From this site

One project, every trade

Each calculator adds its lines to a single estimate — consolidated BOM, schedule and cash-flow included.

Open My Project →

Brick Rubble Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator

Convert a brick rubble volume into short tons for weight limits, haulage and disposal pricing.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax

Approximate weight

12 short tons

High confidence

About 1.2 short tons per cubic yard for broken brick and mortar; lighter than concrete rubble but still heavy waste. A planning figure, not a specification. Check the figure against the container's or vehicle's weight limit before booking.

Conversion factor applied
1.2 short tons per cu yd

Brick arisings sit between clean aggregate and concrete rubble in density, and the mortar content is what moves the figure. Old lime-mortared brickwork breaks apart cleanly and produces relatively light, sortable arisings; cement-mortared work comes away in lumps that carry more mortar per brick and weigh more. That distinction matters for reclaim as much as for disposal, since bricks that separate cleanly are worth salvaging and those bonded in cement generally are not. Estimate the volume from the wall being taken down, convert, and check it against the container's weight limit.

Add the equipment this sizes

This result is a specification — 12 short tons — not a quantity. Put the thing it sizes into your project: how many, what you call it, and your supplier’s price.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Typical bulk density used here: approximately 1.2 short tons per cubic yard
  • Density varies with moisture, composition and how the material was broken or processed

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Does mortar type change the weight?
It changes both weight and workability. Cement mortar clings to the brick and adds weight per unit; lime mortar releases cleanly, leaving lighter arisings and salvageable brick. Older buildings are far more likely to be lime-bonded.
Is brick rubble good hardcore?
It is commonly used as fill and sub-base where crushed, though it is softer than crushed stone and less suitable under heavy loading. Check what the specification permits rather than assuming it is interchangeable.
Should I sort brick for reclaim?
If the mortar releases cleanly, usually yes. Reclaimed brick has real value and sorting reduces the weight going to disposal, so the labour is paid for twice. Cement-mortared brick rarely justifies the effort.