Unit Weight of Building Materials - Civil Site

Unit Weight of Building Materials

The unit weight of building materials is the weight of a unit volume of materials that are used in building construction. In this post, we have covered the extensive list of unit weights of building materials that are commonly used in construction.

What is Unit Weight of Material?

Specific weight or unit weight of material is the weight per unit volume of a material. The unit weight of any material is required to know how much weight of a particular material can be placed in a unit volume .

Volume is measured in cubic meters, cubic feet, litres, etc. While weight is commonly measured in Kg or KN. Suppose the unit of a material is 100 kg/m3, then it means 100 kg of that material can occupy a volume of 1 m3 volume.

Generally, unit weight of a material is expressed as Kg/m3 or KN/m3 or lb/m3. We will also show the unit weight of building material in terms of kg/cubic meter.

Unit Weight (kg/m3) = Mass (Kg)/ Volume(m3)
ρ = M/V

Conversion between Kg/m3 to KN/m3 and lb/ft3 is shown below.

1 kN/m3 = 101.9716 kg/m3
1 kg/m3 = 0.0624 lb/ft3

The unit weight of material or density of materials varies with the composition of the material.

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Unit Weight of Building Materials

The unit weight of building materials that are commonly used at the construction sites is shown below.

Building MaterialsUnit Weight (kg/m3)Unit Weight (kN/m3)Unit Weight (lb/ft3)
Cement (ordinary)1440 kg/m314.4 kN/m389.856 lb/ft3
Cement Mortar2080 kg/m320.8 kN/m3129.792 lb/ft3
Lime Concrete1900 kg/m319 kN/m3118.56 lb/ft3
Marble Stone2620 kg/m326.2 kN/m3163.488 lb/ft3
Asphalt2243 kg/m322.43 kN/m3139.9632 lb/ft3
Sand (Dry)1540-1600 kg/m315.4-16 kN/m396.09-99.84 lb/ft3
Stainless Steel7480 kg/m374.8 kN/m3466.752 lb/ft3
Light Weight Concrete800-1000 kg/m344783 kN/m349.92-62.4 lb/ft3
Teak Wood630-720 kg/m36.3-7.2 kN/m339.31-44.93 lb/ft3
ACC Block551-600 kg/m35.51-6.00 kN/m334.38-37.44 lb/ft3
Conifer Plywood460-520 kg/m346-52 kN/m328.7-32.45 lb/ft3
Red Wood450-510 kg/m34.5-5.1 kN/m328.08-31.82 lb/ft3
Lime Stone2400-2720 kg/m324-27.2 kN/m3149.76-169.73 lb/ft3
Granite Stone2400-2690 kg/m324-26.9 kN/m3149.76-167.85 lb/ft3
Green Concrete2315-2499 kg/m323.15-24.99 kN/m3144.45-155.93 lb/ft3
Sandstone2250-2400 kg/m322.5-24 kN/m3140.4-149.76 lb/ft3
Fly Ash Brick Masonry2000-2100 kg/m320-21 kN/m3124.8-131.04 lb/ft3
Glass Reinforced Concrete2000-2100 kg/m320-21 kN/m3124.8-131.04 lb/ft3
Sand Wet1760-2000 kg/m317.6-20 kN/m3109.82-124.8 lb/ft3
Coarse Aggregate1680-1750 kg/m316.8-17.5 kN/m3104.83-109.2 lb/ft3
Earth (Moist)1600-2000 kg/m316-20 kN/m399.84-124.8 lb/ft3
Mud1600-1920 kg/m316-19.2 kN/m399.84-119.81 lb/ft3
Stonechips1600-1920 kg/m316-19.2 kN/m399.84-119.81 lb/ft3
Lime Mortar1600-1840 kg/m316-18.4 kN/m399.84-114.82 lb/ft3
Rubble stone1600-1750 kg/m316-17.5 kN/m399.84-109.2 lb/ft3
Cement Grout1500-1800 kg/m315-18 kN/m393.6-112.32 lb/ft3
Fly Ash Bricks1468-1700 kg/m314.68-17 kN/m391.60-106.08 lb/ft3
Earth (Dry)1410-1840 kg/m314.1-18.4 kN/m387.98-114.82 lb/ft3
Gypsum Powder1410-1760 kg/m314.1-17.6 kN/m387.98-109.82 lb/ft3
Quarry Dust1300-1450 kg/m313-14.5 kN/m381.12-90.48 lb/ft3
Fly Ash1120-1500 kg/m311.2-15 kN/m369.88-93.6 lb/ft3
Quick lime33450 kg/m3334.5 kN/m32087.28 lb/ft3
Lead11343 kg/m3113.43 kN/m3707.8 lb/ft3
Copper8940 kg/m389.4 kN/m3557.856 lb/ft3
Nickel8908 kg/m389.08 kN/m3555.8592 lb/ft3
Cobalt8746 kg/m387.46 kN/m3545.7504 lb/ft3
Mild Steel7850 kg/m378.5 kN/m3489.84 lb/ft3
Tin7280 kg/m372.8 kN/m3454.272 lb/ft3
Cast iron7203 kg/m372.03 kN/m3449.4672 lb/ft3
Zinc7135 kg/m371.35 kN/m3445.224 lb/ft3
Igneous rocks (Mafic)3000 kg/m330 kN/m3187.2 lb/ft3
Aluminium2739 kg/m327.39 kN/m3170.9136 lb/ft3
Cuddapa2720 kg/m327.2 kN/m3169.728 lb/ft3
Igneous rocks (Felsic)2700 kg/m327 kN/m3168.48 lb/ft3
Metamorphic rocks2700 kg/m327 kN/m3168.48 lb/ft3
Sedimentary rocks2600 kg/m326 kN/m3162.24 lb/ft3
Glass2500 kg/m325 kN/m3156 lb/ft3
Reinforced Cement Concrete2500 kg/m325 kN/m3156 lb/ft3
Shale Gas2500 kg/m325 kN/m3156 lb/ft3
Geo Polymer Concrete2400 kg/m324 kN/m3149.76 lb/ft3
Plain Cement Concrete2400 kg/m324 kN/m3149.76 lb/ft3
Pre-stressed Cement Concrete2400 kg/m324 kN/m3149.76 lb/ft3
Quartz2320 kg/m323.2 kN/m3144.768 lb/ft3
Chalk2220 kg/m322.2 kN/m3138.528 lb/ft3
Silt2100 kg/m321 kN/m3131.04 lb/ft3
Dry Rubble Masonry2080 kg/m320.8 kN/m3129.792 lb/ft3
Gravel Soil2000 kg/m320 kN/m3124.8 lb/ft3
Brick (Red)1920 kg/m319.2 kN/m3119.81 lb/ft3
Brick Masonry1920 kg/m319.2 kN/m3119.808 lb/ft3
Clay Soil1900 kg/m319 kN/m3118.56 lb/ft3
Cement Concrete Block1800 kg/m318 kN/m3112.32 lb/ft3
Sulphuric Acid (87 Percent)1790 kg/m317.9 kN/m3111.696 lb/ft3
Magnesium1738 kg/m317.38 kN/m3108.4512 lb/ft3
Ballast1720 kg/m317.2 kN/m3107.328 lb/ft3
M Sand1540 kg/m315.4 kN/m396.096 lb/ft3
Nitric Acid (91 percent)1510 kg/m315.1 kN/m394.224 lb/ft3
Slag1500 kg/m315 kN/m393.6 lb/ft3
Cement Slurry1442 kg/m314.42 kN/m389.9808 lb/ft3
Brick Jelly1420 kg/m314.2 kN/m388.608 lb/ft3
Anthracite Coal1346 kg/m313.46 kN/m383.9904 lb/ft3
Rubber1300 kg/m313 kN/m381.12 lb/ft3
Plastics1250 kg/m312.5 kN/m378 lb/ft3
Rapid Hardening Cement1250 kg/m312.5 kN/m378 lb/ft3
Coal Tar1200 kg/m312 kN/m374.88 lb/ft3
Graphite1200 kg/m312 kN/m374.88 lb/ft3
Gypsum Mortar1200 kg/m312 kN/m374.88 lb/ft3
Bitumen1040 kg/m310.4 kN/m364.896 lb/ft3
Saline Water1025 kg/m310.25 kN/m363.96 lb/ft3
Laterite Stone1019 kg/m310.19 kN/m363.58 lb/ft3
Brick Dust (Surkhi)1010 kg/m310.1 kN/m363.024 lb/ft3
Pitch1010 kg/m310.1 kN/m363.024 lb/ft3
Road Tar1010 kg/m310.1 kN/m363.024 lb/ft3
Sal Wood990 kg/m39.9 kN/m361.776 lb/ft3
Ice910 kg/m39.1 kN/m356.784 lb/ft3
Plaster of Paris881 kg/m38.81 kN/m354.9744 lb/ft3
Crude Oil880 kg/m38.8 kN/m354.912 lb/ft3
Kerosene800 kg/m38 kN/m349.92 lb/ft3
Sisso Wood (Sheesham)785 kg/m378.5 kN/m348.984 lb/ft3
Maple755 kg/m37.55 kN/m347.112 lb/ft3
Clinker750 kg/m37.5 kN/m346.8 lb/ft3
Peat750 kg/m37.5 kN/m346.8 lb/ft3
Disel745 kg/m37.45 kN/m346.488 lb/ft3
Oak730 kg/m37.3 kN/m345.552 lb/ft3
Petrol720 kg/m37.2 kN/m344.928 lb/ft3
Birch Plywood680 kg/m36.8 kN/m342.432 lb/ft3
Birch Wood670 kg/m36.7 kN/m341.808 lb/ft3
Gasoline670 kg/m36.7 kN/m341.808 lb/ft3
Ashes650 kg/m36.5 kN/m340.56 lb/ft3
Mixed Plywood620 kg/m36.2 kN/m338.688 lb/ft3
Larch Wood590 kg/m35.9 kN/m336.816 lb/ft3
WPC Board550 kg/m35.5 kN/m334.32 lb/ft3
Mahogany545 kg/m35.45 kN/m334.008 lb/ft3
Heavy Charcoal530 kg/m35.3 kN/m333.072 lb/ft3
Light Charcoal300 kg/m33 kN/m318.72 lb/ft3
Mangalore Tiles with Battens65 kg/m30.65 kN/m34.056 lb/ft3
Asbestos Sheet17 kg/m30.17 kN/m31.0608 lb/ft3
Galvanized Iron Steel (1.63 mm)13 kg/m30.13 kN/m30.8112 lb/ft3
Galvanized Iron Steel (0.56 mm)5 kg/m30.05 kN/m30.312 lb/ft3

The above table shows the unit weight of all the building materials you can check the unit weight of the building material from the table shown above.

The unit weight of material differs from place to place depending upon the quality of materials and type of building materials.

The cement mortar unit weight is 2080 kg/m3 while the plain cement unit weight is 1440 Kg/m3. Block weight like cement block weight kg is 1800 Kg/m3

Importance of Unit Weight

Unit weight of material help in the estimation of material and calculation of materials. If we know the unit weight of any materials then we can easily find out the weight of material required for any work if we have volume or vice-versa.

If we want to order cement for brick masonry then after quantity estimation we will get the volume of cement in m3. But as we know cement can be ordered per kg or per bag.

Thus in order to know the cement bag requirement for plastering or masonry work we need to convert the volume of cement into the weight of cement in Kg and then divide it by 50 to get bag requirement.

As we know from the table of unit weight of cement is 1440 kg/m3. Thus the weight of cement can be found easily by multiplying the volume of cement by 1440. The result would give the weight of cement in Kg. Then after dividing that weight by 50 we get a cement bag to be ordered.

Frequently Asked Question

Some of the most frequently asked questions about unit weight of materials are shown below.

What is the unit weight of concrete?

Unit weight of concrete changes if reinforcement is used. The unit weight of plain cement concrete is 2400 Kg/m3 or 24 KN/m3. For the reinforced concrete unit weight of the concrete is 2500 Kg/m3 or 25 KN/m3

What is the unit weight of brick masonry?

The unit weight of brick masonry is 1920 kg/m3 or 19.2 kN/m3

Which IS code is used for unit weight of building materials?

IS 875 (Part-1)-1987 is used for the unit weight of building materials.
The European code used for unit weight is EN 1991-1-1 (2002).
EN 1991-1-1 (2002) (English): Eurocode 1: Actions on structures – Part 1-1: General actions – Densities, self-weight, imposed loads for buildings

What is the unit weight of stone masonry?

The unit weight of stone masonry is 2040 – 2600 kg/m3 or 21-26 kN/m3

What is the unit weight of PCC or Plain Cement Concrete?

The unit weight of PCC or Plain Cement Concrete is 2400 kg/m3 or 24 kN/m3

What is the unit weight of Cement?

The unit weight of cement is 1440 kg/m3 or 14.4 kN/m3

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