Bitumen Density Calculator & Converter
Convert bitumen density between kg/m³, lb/ft³, and g/cm³, with typical reference values by grade to help you pick the right figure.
Bitumen Density Converter
Typical bitumendensity at 15°C ranges from 1000–1050 kg/m³ depending on grade. Always confirm the exact value against your supplier's data sheet for contractual or invoiced quantities.
Bitumen density is not a single fixed number — it depends on grade, temperature, and whether you’re looking at straight bitumen, emulsion, or a modified binder. This tool converts between the common units you’ll encounter, and the reference table below gives typical values to use when you don’t yet have a supplier-specific figure.
| Material | Typical Density (kg/m³) | Typical Density (lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| Penetration-grade bitumen (60/70, 80/100) | 1,000–1,050 | 62.4–65.5 |
| Bitumen emulsion | 1,000–1,020 | 62.4–63.7 |
| Cutback bitumen | 990–1,020 | 61.8–63.7 |
| Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) | 1,010–1,060 | 63.1–66.2 |
Why the value you use matters
Density feeds directly into every weight-based bitumen calculation — a 2% error in the density figure produces roughly a 2% error in every downstream weight and cost calculation. For early estimating, a reasonable working default (1,030 kg/m³ for standard penetration-grade bitumen) is fine. For contractual quantities, invoicing, or final ordering, always use your specific supplier’s certified data sheet value instead.
Temperature and density
Bitumen density decreases as temperature rises — hot bitumen occupies more volume per tonne than the same bitumen at a cooler reference temperature (typically 15°C). If you’re converting a hot, delivered volume into weight, make sure the density figure you use corresponds to that same temperature, not a 15°C reference value, or your conversion will be off. See our bitumen density guide for the full explanation and a rough correction formula.
Density vs specific gravity
Specific gravity is a unitless ratio relative to water and is numerically close to density in g/cm³ (an SG of 1.03 corresponds to roughly 1,030 kg/m³). Don’t confuse the two when reading a specification — they look similar but are off by three decimal places if mixed up.
How density is actually measured
Bitumen density is measured in a lab using a pycnometer (a calibrated glass vessel) at a fixed reference temperature, typically 15°C or 25°C depending on the standard being followed (ASTM D70 and EN 15326 are common references). The sample’s mass is compared against an equal volume of water at the same temperature, which is also where the "specific gravity" figure comes from directly — it’s the raw output of this test, with density in kg/m³ calculated by multiplying specific gravity by water’s density at that reference temperature.
When a small density difference actually matters
On a small residential job, the difference between 1,000 and 1,050 kg/m³ amounts to a few kilograms — not worth chasing down precisely. On a large road contract measured in hundreds of tonnes, that same 5% spread can mean several tonnes of difference in a weight-based order or invoice, which is exactly why contractual and payment quantities should always use a supplier-certified figure rather than a reference-table average like the ones on this page.
Use this density value in a full quantity calculation