Cubic Meter to Ton Converter: m3 to Tons Weight Calculator
Convert cubic meters (m3) to metric tons, kilograms, US tons, long tons and pounds in seconds. This free cubic meter to ton calculator needs only two inputs: the volume in cubic meters and the material density. Pick from 22 preset materials (water, concrete, cement, sand, gravel, crushed stone, soil, limestone, granite, asphalt, timber, coal, steel, aluminum and more) or enter a custom kg/m3 value. The cubic meter to ton converter below also shows a quick m3 to ton table and a full bulk density chart for reference.
Cubic meter to tons calculator
Formula: kilograms = m3 x density, then metric tons = kilograms / 1000. A cubic metre of water (1000 kg/m3) is exactly 1 tonne.
Quick m3 to ton table
Tons for 1 to 10 cubic meters of the currently selected material. Change the material above and the table updates.
| Cubic meters (m3) | Metric tons | Kilograms |
|---|
Bulk density chart (kg/m3)
Density values used by this converter, rounded from published civil engineering unit-weight tables. Loose, dry conditions unless noted.
| Material | Density (kg/m3) | 1 m3 weighs |
|---|
Construction context
Most bulk materials are sold by the ton but delivered and measured by the cubic meter, which is exactly why a cubic meter to tonne calculator is standard site equipment. Typical conversions to keep on hand:
- A ready-mix concrete truck carries 6 to 8 m3. At 2400 kg/m3, an 8 m3 load is 19.2 metric tons of plain concrete.
- A 20-foot dumpster holds about 15 m3. Filled with topsoil (1400 kg/m3) that is 21 metric tons, usually over the legal load, so containers are filled partway for heavy material.
- 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 m3. A US quote of 10 cubic yards of gravel at 1680 kg/m3 is 12.85 metric tons.
- Ordering fill soil? 10 m3 of clay soil at 1900 kg/m3 is 19 metric tons, roughly one large tipper load.
- A cubic meter of pine at 550 kg/m3 is 0.55 tons, while a cubic meter of steel at 7850 kg/m3 is 7.85 tons: same volume, fourteen times the weight.
Common cubic meter to ton searches, answered
- cubic meter of concrete to tons: 2.4 metric tons for plain concrete, 2.5 for reinforced.
- cubic meter of sand to tons: 1.6 metric tons dry, about 1.9 metric tons wet.
- cubic meter of gravel to tons: 1.68 metric tons loose dry; 1.6 for crushed stone.
- cubic meter of soil to tons: 1.4 topsoil, 1.8 sandy soil, 1.9 clay soil per cubic meter.
- cubic meter of water to tons: exactly 1 metric ton (1.1023 US tons).
- cubic meter of steel to tons: 7.85 metric tons; cast iron 7.2, aluminum 2.7.
- cubic meter of cement to tons: 1.44 metric tons dry.
- cubic meter of limestone to tons: 2.7 metric tons; granite also 2.7.
- how many tons in a cubic meter: it depends on density, from 0.55 t (pine) to 7.85 t (steel).
- how much does a cubic meter weigh: multiply 1 m3 by the material density in kg per cubic meter, then divide by 1000.
- m3 to tonne calculator, m3 to tons, cubic metre to tonne: this page converts cubic meter to metric ton, US ton, long ton, pounds and kilograms in one step.
- cubic meter to metric ton / cubic meter to US ton / cubic meter to pounds / cubic meter to kg: all four are shown in the result panel above.
- volume to weight converter: any volume to weight converter needs a density; enter m3 here or a custom kg per cubic meter value.
- how many cubic meters in a ton: reverse it, cubic meters = metric tons x 1000 / density; 10 tons of dry sand is 6.25 m3.
- convert cubic meters to tons for a truck: 8 m3 of plain concrete is 19.2 metric tons, about 21.16 US tons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula to convert cubic meters to tons?
The formula is: metric tons = cubic meters x density / 1000, where density is in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). For example, 5 cubic meters of dry sand at 1600 kg/m3 gives 5 x 1600 = 8000 kg, which is 8 metric tons. First compute kilograms (volume times density), then divide by 1000 to get tons.
How many tons are in a cubic meter of water?
One cubic meter of water weighs exactly 1 metric ton at standard conditions (density 1000 kg/m3). In US short tons that is 1.1023 tons, and in pounds it is 2204.62 lb. Water is the reference: its density defines the kilogram, so the 1 m3 = 1 ton relationship is exact by design.
How many tons are in a cubic meter of concrete?
One cubic meter of plain concrete weighs 2.4 metric tons (density 2400 kg/m3), and one cubic meter of reinforced concrete weighs 2.5 metric tons (density 2500 kg/m3). Steel rebar at 7850 kg/m3 adds roughly 0.1 tons per cubic meter. Ready-mix trucks in most markets carry 6 to 8 cubic meters, so a full 8 m3 load of plain concrete is about 19.2 tons.
How much does a cubic meter of sand weigh?
One cubic meter of dry sand weighs about 1.6 metric tons (density 1600 kg/m3). Wet sand is heavier: 1 cubic meter of wet sand weighs about 1.9 metric tons (density 1900 kg/m3) because water fills the voids between grains. River sand runs 1.76 to 2.0 tons per cubic meter depending on moisture and gradation.
How many tons are in a cubic meter of gravel?
One cubic meter of loose dry gravel weighs about 1.68 metric tons (density 1680 kg/m3). Crushed stone is a little lighter at about 1.6 tons per cubic meter. Compacted gravel with sand mixed in can reach 1.9 to 2.0 tons per cubic meter, so compaction matters when you order by the ton and receive by the cubic meter.
How many tons are in a cubic meter of steel?
One cubic meter of steel weighs 7.85 metric tons (density 7850 kg/m3). Half a cubic meter of steel is 3.925 tons. Cast iron is slightly lighter at 7.2 tons per cubic meter, and aluminum is 2.7 tons per cubic meter.
How do I convert cubic meters to US tons?
Compute kilograms first (cubic meters x density), then divide by 907.18474 to get US short tons. For example, 1 cubic meter of water is 1000 kg, which is 1000 / 907.18474 = 1.1023 US tons. A US ton is about 10.2 percent lighter than a metric ton, so always check which ton your supplier quotes.
How much does a cubic meter of soil weigh?
It depends on the soil type. One cubic meter of loose topsoil weighs about 1.4 metric tons, sandy soil about 1.8 tons, and clay soil about 1.9 tons. Damp excavated soil can weigh up to 1.76 tons per cubic meter. If you are ordering fill, confirm the bulk density with your supplier because moisture content swings the weight by 10 to 20 percent.
Why does a cubic meter to ton converter need density?
Because volume and mass are different physical quantities. One cubic meter is a volume; its weight depends on how much mass is packed into that volume, which is exactly what density measures. One cubic meter of water weighs 1 ton, but one cubic meter of pine wood weighs only 0.55 tons and one cubic meter of steel weighs 7.85 tons. Without density there is no correct answer.
How do I use a custom density in this calculator?
Choose the Custom material option and type the density in kg/m3 from your material data sheet or lab test. For example, a density of 1500 kg/m3 gives 1 x 1500 / 1000 = 1.5 metric tons per cubic meter. Custom densities are useful for branded mixes, recycled aggregates, and engineered fills that do not match standard table values.
How many cubic meters are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters, and one cubic meter is 1.308 cubic yards. If a US supplier quotes you 10 cubic yards of gravel at 1.68 tons per cubic meter, that is 10 x 0.7646 x 1.68 = 12.85 metric tons. Convert the volume to cubic meters first, then multiply by the density as usual.
How many tons of concrete does a truck carry?
A standard ready-mix truck carries 6 to 8 cubic meters. At 2400 kg/m3, an 8 m3 truck load of plain concrete weighs 8 x 2400 / 1000 = 19.2 metric tons (about 21.16 US tons). A 6 m3 load is 14.4 metric tons. Always check your local axle weight limits before ordering, because concrete is one of the densest common bulk materials.
Is a cubic meter of ice lighter than a cubic meter of water?
Yes. Solid ice has a density of 920 kg/m3, so one cubic meter of ice weighs 0.92 metric tons, about 8 percent lighter than the same volume of water. That is why ice floats. Crushed or chipped ice is lighter still because of the air trapped between the pieces.
How do I convert tons back to cubic meters?
Reverse the formula: cubic meters = metric tons x 1000 / density. For example, 10 metric tons of dry sand at 1600 kg/m3 is 10 x 1000 / 1600 = 6.25 cubic meters. For the reverse calculation with US tons, convert to kilograms first (US tons x 907.18474), then divide by the density. See our volume to density converter for the reverse direction.
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