How Much Does Lava rock / scoria Weigh?
Lightweight volcanic lava rock (scoria) used for decorative landscaping, fire pits, and drainage. Significantly lighter than standard gravel due to porous structure; range is 1,350–1,950 lbs/cu yd depending on size and void fraction.
Lava rock, also sold as scoria, is volcanic stone full of small air pockets formed as gas escaped while the rock cooled from lava. Those trapped air voids are what set it apart from every other material on this list — it's genuinely porous stone, not just small or rounded like other lightweight gravels.
That porous structure gives it a deep red, black, or gray color depending on the mineral content of the source volcanic rock, and a rough, lightweight feel compared to any quarried or river stone. It's chosen more for looks and function in fire-related uses than for structural strength.
What Lava rock / scoria Is Used For
- Decorative landscape beds and mulch alternative
- Fire pit and fire feature filler
- Drainage layer in planters and raised beds
- Erosion control on slopes
- Playground and low-impact surfacing
Weight Facts
- Weight per cubic yard
- 1,650 lbs
- Weight per cubic yard
- 1,650 lbs
- Weight per cubic foot
- 61 lbs
- Weight per ton (yards)
- 1.21 cu yd
- Category
- Aggregate & Gravel
How Much Lava rock / scoria Can Each Truck Carry?
| Truck | Payload | Safe max (cubic yards) | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lbs | 0.91 | 2,035 lbs ⚠ |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,500 lbs | 0.91 | 2,072 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.85 | 2,561 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen) | 1,500 lbs | 0.91 | 2,561 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.85 | 2,561 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) | 1,450 lbs | 0.88 | 2,561 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford Ranger | 1,560 lbs | 0.95 | 2,646 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,160 lbs | 0.70 | 2,451 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1,100 lbs | 0.67 | 2,102 lbs ⚠ |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,200 lbs | 0.73 | 2,169 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-150 | 1,525 lbs | 0.92 | 3,807 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,600 lbs | 0.97 | 4,382 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 1,500 lbs | 0.91 | 4,382 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 1500 | 1,240 lbs | 0.75 | 3,758 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,485 lbs | 0.90 | 4,009 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Titan | 1,460 lbs | 0.88 | 3,642 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 3,000 lbs | 1.82 | 4,797 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (SRW) | 4,000 lbs | 2.42 | 4,797 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (DRW) | 5,500 lbs | 3.33 | 4,797 lbs |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.94 | 5,103 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.94 | 5,103 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 3.45 | 5,103 lbs |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 3.45 | 5,103 lbs |
| RAM 2500 | 1,950 lbs | 1.18 | 4,565 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 3500 (DRW) | 6,280 lbs | 3.81 | 4,565 lbs |
⚠ = full bed weight exceeds truck payload. Safe max is by payload rating, not bed volume.
Hauling Lava rock / scoria: What to Know
Lava rock is by far the lightest material in this category at roughly 1,650 lbs per cubic yard, less than two-thirds the weight of most gravel — a range of 1,350 to 1,950 lbs is typical depending on the specific porosity of the batch. That lighter weight means you can haul a larger volume before hitting your truck's payload limit, but the porous stone is also more prone to breaking into smaller pieces under heavy loading or shifting cargo, so secure it the same as any loose aggregate.
Buying & Ordering Lava rock / scoria
It's typically sold by the bag for small landscaping jobs or by the cubic yard for larger beds, at a higher price per pound than quarried gravel since it has to be sourced from volcanic deposits rather than local quarries. Ask about size grade (fire pit lava rock is usually a specific size distinct from landscape-grade) and whether it's been screened for dust, since the porous surface can shed fine particles during transport.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
⚠ Overloaded — 150 lbs over capacity
This load exceeds the published payload rating and may damage the truck's suspension, frame, tires, and brakes. Reduce quantity or use a higher-rated truck.
Standard AWD EcoBoost payload. Tremor drops to ~1,140 lbs; the 2025+ Lobo off-road trim is lower still (~1,045 lbs). Check door-jamb sticker.
2 trips needed with your Ford Maverick
Could a rental truck do this in fewer trips?
Lava rock / scoria — Frequently Asked Questions
- Is lava rock safe to use in a fire pit?
- Yes, dry lava rock sold specifically for fire pits is designed to handle heat. However, wet or damp lava rock can trap moisture in its pores and potentially crack or pop when heated quickly, so let it dry out fully after rain before lighting a fire.
- Why does lava rock weigh so much less than regular gravel?
- It's the trapped air pockets left behind as volcanic gas escaped during cooling. Those voids make the stone porous rather than solid, so a cubic yard contains far less actual mineral mass than the same volume of dense quarried rock.
- How much does Lava rock / scoria weigh per cubic yard?
- Lava rock / scoria weighs approximately 1,650 lbs per cubic yard. Lightweight volcanic lava rock (scoria) used for decorative landscaping, fire pits, and drainage. Significantly lighter than standard gravel due to porous structure; range is 1,350–1,950 lbs/cu yd depending on size and void fraction.
- How much Lava rock / scoria can a half-ton truck carry?
- A typical half-ton truck with a 1,500 lb payload can safely carry about 0.91 cubic yards of Lava rock / scoria.
- How many cubic yards per ton of Lava rock / scoria?
- Lava rock / scoria weighs 1,650 lbs per cubic yard, so one ton (2,000 lbs) equals approximately 1.21 cubic yards.
Related Material Weights
- Gravel, pea (washed) — 2,500 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, crushed stone (#57) — 2,410 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, river rock — 2,600 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, limestone — 2,610 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, recycled concrete (RCA) — 2,410 lbs/yd³
- Gravel, crusher run (DGA) — 2,700 lbs/yd³
- Decomposed granite (DG) — 2,500 lbs/yd³
- Riprap (2"–6") — 2,650 lbs/yd³
Helpful Guides
- How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Driveway?
Calculate how many cubic yards and tons of gravel a driveway needs, how many truckloads that is, and which base and top layers to use.
- Cubic Yards, Tons, and Bags: A Material Conversion Guide
How to convert between cubic yards, tons, and bags for gravel, sand, soil, and mulch — with the density figures and formulas that make the math work.
- What Happens If You Overload Your Truck?
Overloading a pickup risks tickets, tire blowouts, brake failure, frame damage, and a voided warranty. Here is what actually happens and how to stay legal and safe.