Snow Weight Calculator
Calculate the weight of snow by entering the dimensions of the area and depth below.
Snow Weight:
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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.
| 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.