How much does a 10x10 foot, 4-inch thick concrete slab weigh?

A 10 ft by 10 ft slab at 4 inches thick contains 33.3 cubic feet of concrete and weighs about 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), or 2.5 US tons. Calculation: 10 × 10 × (4/12) = 33.33 ft³; 33.33 × 150 lb/ft³ = 5,000 lb.

Why is concrete weight important for transport and equipment?

Concrete weight determines truck and pump capacity, the required strength of formwork, and the load on the subgrade. A standard ready-mix truck carries 9 to 11 cubic yards, weighing 36,000 to 45,000 lb of concrete alone. Pickup truck transport of concrete is limited: a half-ton truck should carry no more than about 1,000 lb in the bed, which is roughly 6 to 7 cubic feet of concrete.

Concrete Weight Calculator: How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Weigh?

Concrete Weight by Volume

Normal-weight concrete weighs 150 lb/ft³ (2,400 kg/m³). This is the value used for residential and commercial construction unless the mix design specifies otherwise. The numbers below are for standard portland cement concrete at fresh-pour weight.

Volume	Weight (lb)	Weight (kg)	US Tons	Metric Tons
1 cubic foot	150	68	0.08	0.07
1 cubic yard	4,050	1,837	2.03	1.84
1 cubic meter	5,292	2,400	2.65	2.40
5 cubic yards (truck load)	20,250	9,185	10.1	9.2
10 cubic yards (full truck)	40,500	18,370	20.3	18.4

Concrete Weight by Slab Dimensions

Slab weights below assume 4-inch thickness and normal-weight concrete. Multiply the table value by your actual thickness ratio if your slab is thicker. A 6-inch slab weighs 1.5× the 4-inch value at the same area.

Slab Size (4" thick)	Volume (ft³)	Volume (yd³)	Weight (lb)	Weight (tons)
4 ft × 4 ft	5.3	0.20	800	0.40
8 ft × 8 ft	21.3	0.79	3,200	1.60
10 ft × 10 ft	33.3	1.24	5,000	2.50
12 ft × 12 ft	48.0	1.78	7,200	3.60
20 ft × 20 ft	133.3	4.94	20,000	10.0
24 ft × 24 ft (2-car garage)	192.0	7.11	28,800	14.4

Density by Mix Type

Three concrete classifications cover almost every project. The mix designer specifies which one; if you do not know, assume normal-weight.

Mix Type	Density (lb/ft³)	Density (kg/m³)	Typical Aggregate	Use Cases
Normal weight	150	2,400	Crushed stone, natural sand	Default for slabs, footings, walls
Lightweight	90–115	1,440–1,840	Expanded shale, clay, slate	Upper-floor slabs, insulating fills, precast
Heavyweight	200–300	3,200–4,800	Barite, magnetite, iron ore	Radiation shielding, counterweights, ballast

ACI 318 defines lightweight concrete as having equilibrium density of 70 to 115 lb/ft³ and normal-weight as anything heavier than 135 lb/ft³ but not classified as heavyweight. Mix density data and ready-mix delivery weights also referenced from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).

Transport and Equipment Weight Limits

Weight drives the transport and equipment decisions for any pour.

- A half-ton pickup rated for 1,000 lb payload can carry about 6 to 7 cubic feet of mixed concrete. That is one wheelbarrow load — too small to transport ready-mix in practice; reserve for moving bags.
- A standard ready-mix truck holds 9 to 11 yd³ and grosses 60,000 to 80,000 lb when full. The concrete alone weighs 36,000 to 45,000 lb. Driveway and access bridge capacity matter.
- Concrete pumps are rated by pumping rate and reach; the truck weight is similar to a ready-mix truck. Boom pumps on 4-axle trucks gross up to 70,000 lb when set up.
- Wheelbarrow placement moves about 4 to 6 ft³ per load (600 to 900 lb). Plan one barrow per 5 minutes of placement time per worker.

Formwork and Subgrade Load

Wet concrete acts as a liquid until it begins to set, roughly 1 to 2 hours after placement depending on temperature. During that window, formwork sees the full hydrostatic pressure from the concrete weight: 150 lb/ft² for every foot of pour height at normal density. A 4 ft tall wall pour exerts 600 lb/ft² at the base of the form — the reason wall forms need stiff bracing and ties at close spacing. Subgrade must support both the fresh concrete weight and any live loads applied during finishing. For a 4-inch slab on grade, the dead load alone is 50 lb/ft² — well within capacity of compacted granular subgrade.

Worked Example

Example: 20 ft × 30 ft × 5" thick driveway slab

Volume: 20 × 30 × (5/12) = 250 ft³ = 9.26 yd³

Weight: 250 × 150 lb/ft³ = 37,500 lb

In tons: 37,500 / 2,000 = 18.75 US tons

In metric: 37,500 × 0.4536 = 17,010 kg (17 metric tons)

A pour this size needs a single ready-mix truck. The 9.26 yd³ falls within a one-truck minimum at most suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?

A cubic yard of normal-weight concrete weighs 4,050 lb (1,837 kg), or about 2 US tons. This uses the standard density of 150 lb/ft³ and 27 ft³ per cubic yard. Lightweight concrete weighs ~2,700 lb per yard. Heavyweight concrete can exceed 6,500 lb per yard.

How much does a cubic foot of concrete weigh?

A cubic foot of normal-weight concrete weighs 150 lb (68 kg). This is the U.S. standard density. Fresh concrete weighs slightly more due to mix water that has not yet evaporated.

How much does a 10x10 by 4-inch concrete slab weigh?

A 10 ft × 10 ft × 4 in slab contains 33.3 ft³ of concrete and weighs ~5,000 lb (2,268 kg), or 2.5 US tons.

Why does concrete weight matter for the pour?

Weight sets the limits for transport (truck and pump capacity), formwork strength (a 4 ft wall pour exerts 600 lb/ft² at the base), and subgrade load. A full ready-mix truck grosses 60,000 to 80,000 lb — driveway and bridge capacity affect access.

Does concrete weight change as it cures?

Concrete loses 2 to 3 percent of its weight as mix water evaporates over the first 28 days. A 4,050 lb fresh cubic yard becomes about 3,930 lb cured. For load calculations and transport, use the fresh weight.

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