Jersey Barrier Weight: 10, 12 and 20 Foot Sections

Jersey barrier weight comes up whenever someone has to move, buy or set one: on a construction site, to block a lot entrance or to build a wall of blocks for a yard. The answer is simple once you know the shape. A standard 32-inch concrete New Jersey barrier works out to roughly 400 pounds per foot, so a 10-foot section weighs about 4,000 pounds and a 20-foot section about 8,000. This guide shows the math, lists common lengths and covers what changes the number.

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The short answer

Per foot: about 400 to 410 pounds for the classic 32-inch New Jersey profile in normal-weight reinforced concrete.
10-foot section: about 4,000 to 4,100 pounds.
12-foot section: about 4,800 to 4,900 pounds.
20-foot section: about 8,000 to 8,200 pounds.
Other shapes: F-shape, single-slope and taller barriers can be heavier, roughly up to about 500 pounds per foot or more. Check the product sheet.

Standard jersey barrier dimensions

The New Jersey safety shape has a well-known profile. Published descriptions of the standard barrier give these numbers:

Height: 32 inches.
Base width: 24 inches.
Top width: 6 inches.
Face: a 3-inch vertical lip at the bottom, then a face sloped at 55 degrees up to 13 inches above the pavement, then a steeper 84-degree face to the top.

Taller 42-inch versions exist for higher-containment uses, and many precast makers sell barriers in 10, 12 and 20 foot lengths with joints at the ends for pins or loops.

How we figure the weight

Weight is just the cross-section area times the length times the weight of concrete. Here is the math for the standard profile, our own estimate from the dimensions above.

Bottom lip: 24 inches wide × 3 inches tall = 72 square inches.
Lower slope: 10 inches tall, narrowing from 24 inches to about 10 inches wide. Average width 17 inches × 10 = 170 square inches.
Upper face: 19 inches tall, narrowing from about 10 inches to 6 inches. Average width 8 inches × 19 = 152 square inches.
Total: about 394 square inches, or 2.74 square feet.
Weight per foot: reinforced normal-weight concrete is commonly figured near 150 pounds per cubic foot, so 2.74 × 150 is about 410 pounds per foot. Using 145 pounds per cubic foot gives about 397.

That lines up with the round 4,000 pounds people quote for a 10-foot barrier. A cubic yard of normal concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds, as covered in how much a yard of concrete weighs, so a 10-foot jersey barrier holds close to one cubic yard of concrete.

Jersey barrier weight by length

4 feet: about 1,600 pounds
6 feet: about 2,400 pounds
8 feet: about 3,200 pounds
10 feet: about 4,000 to 4,100 pounds
12 feet: about 4,800 to 4,900 pounds
20 feet: about 8,000 to 8,200 pounds

These assume the standard 32-inch New Jersey profile and run about 400 to 410 pounds per foot.

What changes the weight

Profile. F-shape and single-slope barriers have different faces and can carry more concrete per foot.
Height. A 42-inch barrier is noticeably heavier than a 32-inch one.
End details. Lifting holes, forklift slots, drain scuppers and connection hardware add or remove a little.
Concrete and steel. Mix density and reinforcing vary by maker.
Plastic barriers. Water-filled plastic barriers weigh a fraction of concrete empty. Filled, each gallon of water adds about 8.3 pounds, so check the gallon capacity on the unit.

Moving and setting jersey barriers

Equipment: a 4,000-pound section is beyond most compact tractors and small skid steers. Precast yards typically set them with a forklift, a boom truck or a crane using the lifting loops or pockets.
Hauling: two or three 10-foot barriers can be 8,000 to 12,000 pounds, so check the trailer and truck ratings before loading.
On a driveway: a barrier puts thousands of pounds on a narrow strip. Residential asphalt can dent under that load, especially on hot days. Spreading the load with plywood or timbers helps; see how much weight an asphalt driveway can hold.
Crash use: barriers placed to protect traffic or workers must follow the transportation agency's approved designs and anchoring details, not just weight.

Comparing other heavy concrete pieces

If you are planning a move, it helps to compare. A single concrete block is easy to carry, a concrete wheel stop takes two people, and a jersey barrier needs a machine. For a custom pour, the concrete calculator turns dimensions into cubic yards, and each yard is close to two tons.

Questions people ask

How much does a jersey barrier weigh?

A standard 32-inch concrete New Jersey shape barrier works out to roughly 400 pounds per foot, so a 10-foot section is about 4,000 pounds. Products vary, so check the maker's spec sheet.

How much does a jersey barrier weigh per foot?

About 400 to 410 pounds per foot by our math for the classic 32-inch New Jersey profile. Other profiles and heavier designs can run more, roughly up to about 500 pounds per foot.

What are the dimensions of a jersey barrier?

The standard New Jersey safety shape is 32 inches tall, 24 inches wide at the base and 6 inches wide at the top, with a 3-inch vertical lip at the bottom and two sloped faces above it.

How much does a 20-foot jersey barrier weigh?

At about 400 to 410 pounds per foot, roughly 8,000 to 8,200 pounds. Joints, lifting holes and steel change the exact figure.

How much does a plastic water-filled barrier weigh?

Empty, far less than concrete. Filled, add about 8.3 pounds for every gallon of water the unit holds, which is printed on most product sheets.

Can a jersey barrier sit on an asphalt driveway?

It can, but several thousand pounds on a narrow base can dent or crack residential asphalt, especially in hot weather. Plywood or timbers under the base spread the load.

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