Snow Weight Calculator

Calculate the weight of snow by entering the dimensions of the area and depth below.

Snow Weight:

 
Pounds
Learn how we calculated this below

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How Much Does Snow Weigh?

Snow, which is just frozen water vapor formed into ice crystals, varies in weight by its volume and density. Fresh, light and fluffy snow will weigh much less than the dense, packed, or wet variety.

Calculating the weight of snow is useful when you need to know the total weight it adds, for example, to calculate the weight on a roof. Follow along to find out how to calculate its total weight.

Step One: Calculate the Snow Volume

The volume of snow is a major factor that contributes to the total weight. To find volume, measure the length, width, and depth in feet. Then, multiply the three dimensions together, or just use a volume calculator.

If necessary, you can also make these measurements in inches to get the cubic inches. Convert these to cubic feet by dividing the total number of cubic inches by 1728.

Step Two: Figure the Snow Density

The density of any material is critical to calculating weight. While the density of snow varies, there are some common density ranges for various types that can be used for estimation. See the table below for average snow densities.

Density ranges for various types of snow.
Snow Type Density Range
pounds per cubic foot kilograms per cubic meter
fresh & light 3.12 – 4.37 lb/ft³ 50 – 70 kg/m³
settled 12.49 – 18.73 lb/ft³ 200 – 300 kg/m³
wind-packed 21.85 – 24.97 lb/ft³ 350 – 400 kg/m³
wet & slushy 24.97 – 51.82 lb/ft³ 400 – 830 kg/m³
ice 51.82 – 57.53 lb/ft³ 830 – 920 kg/m³

Note that as the temperature rises, the density increases. The density of water at 39.2 °F is 1,000 kg/m³. This means that as the ice turns to water, its weight will increase for the same volume.

Step Three: Calculate the Total Snow Weight

To calculate the total weight of snow, multiply the volume of snow in feet by the density in pounds per cubic foot. The result will be the total weight.

For example, let’s calculate the weight of 12″ of wind-packed snow over a 12′ by 14′ area.

Start by finding the volume.

volume = 1′ × 12′ × 14′
volume = 168′

Using the chart above, find the density. Wind-packed snow has a density of 21.85 to 24.97 pounds per cubic foot.

min weight = 21.85 lbs × 168 cu. ft.
min weight = 3670.8 lbs

max weight = 24.97 lbs × 168 cu. ft.
max weight = 4195 lbs

Thus, the total weight of snow is 3,670.8 to 4,195 pounds.

Try our snow to water volume calculator.