How Much Does Rubber mulch (shredded) Weigh?
Shredded recycled rubber used for playground surfaces and landscape beds. Notably heavier than organic mulch and weight-stable — same wet or dry, unlike wood-based products. Range is 800–1,200 lbs/cu yd.
Rubber mulch is shredded recycled rubber, most commonly from tires, processed into mulch-sized pieces for playgrounds and low-maintenance landscape beds. Unlike every organic mulch on this list, it doesn't decompose, so a bed or play area holds its depth and appearance for years without the annual topping-off that wood-based mulches need.
It's also noticeably heavier than organic mulch and, because it doesn't absorb water the way wood fiber does, its weight barely changes between dry and rain-soaked conditions — a rare case of predictable, weight-stable material in this category.
What Rubber mulch (shredded) Is Used For
- Long-lasting cushioning surface under playground equipment
- Low-maintenance decorative ground cover for landscape beds
- Areas prone to termites or wood-boring insects, since rubber isn't a food source
- Erosion-prone slopes where a mulch that won't wash away or decompose is preferred
- Sports and athletic field infill applications
Weight Facts
- Weight per cubic yard
- 1,000 lbs
- Weight per cubic yard
- 1,000 lbs
- Weight per cubic foot
- 37 lbs
- Weight per ton (yards)
- 2.00 cu yd
- Category
- Mulch & Organic
How Much Rubber mulch (shredded) Can Each Truck Carry?
| Truck | Payload | Safe max (cubic yards) | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lbs | 1.50 | 1,233 lbs |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,500 lbs | 1.50 | 1,256 lbs |
| Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 1.40 | 1,552 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen) | 1,500 lbs | 1.50 | 1,552 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 1.40 | 1,552 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) | 1,450 lbs | 1.45 | 1,552 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford Ranger | 1,560 lbs | 1.56 | 1,604 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,160 lbs | 1.16 | 1,485 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1,100 lbs | 1.10 | 1,274 lbs ⚠ |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,200 lbs | 1.20 | 1,315 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-150 | 1,525 lbs | 1.52 | 2,307 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,600 lbs | 1.60 | 2,656 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 1,500 lbs | 1.50 | 2,656 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 1500 | 1,240 lbs | 1.24 | 2,278 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,485 lbs | 1.49 | 2,430 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Titan | 1,460 lbs | 1.46 | 2,207 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 3,000 lbs | 3.00 | 2,907 lbs |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (SRW) | 4,000 lbs | 4.00 | 2,907 lbs |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (DRW) | 5,500 lbs | 5.50 | 2,907 lbs |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 3.20 | 3,093 lbs |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 3.20 | 3,093 lbs |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 5.70 | 3,093 lbs |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 5.70 | 3,093 lbs |
| RAM 2500 | 1,950 lbs | 1.95 | 2,767 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 3500 (DRW) | 6,280 lbs | 6.28 | 2,767 lbs |
⚠ = full bed weight exceeds truck payload. Safe max is by payload rating, not bed volume.
Hauling Rubber mulch (shredded): What to Know
Rubber mulch runs around 1,000 lbs per cubic yard — roughly double the weight of typical organic wood mulch and even heavier than compost. This flips the usual mulch math: a full truck bed of rubber mulch (2.5 to 3 cubic yards) weighs 2,500-3,000 lbs, which can approach payload limits on smaller trucks. Here, weight is the limiting factor, not bed volume.
The upside is predictability. Because rubber mulch doesn't absorb moisture, it weighs about the same whether it's bone dry or freshly rained on — commonly cited as an 800-1,200 lb per cubic yard range regardless of weather. There's no wet-load surprise the way there is with wood chips or peat.
Buying & Ordering Rubber mulch (shredded)
Rubber mulch is sold both bagged (commonly by weight, since volume is less variable) and in bulk by the cubic yard for larger playground or landscaping jobs. Ask about the source and processing — tire-derived rubber mulch should be free of steel wire fragments — and whether the color coating is designed to resist fading and dye bleed, since lower-quality product can leach color onto surrounding surfaces after rain.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
✓ Within Capacity — 500 lbs remaining
This load is within the published payload rating. Always account for passengers, fuel, and bed accessories in your total.
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.
Rubber mulch (shredded) — Frequently Asked Questions
- Is rubber mulch heavier than wood mulch?
- Yes, significantly. Rubber mulch runs around 1,000 lbs per cubic yard versus roughly 500 for dry shredded wood mulch, so a full truck bed of rubber mulch is much closer to payload limits than the same volume of wood mulch.
- Does rubber mulch get heavier when wet, like wood mulch does?
- No — that's one of its advantages. Rubber doesn't absorb water the way wood fiber does, so its weight stays roughly in the 800-1,200 lb per cubic yard range whether it's dry or soaked, with no dramatic wet-weight jump.
- How does rubber mulch compare on longevity?
- Rubber mulch doesn't decompose, so it holds its depth and color for years rather than breaking down into the soil over one to two seasons like wood mulch. That said, it needs occasional raking to redistribute pieces that shift over time.
- How much does Rubber mulch (shredded) weigh per cubic yard?
- Rubber mulch (shredded) weighs approximately 1,000 lbs per cubic yard. Shredded recycled rubber used for playground surfaces and landscape beds. Notably heavier than organic mulch and weight-stable — same wet or dry, unlike wood-based products. Range is 800–1,200 lbs/cu yd.
- How much Rubber mulch (shredded) can a half-ton truck carry?
- A typical half-ton truck with a 1,500 lb payload can safely carry about 1.50 cubic yards of Rubber mulch (shredded).
- How many cubic yards per ton of Rubber mulch (shredded)?
- Rubber mulch (shredded) weighs 1,000 lbs per cubic yard, so one ton (2,000 lbs) equals approximately 2.00 cubic yards.
Related Material Weights
- Mulch, wood chips (shredded) — 500 lbs/yd³
- Mulch, bark nuggets — 700 lbs/yd³
- Compost — 1,080 lbs/yd³
- Playground chips (engineered wood) — 300 lbs/yd³
- Peat moss — 500 lbs/yd³
- Sod (fresh-cut)
Helpful Guides
- 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.