How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Concrete, Dirt, Shingles, and Drywall Weigh?

Picking the right dumpster comes down to two numbers: your debris’s cubic yardage, and its weight per cubic yard. Here’s the reference table for every common material.

Why these numbers matter

Dumpster sizing has two constraints — volume (cubic yards) and weight (tons). For light materials, volume binds first. For heavy materials, weight binds first. The cubic yard weight of your specific debris is what determines which constraint matters.

Misjudging by even 50 percent on these numbers can mean a $150 to $300 overage charge. The numbers below are averages from landfill weight data and dumpster industry sources. Use them as reasonably accurate estimates — actual weights can vary 10 to 20 percent based on moisture, composition, and how tightly debris is packed.

Heavy materials (over 1,500 lbs per cubic yard)

Concrete (solid slab): 4,050 lbs per cubic yard

This is solid, intact concrete — what you’d weigh if you cut a perfect 3-foot cube out of a slab. Most demolition produces broken concrete, which is less dense due to air gaps.

Concrete (broken pieces): 2,025 lbs per cubic yard (~1 ton)

Broken concrete includes chunks, irregular pieces, and air space between them. This is the realistic weight when concrete demolition debris is loaded into a dumpster.

Asphalt (broken): 2,000 lbs per cubic yard

Comparable to broken concrete. Driveway and parking lot demolition.

Brick: 3,000 lbs per cubic yard

Standard clay brick. Old mortar adds slight weight; concrete or stone bricks weigh more.

Dirt (wet): 3,000 lbs per cubic yard

Wet topsoil after recent rain. Subsoil and clay are similar.

Sod: 3,000 lbs per cubic yard

Sod with attached soil. The grass and topsoil are bonded; can’t be separated for disposal.

Dirt (dry): 2,200 lbs per cubic yard

Standard topsoil in dry conditions. Sand is lighter (around 2,700 lbs per cubic yard despite its denser feel).

Stone (crushed): 2,700 lbs per cubic yard

Gravel, crushed stone, and rock varies by stone type but usually 2,500-2,900 lbs per cubic yard.

Tree wood (green/fresh-cut): 1,800 lbs per cubic yard

Recently cut trees with high water content. Dries down significantly over time.

Medium materials (500 to 1,500 lbs per cubic yard)

Drywall (wet from water damage): 1,500 lbs per cubic yard

Drywall absorbs significant water during floods or sustained leaks. Wet drywall weighs 2-3x dry drywall.

Tile flooring with backerboard: 1,000 lbs per cubic yard

Ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile with cement backerboard. The backerboard adds significant weight.

Asphalt shingles (loose): 750 lbs per cubic yard

Standard 3-tab or architectural asphalt shingles after tear-off. Roofing weight is more commonly measured per square (100 sq ft of roof).

Drywall (dry, loose pieces): 500 lbs per cubic yard

Demolition drywall in normal dry conditions. A standard 4×8 sheet weighs ~50 lbs.

Mixed construction debris: 500 lbs per cubic yard

Mixed renovation debris — wood, drywall, tile, fixtures. Average for kitchen and bathroom remodels.

Plaster (with lath): 1,200 lbs per cubic yard

Pre-1960 home walls. Significantly heavier than drywall demolition.

Light materials (under 500 lbs per cubic yard)

Wood framing lumber: 400 lbs per cubic yard

2x4s, 2x6s, joists, rafters. Pressure-treated lumber is slightly heavier (around 450 lbs per cubic yard).

Mixed household debris: 300 lbs per cubic yard

Average for cleanouts mixing furniture, boxes, household items. Higher for dense items, lower for fluffy items like clothing and bedding.

Furniture: 250 lbs per cubic yard

Couches, dressers, mattresses combined. Wood furniture weighs more; upholstered furniture less.

Carpet and padding: 150 lbs per cubic yard

Standard residential carpet. Wet carpet weighs 3-5x dry carpet.

Cardboard: 100 lbs per cubic yard

Loose cardboard. Compressed cardboard (baled) is much heavier.

Loose leaves (wet): 1,000 lbs per cubic yard

Wet fall leaves are surprisingly heavy. Dry leaves are around 250 lbs per cubic yard.

Roofing weight by square (100 sq ft of roof)

Roofing is typically measured per square because that’s how shingles are sold:

• 3-tab asphalt shingles: 200-250 lbs per square
• Architectural / dimensional asphalt: 250-350 lbs per square
• Wood shakes: 250-400 lbs per square
• Clay tile: 600-1,200 lbs per square (very heavy)
• Slate: 800-1,500 lbs per square (heaviest)
• Metal roofing: 100-200 lbs per square (lightest)

For a 25-square asphalt roof, total tear-off weight is roughly 25 × 300 = 7,500 lbs (3.75 tons). Multi-layer tear-offs multiply this by the number of layers.

Calculating your project weight

Use this formula:

Total weight = (cubic yards of material) × (weight per cubic yard)

Example 1: Concrete patio demolition

200 sq ft patio × 4 inches thick = 67 cubic feet = 2.5 cubic yards. 2.5 cubic yards × 2,025 lbs (broken concrete) = 5,062 lbs (2.5 tons). Need a 10-yard heavy-debris container with 3+ ton allowance.

Example 2: Kitchen remodel debris

Estimated 12 cubic yards of mixed debris × 500 lbs per cubic yard = 6,000 lbs (3 tons). Fits a 20-yard with 3-4 ton allowance.

Example 3: Roof tear-off

20-square asphalt roof × 250 lbs per square = 5,000 lbs (2.5 tons). Fits a 15-yard with 2-3 ton allowance.

Add 15 to 20 percent buffer to your calculation for accuracy. Real-world debris is rarely as clean as the assumptions in these formulas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is a cubic yard of concrete?

Solid concrete weighs 4,050 lbs per cubic yard (about 2 tons). Broken concrete in a dumpster weighs about 2,025 lbs per cubic yard due to air gaps between pieces.

How heavy is a cubic yard of dirt?

Dry dirt weighs about 2,200 lbs per cubic yard. Wet dirt and sod weigh 3,000+ lbs per cubic yard. After heavy rain, soil weights can reach 3,500 lbs per cubic yard.

What’s the difference between weight per cubic yard and per square for roofing?

Cubic yards measure dumpster volume; squares measure roof surface area (100 sq ft). Roofers usually calculate by squares. To convert: 1 square of asphalt shingles = ~250 lbs, occupies roughly 0.3 cubic yards in a dumpster.

How accurate are these weight estimates?

Within 10-20% in most cases. Moisture content, debris density, and how tightly the dumpster is packed affect actual weight. Always add a 15-20% buffer when sizing your dumpster.

Author: joflanne