Density of Sandstone: Porosity, Velocity and Strength Values
The density of sandstone typically runs from 2.2 to 2.8 g/cm3, or about 2200 to 2800 kg/m3, with porosity of 5 to 25 percent. Compressional seismic velocity sits near 2 to 4.5 km/s and unconfined compressive strength spans 20 to 170 MPa. The table below collects the values; the notes explain why the ranges are as wide as they are.
| Property | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.2 to 2.8 g/cm3 |
| Porosity | 5 to 25 percent |
| P wave velocity | 2 to 4.5 km/s |
| Unconfined compressive strength | 20 to 170 MPa |
| Mass of 1 m3 (mid density) | about 2.50 tonnes |
Why the range
The widest ranges in this library, because sandstone is a family: a tight quartz arenite and a friable young sand share a name and little else. Porosity is the property that predicts the rest. For design work, treat these as screening values: a specific site deserves specific testing, and the calculators linked below show how each number is measured and used.
Use these values
- Rock Density Calculator to build density from mineral composition.
- Porosity Calculator to measure porosity from well logs.
- The Property Library for every rock, soil, and mineral on this site.
Related Calculators and Reference
- Rock Density and Specific Gravity Calculator, to convert between specific gravity and density without doing the arithmetic twice.
- Two Way Time to Depth Converter, to carry this velocity into a depth conversion.
- Density of Basalt, for the neighbouring rock type in the same section.
- Density of Chalk, for the comparison that decides which unit you are actually looking at.
- USGS Mineral Resources Program, published rock and mineral property data.