Cubic Feet to Pounds Converter
This cubic feet to pounds calculator converts a volume in cubic feet to a weight in pounds using the material's density. Pick a material from the density table (water, concrete, soil, sand, gravel, wood, steel), or type a custom density in lb/ft³. The cubic feet to pounds conversion also runs in reverse, so you can convert pounds to cubic feet when you know the weight and the material.
This pounds per cubic foot calculator doubles as a cubic feet to tons calculator: every result shows US short tons, long tons, and metric tonnes, so you can convert cubic feet to tons, use it as a cubic feet to kilograms converter, or read off cubic feet to metric tons in one step. Frequent lookups like cubic feet to pounds of water (how much does a cubic foot of water weigh: 62.4 pounds, the standard density of water in lb/ft3) and the density of concrete in lb/ft3 (150 for reinforced) are one click away in the material dropdown.
Enter a volume like 10 for 10 cubic feet, or 27 for one cubic yard (27 cubic feet in a cubic yard).
A custom density overrides the material dropdown. Use it for bagged products, wet soil, or a supplier spec sheet.
The cubic foot to pounds formula
The formula is simple multiplication:
pounds = cubic feet × density (lb/ft³)
For the reverse cubic feet to pounds conversion direction: cubic feet = pounds ÷ density (lb/ft³).
Example: 10 cubic feet of reinforced concrete at 150 lb/ft³ gives 10 × 150 = 1,500 pounds. The same 10 cubic feet of water would be only 624 pounds, because water is 62.4 lb/ft³. Always match the density to the actual material, including moisture and compaction.
Pounds per cubic foot: material density table
Typical densities used by this cubic feet to pounds calculator. Real materials vary with moisture, compaction, and mix design, so treat these as estimates and confirm with your supplier for paid work.
| Material | lb/ft³ | kg/m³ | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 62.4 | 999.6 | standard specific weight of water ~62.4 lb/ft^3 |
| Ice (solid) | 57.2 | 916.3 | solid ice, typical |
| Concrete, reinforced | 150 | 2402.8 | reinforced normal-weight concrete (AISC/AISC) |
| Concrete, plain | 145 | 2322.7 | plain normal-weight concrete |
| Asphalt (compacted) | 140 | 2242.6 | compacted asphalt, typical |
| Brick (common) | 120 | 1922.2 | common brick, typical range 100-130 |
| Gravel (dry) | 105 | 1681.9 | dry gravel, typical range 95-115 |
| Sand (dry) | 100 | 1601.8 | dry sand, typical range 95-105 |
| Soil (compacted) | 100 | 1601.8 | compacted soil, typical |
| Topsoil (loose) | 75 | 1201.4 | loose topsoil, typical range 70-80 |
| Mulch (wood chips) | 20 | 320.4 | wood-chip mulch, typical range 15-25 |
| Pine lumber | 30 | 480.6 | pine lumber, typical range 25-35 |
| Oak lumber | 45 | 720.8 | red oak lumber, typical range 40-50 |
| Plywood | 34 | 544.6 | plywood, typical |
| Aluminum | 169 | 2707.1 | aluminum 2,700 kg/m^3 |
| Steel | 490 | 7849.0 | steel 7,850 kg/m^3 |
| Lead | 710 | 11373.1 | lead 11,340 kg/m^3 |
| Air (sea level) | 0.0765 | 1.2 | dry air at sea level ~60F |
Cubic feet to pounds chart
This cubic feet to pounds chart updates live for the material you selected above. It answers "how many pounds in a cubic foot" at a glance for common volumes.
| Cubic feet | Pounds | US tons |
|---|
Common cubic feet to pounds conversions
People arrive at a cubic feet to pounds table with a specific material in mind (the live chart above doubles as a cubic feet to pounds table for the selected material). The most frequent lookups: cubic foot of concrete weight in pounds is 150 (reinforced) or 145 (plain); the classic follow-up how much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh is 4,050 pounds, which is also the answer to how many pounds in a cubic yard of concrete, making this page a handy cubic yard to pounds calculator too. Cubic foot of sand weight is about 100 pounds dry. Cubic feet to pounds of gravel runs about 105 per foot, so how much does a cubic foot of gravel weigh is roughly 105 pounds. Cubic feet to pounds of steel is 490 per foot. Gardeners ask about cubic feet to pounds of topsoil (75 loose, 100 compacted), mulch weight per cubic foot (about 20, so how much does a cubic foot of mulch weigh is roughly 20 pounds), how much does a cubic foot of ice weigh (57.2 pounds), and cubic feet to pounds of asphalt (140 compacted). To convert pounds to cubic feet, or to ask how many cubic feet in a pound of a given material, switch to the reverse mode above. Ton questions are answered under every result, where the short ton vs metric ton vs long ton outputs sit side by side.
Contractors also use this page as a concrete weight calculator cubic feet reference for slabs and footings, as a soil weight calculator cubic feet reference for grading and garden beds, as a dumpster weight calculator cubic feet estimator for debris loads, and landscapers treat it as a truck load weight calculator soil deliveries are checked against before dispatch.
Construction and hauling context
Concrete: yards, trucks, and slabs
Concrete is ordered by the cubic yard, and there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. One yard of reinforced concrete weighs 27 × 150 = 4,050 pounds (2.025 US tons). A 10-yard ready-mix truck therefore carries about 40,500 pounds of concrete before the truck's own weight. For a slab, multiply length × width × thickness in feet to get cubic feet, then use this concrete weight calculator mode with the concrete density.
Soil, mulch, and dumpster loads
This works as a soil weight calculator and dumpster weight calculator for cubic feet: a 20-cubic-yard dumpster holds 540 cubic feet, so 20 yards of loose topsoil at 75 lb/ft³ weighs 40,500 pounds (20.25 US tons), roughly one tri-axle load. Landscapers use the same math as a truck load weight calculator for soil, gravel, and mulch deliveries.
Shipping: actual weight vs dimensional weight
For shipping cubic feet to pounds, this converter gives the true physical weight when you know the cargo density (a crate of machine parts, a pallet of bagged sand). Freight carriers separately apply dimensional (volumetric) weight pricing based on package size, which is a billing rule, not physics. Check both numbers before booking freight.
Boundary: this tool vs a density unit converter
This page converts between a volume and a weight for a specific material (cubic feet ↔ pounds) using that material's density. A density unit converter does something different: it converts density units themselves, for example g/cm³ to lb/ft³, without involving any particular amount of material. Related tools:
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula to convert cubic feet to pounds?
The formula is: pounds = cubic feet x density, where density is in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3). For example, 10 cubic feet of reinforced concrete at 150 lb/ft3 gives 10 x 150 = 1500 pounds. Pick a material from the density table above or type your own density to use the formula.
How many pounds are in a cubic foot of water?
One cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 pounds at standard conditions. That is the reference value most tables use; it shifts slightly with temperature (about 62.0 lb/ft3 at 80F and 62.4 lb/ft3 near freezing), which matters only for precision work.
How much does a cubic foot of concrete weigh?
A cubic foot of reinforced normal-weight concrete weighs 150 pounds. Plain (unreinforced) concrete is a little lighter, around 145 lb/ft3, because steel rebar at 490 lb/ft3 adds weight. Lightweight concrete mixes can be as low as 85 to 115 lb/ft3.
How much does one cubic yard of concrete weigh?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a cubic yard of reinforced concrete weighs 27 x 150 = 4050 pounds, which is 2.02 US tons (1.837 metric tonnes). Concrete is ordered by the yard, so multiply your yardage by 4050 for the truck weight.
How much does a cubic foot of soil weigh?
Compacted soil weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot, so 5 cubic feet of compacted soil weighs 500 pounds. Loose topsoil is lighter, around 75 lb/ft3, because air pockets take up volume. Moisture can add 10 to 20 percent, so weigh wet soil higher.
How many cubic feet are in one pound?
It depends on the material, because a pound is mass and a cubic foot is volume. One pound of water takes up 1 / 62.4 = 0.016 cubic feet, while one pound of steel takes up only 1 / 490 = 0.00204 cubic feet. Use the reverse mode of the calculator above for any material.
How many pounds is 10 cubic feet of sand?
Dry sand weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot, so 10 cubic feet of dry sand weighs 1000 pounds, which is 0.5 US tons. Wet sand can weigh 110 to 120 lb/ft3, so add roughly 15 percent if the sand is saturated.
How much does a cubic foot of steel weigh?
A cubic foot of steel weighs 490 pounds. Steel is almost eight times denser than water, which is why even a small steel plate is shockingly heavy. Aluminum, by comparison, is only 169 lb/ft3.
How do I convert pounds back to cubic feet?
Use the reverse formula: cubic feet = pounds / density (lb/ft3). For example, 2000 pounds of dry gravel at 105 lb/ft3 takes up 2000 / 105 = 19.05 cubic feet. Switch to the pounds-to-cubic-feet mode in the calculator above.
What is the difference between a short ton, a long ton, and a metric ton?
A US short ton is 2,000 pounds, a long ton is 2,240 pounds, and a metric tonne is 2,204.62 pounds. For example, a cubic yard of concrete at 4050 pounds equals 2.02 short tons and 1.837 metric tonnes. US construction quotes almost always use short tons.
How much does 20 cubic yards of topsoil weigh?
Twenty cubic yards is 540 cubic feet. At a typical loose topsoil density of 75 lb/ft3, that is 540 x 75 = 40500 pounds, or 20.25 US tons. A tri-axle dump truck usually hauls 20 to 22 tons, so this is about one full load.
Can I use cubic feet to pounds for shipping and freight?
Yes, for the actual weight of a shipment when you know the cargo density, for example a crate of gravel or a pallet of bagged concrete. Note that freight carriers also use dimensional (volumetric) weight, which is a pricing rule based on package size, not the true density conversion. For carrier quotes, check both numbers.
Why cannot you convert cubic feet to pounds without density?
Because cubic feet measure volume and pounds measure mass, and the link between them is different for every material. One cubic foot of water is 62.4 pounds, one cubic foot of concrete is 150 pounds, and one cubic foot of steel is 490 pounds. Any converter that skips density is guessing.
How accurate are the material densities in this calculator?
They are widely published typical values: water 62.4 lb/ft3, reinforced concrete 150 lb/ft3, compacted soil 100 lb/ft3, dry sand 100 lb/ft3, steel 490 lb/ft3. Real materials vary with moisture, compaction, and mix design, so for structural engineering, truck loading, or paid freight, verify the density with your supplier and treat these as estimates.
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