Weight of Bulk Materials
  density of materials  
Bulk Materials.

 
The mass of over 300 different 'dry' materials are listed below. Liquids, metals and woods are on other pages and a site search facility is on the home page. The data is useful for the design and selection of bulk materials handling plant, bulk transport and packaging, individual samples will differ. Moisture content will have a marked influence.

As 1000kg of pure water = 1 cubic metre, those materials under 1000kg/cu.m will float; more dense will sink ie. those materials with a specific gravity more than 1.
Pure water was chosen as the 'base line' for specific gravity and given the value of 1. The specific gravity of all other materials are compared to water as a fraction heavier or lighter density. For example, ammonium nitrate has a specific gravity (sg) of 0.73 while dry ammonium sulphate has a sg of 1.13 (1130 kilograms/cubic metre) (see table below)
As specific gravity is just a comparison, it can be applied across any units. The density of pure water is also 62.4 lbs/cu.ft (pounds per cubic foot) and if we know that ammonium nitrate has a sg of 0.73 then we can calculate that its density is 0.73 x 62.4 = 45.552 lbs/cu.ft.
Note, kg/cu.m divided by 16.02 = lbs/cu.ft

[ back to conversion home page ] [ density of liquids ] [ density of water ] [ density of metals ] [ density of woods ]


 
Material - powder, ore, solids, etc.
lbs/cu.ft
kg/cu.m.
Alfalfa, ground 16 256
Alum, lumpy 55 881
Alum, pulverized 47 753
Alumina 60 961
Aluminum, oxide 95 1522
Ammonia gas 0.048 0.77
Ammonium Nitrate 46 730
Ammonium Sulphate - dry 71 1130
Ammonium Sulphate - wet 81 1290
Andesite, solid 173 2771
Antimony, cast 418 6696
Apples 40 641
Arsenic 354 5671
Asbestos - shredded 20 320- 400
Asbestos rock 100 1600
Ashes - wet 46 730- 890
Ashes - dry 36 570- 650
Asphalt, crushed 45 721
Babbitt 454 7272
Bagasse 7 120
Bakelite, solid 85 1362
Baking powder 45 721
Barium 236 3780
Bark, wood refuse 15 240
Barley 38 609
Barite, crushed 180 2883
Basalt, broken 122 1954
Basalt, solid 188 3011
Bauxite, crushed 80 1281
Beans, castor 36 577
Beans, cocoa 37 593
Beans, navy 50 801
Beans, soy 45 721
Beeswax 60 961
Beets 45 721
Bentonite 37 593
Bicarbonate of soda 43 689
Bismuth 611 9787
Bones, pulverized 55 881
Borax, fine 53 849
Bran 16 256
Brewers grain 27 432
Brick, common red 120 1922
Brick, fire clay 150 2403
Brick, silica 128 2050
Brick, chrome 175 2803
Brick, magnesia 160 2563
Buckwheat 41 657
Butter 54 865
Cadmium 540 8650
Calcium carbide 75 1201
Caliche 90 1442
Carbon, solid 134 2146
Carbon, powdered 5 80
Carbon dioxide 0.124 1.98
Carbon monoxide 0.078 1.25
Cardboard 43 689
Cement - clinker 81 1290-1540
Cement, Portland 94 1506
Cement, mortar 135 2162
Cement, slurry 90 1442
Chalk, solid 156 2499
Chalk, lumpy 90 1442
Chalk, fine 70 1121
Charcoal 13 208
Chloroform 95 1522
Chocolate, powder 40 641
Chromic acid, flake 75 1201
Chromium 428 6856
Chromium ore 135 2162
Cinders, furnace 57 913
Cinders, Coal, ash 40 641
Clay, dry excavated 68 1089
Clay, wet excavated 114 1826
Clay, dry lump 67 1073
Clay, fire 85 1362
Clay, wet lump 100 1602
Clay, compacted 109 1746
Clover seed 48 769
Coal, Anthracite, solid 94 1506
Coal, Anthracite, broken 69 1105
Coal, Bituminous, solid 84 1346
Coal, Bituminous, broken 52 833
Cobaltite ( cobolt ore ) 393 6295
Coconut, meal 32 513
Coconut, shredded 22 352
Coffee, fresh beans 35 561
Coffee, roast beans 27 432
Coke 36-41 570- 650
Concrete, Asphalt 140 2243
Concrete, Gravel 150 2403
Concrete, Limestone with Portland 148 2371
Copper ore 121-162 1940-2590
Copper sulfate, ground 225 3604
Copra, medium size 33 529
Copra, meal, ground 40 641
Copra, expeller cake ground 32 513
Copra, expeller cake chopped 29 465
Cork, solid 15 240
Cork, ground 10 160
Corn, on the cob 45 721
Corn, shelled 45 721
Corn, grits 42 673
Cottonseed, dry, de-linted 35 561
Cottonseed, dry, not de-linted 20 320
Cottonseed, cake, lumpy 42 673
Cottonseed, hulls 12 192
Cottonseed, meal 37 593
Cottonseed, meats 40 641
Cottonwood 26 416
Cryolite 100 1602
Cullet 100 1602
Culm 47 753
Dolomite, solid 181 2899
Dolomite, pulverized 46 737
Dolomite, lumpy 95 1522
Earth, loam, dry, excavated 78 1249
Earth, moist, excavated 90 1442
Earth, wet, excavated 100 1602
Earth, dense 125 2002
Earth, soft loose mud 108 1730
Earth, packed 95 1522
Earth, Fullers, raw 42 673
Emery 250 4005
Ether 46 737
Feldspar, solid 160 2563
Feldspar, pulverized 77 1233
Fertilizer, acid phosphate 60 961
Fish, scrap 45 721
Fish, meal 37 593
Flaxseed, whole 45 721
Flint - silica 87 1390
Flour, wheat 37 593
Flue dust 91-126 1450-2020
Fluorspar, solid 200 3204
Fluorspar, lumps 100 1602
Fluorspar, pulverized 90 1442
Fullers Earth - raw or burnt 36-46 570- 730
Galena ( lead ore ) 462-474 7400 - 7600
Garbage, household rubbish 30 481
Glass - broken or cullet 81-121 1290-1940
Glass, window 161 2579
Glue, animal, flaked 35 561
Glue, vegetable, powdered 40 641
Gluten, meal 39 625
Gneiss, bed in place 179 2867
Gneiss, broken 116 1858
Granite, solid 168 2691
Granite, broken 103 1650
Graphite, flake 40 641
Grain - Maize 47 760
Grain - Barley 37 600
Grain - Millet 47-50 760- 800
Grain - Wheat 49-50 780- 800
Gravel, loose, dry 95 1522
Gravel, with sand, natural 120 1922
Gravel, dry 1/4 to 2 inch 105 1682
Gravel, wet 1/4 to 2 inch 125 2002
Gummite ( uranium ore ) 243 3890 - 6400
Gypsum, solid 174 2787
Gypsum, broken 81 1290-1600
Gypsum, crushed 100 1602
Gypsum, pulverized 70 1121
Halite (salt), solid 145 2323
Halite (salt), broken 94 1506
Hematite ( iron ore ) 318-325 5095 - 5205
Hemimorphite ( zinc ore ) 212-218 3395 - 3490
Hydrochloric acid 40% 75 1201
Ice, solid 57 919
Ice, crushed 37 593
Ilmenite 144 2307
Iridium 1383 22154
Iron ore - crushed - see metals table 131-181 2100-2900
Iron oxide pigment 25 400
Iron Pyrites 150 2400
Iron sulphate - pickling tank - dry 75 1200
Iron sulphate - pickling tank - wet 81 1290
Ivory 115 1842
Kaolin, green crushed 64 1025
Kaolin, pulverized 22 352
Lead, rolled - see metals table 711 11389
Lead, red 230 3684
Lead, white pigment 255 4085
Leather 59 945
Lignite, dry 50 801
Lime, quick, lump 53 849
Lime, quick, fine 75 1201
Lime, stone, large 168 2691
Lime, stone, lump 96 1538
Lime, hydrated 30 481
Lime, wet or mortar 96 1540
Limonite, solid 237 3796
Limonite, broken 154 2467
Limestone, solid 163 2611
Limestone, broken 97 1554
Limestone, pulverized 87 1394
Linseed, whole 47 753
Linseed, meal 32 513
Locust, dry 44 705
Magnesite, solid 188 3011
Magnesium oxide 121 1940
Magnesium sulphate, crystal 70 1121
Magnetite, solid ( iron ore ) 315 5046
Magnetite, broken 205 3284
Malachite ( copper ore ) 234-247 3750 - 3960
Malt 21 336
Manganese, solid 475 7609
Manganese oxide 120 1922
Manure 25 400
Marble, solid 160 2563
Marble, broken 98 1570
Marl, wet, excavated 140 2243
Mica, solid 180 2883
Mica, broken 100 1602
Mica - flake 32 520
Mica - powder 62 986
Milk, powdered 28 449
Molybdenum ore 100 1600
Mortar, wet 150 2403
Mud, packed 119 1906
Mud, fluid 108 1730
Nickel ore 100 1600
Nickel, rolled 541 8666
Nickel silver 527 8442
Nitric acid, 91% 94 1506
Nitrogen 0.079 1.26
Oak, red 44 705
Oats 27 432
Oats, rolled 19 304
Oil cake 49 785
Oil, linseed 59 942
Oil, petroleum 55 881
Oxygen 0.089 1.43
Oyster shells, ground 53 849
Paper, standard 75 1201
Peanuts, shelled 40 641
Peanuts, not shelled 17 272
Peat, dry 25 400
Peat, moist 50 801
Peat, wet 70 1121
Pecan wood 47 753
Phosphate rock, broken 110 1762
Phosphorus 146 2339
Pitch 72 1153
Plaster 53 849
Platinum ore 162 2600
Porcelain 150 2403
Porphyry, solid 159 2547
Porphyry, broken 103 1650
Potash 80 1281
Potassium chloride 125 2002
Potatoes, white 48 769
Pumice, stone 40 641
Pyrite (fool's gold) 150 2400 - 5015
Quartz, solid 165 2643
Quartz, lump 97 1554
Quartz sand 75 1201
Resin, synthetic, crushed 35 561
Rice, hulled 47 753
Rice, rough 36 577
Rice grits 43 689
Rip-Rap 100 1602
Rock - soft - excavated with shovel 100 1600-1780
Rosin 67 1073
Rubber, caoutchouc 59 945
Rubber, manufactured 95 1522
Rubber, ground scrap 30 481
Rye 44 705
Salt cake 90 1442
Salt, course 50 801
Salt, fine 75 1201
Saltpeter 75 1201
Sand, wet 120 1922
Sand, wet, packed 130 2082
Sand, dry 100 1602
Sand, loose 90 1442
Sand, rammed 105 1682
Sand, water filled 120 1922
Sand with Gravel, dry 103 1650
Sand with Gravel, wet 126 2020
Sandstone, solid 145 2323
Sandstone, broken 86 1370-1450
Sawdust 13 210
Sewage, sludge 45 721
Shale, solid 167 2675
Shale, broken 99 1586
Shells - oyster 50 800
Sinter 100 1600-2180
Slag, solid 132 2114
Slag, broken 110 1762
Slag, crushed, 1/4 inch 74 1185
Slag, furn. granulated 60 961
Slate, solid 168 2691
Slate, broken 81-91 1290-1450
Slate, pulverized 85 1362
Smithsonite ( zinc ore ) 268 4300
Snow, freshly fallen 10 160
Snow, compacted 30 481
Soap, solid 50 801
Soap, chips 10 160
Soap, flakes 10 160
Soap, powdered 23 368
Soapstone talc 150 2400
Soda Ash, heavy 67 1080
Soda Ash, light 27 432
Sodium 61 977
Sodium Aluminate, ground 72 1153
Sodium Nitrate, ground 75 1201
Soy beans, whole 47 753
Starch, powdered 35 561
Stone, crushed 100 1602
Stone (common, generic) 157 2515
Sugar, brown 45 721
Sugar, powdered 50 801
Sugar, granulated 53 849
Sugar, raw cane 60 961
Sugarbeet pulp, dry 13 208
Sugarbeet pulp, wet 35 561
Sugarcane 17 272
Sulphur, solid 125 2002
Sulphur, lump 82 1314
Sulphur, pulverized 60 961
Taconite 175 2803
Talc, solid 168 2691
Talc, broken 109 1746
Tanbark, ground 55 881
Tankage 60 961
Tar 72 1153
Tobacco 20 320
Trap rock, solid 180 2883
Trap rock, broken 109 1746
Turf 25 400
Turpentine 54 865
Walnut, black, dry 38 609
Water, pure 62 1000
Water, sea (see liquids table) 64 1026
Wheat 48 769
Wheat, cracked 42 673
Wood chips - dry - see wood table 15-32 240- 520
Wool 82 1314
Zinc oxide 25 400
Related pages
" Home page
" Info on SI Units
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Detail pages
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" British Thermal Units Btu
" Density of bulk materials
" Density of liquids
" Specific Gravity of water
" Density of metals
" Density of woods
" Kitchen metric
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" Watts, amps, volts, ohms
" M Threads & spanners
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We have tried to be accurate with the above table but cannot be held responsible for in-accuracies.
Go back to first principals and double check your calculations if the result is 'mission critical'.

Remember that you cannot create energy only convert it. Likewise, you will not find a conversion from pounds to metres - the basic units must remain the same - mass converted to mass, length converted to length, et al.

You won't usually find a conversion from kilograms to grams - the prefix 'kilo' means '1,000' so a kilogram is in fact 1,000 grams in the same way as a kilometer is 1,000 metres [or about 1,000 yards in 'old money']. I have put a few in the tables because visitors have asked for them. More prefixes can be found on another table.

One handy metric link between units to remember is that 1 Litre [1000cc] of pure water weighs 1 kilogram.

If accuracy is critical beware of old versions of MS Excel which had problems rounding off numbers.

More information on the SI System (Le Système International d'Unités) base units and definitions.



last modified : June 2026
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