Specific weight of granite, its characteristics, types and weight calculations

Everyone connected with construction knows such a strong building material as granite. Granite is one of the most common rocks and is a granular crystalline igneous rock of a massive type. This material is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma melt at great depth. Its formation is also possible during metamorphism, that is, during the granitization of different types of rocks.

Table of the specific weight of granite

The weight of granite depends on the cutting parameters, dimensions and weight of the stone block formed by processing granite stone. The average dimensions of the processed material range from 0.5x1.9 meters to 2.5x3 meters. The standard thickness of granite products is 20 mm and 30 mm. Knowing the dimensions and thickness, as well as the average specific weight of granite, which ranges from 2700 to 3000 kg/m³, it is possible to calculate the weight of the product. For example, when using granite products measuring 2500x1800x20 mm, all indicators must be multiplied together: 2.5*1.8*0.02*2.9 = 0.261 t = 261 kg. This will be the required weight of granite.

For greater convenience, below is a table of granite weight calculated per square meter:

**Specific weight of granite and its weight per 1 m² depending on stone thickness**
Material	Stone thickness (mm)	Weight of 1 m² (kg)	Specific weight of granite, kg/m³
Granite	20	55	2700-3000
	30	83
	40	110
	50	138
	60	165
	70	193
	80	220
	90	248
	100	275

Characteristics of granite

Granite became popular in construction because of its high strength. Compared with marble, granite is usually noticeably stronger and more resistant to abrasion. This is related to its mineral composition, including quartz and feldspars. Granite tolerates frost and heating well in normal construction conditions, but very strong fire or industrial heating can cause microcracking in the rock. The melting temperature of dry granite is usually about 1215 - 1260 °C.

Water absorption also has a major influence on durability. In granite it is usually low, but it is not zero and depends on the deposit, porosity, cracking and surface finish. The denser the rock and the lower the water absorption, the wider the use of granite in construction, cladding, paving and exterior products.

Types of granite

Granite is divided into groups depending on grain size. Thus, granite is commonly divided into:

Fine-grained granite, where the grain size does not exceed 2 mm. This type is the most in demand and expensive because it has high strength, good resistance to destruction and usually low water absorption.
Medium-grained granite, where the grains range from 2 mm to 5 mm. This type is the “golden mean”: its characteristics are slightly worse than those of fine-grained granite, but better than those of coarse-grained granite.
Coarse-grained granite, where the grains exceed 5 mm. This type is characterized by poor fire resistance. At temperatures above 600 °C, this material is prone to damage and also increases in volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 1 m³ of granite weigh?

For calculations, granite density is usually taken as about 2700-3000 kg/m³. The exact value depends on the quarry, mineral composition, porosity and cracking of the stone.

How much does 1 m² of 20 mm granite weigh?

At an average granite density of 2700-3000 kg/m³, one square meter of a 20 mm slab weighs about 55 kg. For 30 mm thickness, the guide value is about 83 kg/m².

How do you calculate the weight of a granite slab?

Convert length, width and thickness to meters, multiply them together and then multiply by granite density. For example, 2.5 × 1.8 × 0.02 × 2900 ≈ 261 kg.