:

In this case, π r 2 L = 3.14 (0.006) 2 16 = 0.0018 m3.

1. r is the radius of the reinforcement, m
2. L is the total length of the reinforcement in 1 m3 of reinforced concrete, m

We use the information in the above table.

It turns out that 0.9982 m3 is occupied by the concrete.

1. Then, the weight of the reinforcement on 1 m3 of concrete: 7850*0.0018 = 14.13 kg,
2. Where: 7580 is the density of steel, kg/m3
3. and concrete 0.9982*2502 = 2497.50 kg.
4. The weight of M350 concrete 1 m3 is 2502 kg.

The weight of a m3 of reinforced concrete is thus determined to be 14.13 + 2497.50 = 2511.63 kg.

For instance, the weight of a class B20 concrete screed that is 5 cm thick must be determined. We can calculate that 1 m3 of B20 concrete has a specific gravity of 2348 kg/m3 using the table that was previously posted. 15 m 2 is the area of the room. The weight of the concrete slab in this room comes out to be 15 * 0.05 * 2348 = 1761 kg.

Prefabricated monolithic structures

The components that hold the entire structure together are cast-in-place concrete and precast concrete products. The degree to which prefabricated elements adhere to monolithic ones is the primary factor in this technology. These buildings combine the benefits of monolithic and prefabricated building methods.

In this instance, the weight will be determined by the parts of the prefabricated monolithic structure.

Thus, in order to ascertain it, you must:

1. Calculate the weight of reinforced concrete products;
2. Calculate monolithic concrete;
3. Sum up the obtained data.

Note: Depending on the intended use, different types of concrete can be used for blocks and slabs when constructing precast monolithic buildings thanks to technological advancements in the field. Concrete that is at least M100 mixed with fine-grained filler is used to create monolithic sections. One meter of M 100 concrete weighs 2494 kg, while one meter of B20 concrete weighs 2348 kg.

Type of Concrete	Weight (kg/m³)
Lightweight Concrete	1600 – 2000
Standard Concrete	2200 – 2500
Heavyweight Concrete	2600 – 3000

Anyone working on building or remodeling projects needs to be aware of the various weights of concrete per cubic meter. This information aids in the effective planning and execution of tasks, guaranteeing the durability and safety of structures. It is crucial to have precise calculations for the mass of the raw materials as well as the completed structures because the weight of concrete can vary greatly based on the mix and type utilized.

Professionals can quickly and simply calculate these weights using a table to find the precise amounts required for their particular projects. This saves time and lowers the possibility of mistakes that could result in expensive rework or structural breakdowns. Having accurate data at your fingertips speeds up the construction process, regardless of whether you are working with heavyweight concrete for load-bearing elements or lightweight concrete for insulation.

In actuality, precise weight calculations help with cost estimation and improved resource management. It enables builders to make the most use of their resources, prevent waste, and guarantee that the finished structure satisfies all performance and safety requirements. In addition, it facilitates adherence to legal mandates, thereby enhancing the durability and soundness of the building.

Ultimately, construction projects are more successful and of higher quality when the various weights of concrete in 1 m³ are mastered. It gives architects, engineers, and builders the ability to make well-informed decisions, which results in more dependable and effective building techniques. With this understanding, you can approach any project with assurance, knowing you have the knowledge necessary to construct durable, robust structures.

Video on the topic

How much does a cube (1 m3) of concrete weigh ?