When people order tipper transport, the most common question is how much fits in one trip. The answer depends on the material, because weight and volume are different things. Our grain-type tipper semi-trailer holds about 50 m³ and carries up to about 26 tonnes. Together, those two numbers give a simple rule that helps you order the right quantity.
The dividing line is about half a tonne per cubic metre
26 tonnes divided by 50 cubic metres is about 0.5 tonnes per cubic metre. If the cargo is denser than that, the payload limit is reached before the trailer is full. Almost all bulk cargo is heavier than this, so the size of a trip is usually set by weight, not by the trailer’s volume. Volume only becomes the limit for very light cargo, such as wood chips.
Approximate densities
The figures below are indicative. The exact weight depends on the grain size, moisture and compaction.
- grain (wheat, barley, rye): about 0.65 to 0.80 t/m³
- wood pellets: about 0.6 to 0.7 t/m³
- coal: about 0.8 to 0.9 t/m³
- fertiliser: about 0.9 to 1.2 t/m³, depending on the type
- sand: about 1.4 to 1.6 t/m³ dry, up to about 1.8 to 2.0 t/m³ wet
- gravel and crushed stone: about 1.4 to 1.7 t/m³
What this means in practice
Hauling grain at 0.75 t/m³, 26 tonnes fills about 35 m³: the trailer stays partly empty, but the payload is used in full. Dry sand at 1.5 t/m³ fills only about 17 m³ with 26 tonnes, less than a third of the trailer. That is why it makes no sense to order “50 cubic metres of sand in one trip”: by weight it would be several times the payload.
Wet material is heavier
Sand or gravel that has stood in the rain weighs noticeably more per cubic metre than dry material. If you buy material by volume but transport is counted in tonnes, the quantity per trip may be smaller than you expected. When ordering, say whether the material is wet or dry.
How to work out the quantity you need
- Find the volume: area multiplied by layer thickness. For example, 100 m² and a 0.3 m layer is 30 m³.
- Multiply by the density: 30 m³ of gravel at 1.6 t/m³ is about 48 tonnes.
- Divide by the payload per trip: 48 tonnes divided by about 26 tonnes is two trips.
- Add a margin. Compaction often takes more material than the calculated volume.
The exact quantity is confirmed by weighing
If the invoice is based on tonnes, the final quantity is set by weight. Ask the seller whether the price is per tonne or per cubic metre and what the calculation is based on. If you are unsure, send us the area, layer thickness and material, and we will help convert the quantity into tonnes and trips.
Send a request
In the price request form, give the quantity in tonnes or cubic metres. If you only know one of them, say which.