However the average railroad tie weights round 200lbs or just under 91 kgs
Let’s work out which railroad tie you are after and then find out the weights
Something tells me that you are reading this post because you’re planning to load up a few railroad ties for your upcoming landscape project
Let’s look at the different options for railroad ties and their appropriate weights
How Much Does a Railroad Tie Weigh – Wood
Wooden railroad ties are in my opinion one of the best ways to build a retaining wall
Let’s remember, railroad Ties get lighter as they age
The below assumes you go for a 7″ x 9″ tie which is the most popular size in North America
I will run through the railroad ties form heaviest to lightest, which is generally newest to oldest too
Relay Ties: These are the heaviest heading up to 300lbs
They are generally black, creosote soaked in very good condition with minimal cracks or splits
Relay Landscape Ties: This is generally the best quality tie for your landscaping project
#1 Landscape Ties: This is a railroad tie with at least 3 solid sides, this is my pic for landscaping
Thy look great, are generally nice aged are generally around the 150-200lbs
#2 Landscape Ties: These railroad ties have at least 2 solid sides, you can be luck here an get some really good one that look like a #1 they are often lighter, have minimal rot and weigh around 150lbs
#3 Landscape Ties: I have been lucky with these
Generally they have one good side and can still work well in a retaining well with a lot of character
These can weigh between 100-150lbs
#4 Landscape Ties: These are generally not worth using, are cracked and have dry rot, they can be 100lbs and under
How Much Does a Railroad Tie Weigh – Concrete
Ok, now I know some of you might want to know how much a concrete railroad tie weighs
They are used as a timber alternative as they are cheaper and easier to manufactureConcrete railroad ties weigh around 795lbs!
Railroad ties make beautiful retaining walls, garden edges and even steps, but they are heavy
Old ties in great condition is what you are looking for ideallyHow much does a railroad tie weigh?
Between 100lbs – 300lbs, so please be careful, bend your knees and call your strong friends to give you a handWant to know where to buy railroad ties from, check out my buying guide HERE
I was recently doing some landscaping and entertained the notion of putting in some railroad ties along the sides of a path
I didn’t want to overload a vehicle, so I needed to know the weight
An average wooden railroad tie weighs about 200 pounds but can range from between 100 and 300 lbs
depending on size, wood type, and age
A typical 8’6″ tie made of oak will often weigh about 200 pounds, while softer woods will weigh less
Older ties will tend to be more dried out and weigh less
Railroad Tie Size
The standard American railroad tie measures 8 1/2 feet by 9 inches by 7 inches
So, you will need to fudge upward if the ties you are looking at are longer than the standard 85 feet
While this may not apply to you, there are also concrete ties, or “sleepers,” popular outside of North America
Width and height are different based on the type of sleeper used
No surprise here, the smaller the tie/sleeper, the less it weighs
Railroad Tie Composition
Traditional railroad ties were generally hewn from oak, jarrah, or karri (types of Australian Eucalyptus)
Softwoods, popular in the western United States, largely proved less able to withstand the rigors of railroad traffic
When used in landscaping, ties are typically sourced from trees cut for plywood and are treated for durability
Railroad ties soaked in creosote are generally not legal for landscape use
While wood remains the overwhelming choice in North America, other materials are beginning to rise in popularity in other areas, mainly due to the increasing difficulty of obtaining hardwoods from sustainable sources
The newer materials offer such benefits as increased durability, the ability to recycle, reduced need for ballast, and resistance to humidity and other environmental factors
| By Size and Type
Concrete ties, or sleepers, are now the predominant choice in Europe, and common in Asia and Africa
Concrete sleepers come in several varieties
Prestressed concrete sleepers have wire strands or threaded bars incorporated to increase strength
Once the concrete has hardened and reached the desired strength, the tension is released on the now-incorporated tendons/cables
Once the concrete has set, tension is introduced to the tendons by means of a jack
Two-block sleepers, sometimes called “pot sleepers,” are comprised of two concrete slabs joined by a steel tie rod
Pads are usually fitted to the base of any sleeper to reduce wear, as concrete generally is less elastic than wood, and therefore degrades more quickly
Steel has also been used for railroad ties, albeit with a dubious past
With the increased durability and reliability of steel ties, they have made a comeback
This is mainly for switch areas, low-traffic tracks, or in particular situations, such as areas where wood ties are frequently stolen for use in campfires
A prime advantage of steel is that these ties are much more economical than concrete or wood ties when used in new construction
Plastics and composites are increasingly making their way into the market because of the ease of recycling them for future use
The ability to incorporate plastics and composites into hybrid ties also makes them of interest
Many of these compounds weigh less than other materials but offer the same or even greater durability
Railroad Tie Age
This is primarily a concern with ties made of wood
Generally, the older the tie, the less it will weigh
This is because more aged wood tends to dry out, thereby weighing less
However, if not treated, wood can fall prey to insects, weather damage, or wood rot, all of which can decrease weight
Ultimately, the majority of railroad ties that you will buy from Lowe’s or Home Depot will be about 200 pounds
Railroad ties play an important role in providing support for railroad tracks
If you’re thinking of buying some railroad ties, then you may wonder how heavy they are to move around
Here’s what you need to know about the weight of railroad ties
The average railroad tie weighs around 200 pounds
Considering its weight, it’s a good idea to know how much your car or truck can carry before it becomes overloaded
Keep in mind, too, that each railroad tie is going to add another 200 pounds, at least
There are a few factors that can make the weight of a railroad tie fluctuate
The size of the railroad tie determines how much it’s going to weigh
You can find railroad ties as small as six feet in length and as long as eight or nine feet
Certain companies can also trim the railroad tie to make them even shorter
The bigger the tie is, the heavier it’s going to be
That’s simply because it has more materials
Another big part of the size is the thickness of the railroad tie
You can have a tie that’s only four feet in length, but if it’s incredibly thick, then it’s still likely to be very heavy
The thicker a tie is, the heavier it’s going to be
That’s because the tie still has a lot of materials making up its composition even if it’s short
It’s all contained in the thickness of the tie
If you plan on hauling a lot of ties, then you should consider if it’s possible to trim them down
As long as it doesn’t make your project impossible to complete, smaller railroad ties are easier to carry because they weigh less
Another big factor that can make a railroad tie weigh more or less is its composition
Traditionally, railroad ties used wood in their construction
Many prefer wooden railroad ties to this day because they’re cheap to make and ideal for rustic interior or exterior decorating
There are two main types of wood used in creating railroad ties
The most common is hardwood because it’s more durable and able to withstand the abuse given to it by passing trains
As such, ties made of softwood are going to be lighter than those made of hardwood
A new type of railroad tie that’s common in Europe and Asia is concrete ties or sleepers
They use pre-stressed concrete filled with steel rods to form stable and durable ties
Since it uses concrete and steel, you can bet that these types of ties are going to be some of the heaviest on the market
The average weight of a concrete railroad tie is around 800 pounds
Finally, some companies have started using plastic or composite ties
Ties made with either of these materials tend to be cheaper than concrete but vary in weight compared to wooden ties
Depending on the material of the tie, you could have extremely heavy ties or decently light ties
A final factor that influences the weight of a railroad tie is its age
A brand new railroad tie is quite heavy since it hasn’t degraded at all
Older ties, on the other hand, tend to weigh a little less
That’s because time and wear have made it lose some of its composition and strength
Dry rot, in particular, can make a railroad tie a lot lighter since it’s basically hollowing it out
The same goes for ties that have infestations of termites or other pests
The bugs have slowly started to eat away at the wood, which makes it lighter
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the tie’s ability to resist water also impacts its weight
As ties become older, their wood treatments also fade
If you try to pick up an old railroad tie after it’s just rained, you’re not only picking up heavy wood, but you’re also picking up all the water it soaked into itself
Age plays a major role in determining how heavy the railroad tie is actually going to be
Can You Lift A Railroad Tie On Your Own?
Considering that the average weight of a single railroad tie is 200 pounds, it can be difficult to carry one on your own
However, because of its size and weight, carrying a railroad tie on your own is extremely difficult
Since it’s possible to injure yourself by carrying extremely heavy objects, it’s a better idea to have someone help you carry a railroad tie
The best method is for one person to be on each end of the tie and carry it between the two of you
A forklift can pick up and carry the railroad tie wherever you need it
Keep in mind that forklifts come with weight restrictions
You’ll need to rent one that can lift at least 300 pounds
Besides a forklift, there are also other various lifting machines that you can rent to carry the railroad tie where you need it
While some companies allow you to buy new railroad ties, you may be looking for something that’s more distressed
Used railroad ties are also generally cheaper than new ones
If you’re in the market for used railroad ties, then you may wonder if they weigh any less than new ones
In most cases, yes, a used railroad tie will weigh less than a new one
While a new railroad tie can weigh anywhere from 200 to 300 pounds, a used one will weigh anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds
It mostly has to do with its age and condition
If the tie is particularly old, then it will likely be far lighter than a new railroad tie
That’s because time has worn it down and it has likely seen its share of pest infestation and dry rot remove some of the wood
As long as you don’t try to pick up the tie after it’s rained, you’ll usually find that used railroad ties weigh less than new ones
How Much Does A Railroad Tie Cost?
If you have your crew ready to lift some railroad ties, then you may wonder how much a few ties will cost
The average price of a used railroad tie is between $18 and $40
If you want a brand new one, then you can expect to pay far more than that
The price of ties depends on a few things
Here are some of the factors that can influence the price of a railroad tie
One of the biggest factors that influence the price of a railroad tie is whether it’s new or used
New railroad ties are going to cost more because they have yet to see use
Their condition is perfect and they’re set to last for a long time
Those who buy new railroad ties tend to want to make planters or property borders that look nice rather than distressed
You’ll get several years out of new railroad ties before they start to degrade
Used railroad ties are cheaper because they’re not perfect
Many of them tend to have split ends and some also have damage from where the plate was rubbing against the wood
Some may even have signs of dry rot or pest infestation
Because they don’t look great and they’re not ideal for structural support, they tend to be cheaper
They won’t last as long as new railroad ties, so they’re given a discounted price
There are also only a few uses for used railroad ties
They’re primarily good for decoration or use in planters or stairs
Since they have limited uses, sellers are a bit more eager to sell what they can to those who want to take them off of their hands
That helps drive down the price
The age of the railroad tie influences its price
The condition is another factor that influences the price of a railroad tie
For example, even a brand new railroad tie might come out with some problems
Even used railroad ties can sometimes come out of the ground looking almost new
New railroad ties in perfect condition are going to have the highest price on the market
New railroad ties that have problems are likely still going to be more expensive than used railroad ties, but they’ll also be cheaper than perfect and new railroad ties
Used railroad ties are where you’re going to see the most fluctuation in price
This can be helpful since it allows you to pick the best wooden railroad ties at a cheap price
However, other sellers will sell based on the condition
That means if a used tie is in great condition, then it’s probably going to have a higher price tag than one that’s in poor condition
Good and perfect conditions are more expensive because they last longer and look better
There’s more demand for these types of conditions, and so the price for them increases
There’s less demand for ties that won’t last more than a few years
As such, the sellers offer them at a cheap price to encourage people to buy them and clear their inventory
The condition of railroad ties influences their prices
While wooden railroad ties are the most popular in America, they aren’t the only material on the market
Wooden railroad ties tend to be the cheapest since they’re cheap to make
Even within the wooden ties, though, there are some variations
Softwood railroad ties are going to be cheaper because softwood is cheap
Hardwood railroad ties are going to be more expensive because hardwood is expensive
If a material is expensive to use, then the product is also going to be expensive
Another popular material, at least in Europe and Asia, is pre-stressed concrete
Concrete is a lot more expensive than wood because it requires more manufacturing
Concrete ties are basically pure slabs of concrete over steel rods
Since manufacturers use a lot of concrete in the production of the ties, the cost of buying them is also more expensive
It isn’t always possible to find used concrete ties since they’re either repurposed for use in car parking lots or too damaged for use
However, you can expect to pay a pretty expensive price if you want to use them
Finally, you might find plastic or composite ties on the market
These also vary in price depending on the type of plastic or composite used
Both undergo more manufacturing steps than wooden ties
Because of that, they tend to be more expensive than wooden railroad ties
However, they also tend to be cheaper than concrete ties because the materials are cheaper than concrete
The only big difference is the composite tie
If the composite uses a particularly expensive material, then these ties may actually be more expensive concrete
Depending on the type of material you want for your railroad tie, you’ll find yourself paying different prices for each
As is the case with most things, the bigger something is, the more it’s going to cost
That is true for railroad ties, too
Most railroad ties come in similar lengths since they’re standardized for use on the railroad
However, some companies also cut them to make them smaller
In either case, if you have a smaller railroad tie, then you can expect a cheaper price
That’s because there’s less material to drive up the cost
Bigger railroad ties cost more since they used more materials in their construction
The thicker a tie is, the more expensive it’s going to be since it used a lot of materials
Finally, if you hire a company to cut your railroad ties into custom sizes, then you might also face slightly increased prices
That’s because you’re having the company pay special attention to your order rather than just cutting the ties down to their standard sizes
Since it’s going to cost them time and money to do the custom cuts, you can expect that they’re going to get that money back by charging you extra for the service
Railroad ties can be cheaper or more expensive depending on their size
Railroad ties are extremely heavy, and you shouldn’t try to carry one on your own
The different materials used in a tie’s construction, size, and condition can all affect its weight
These variables can also affect the railroad tie’s cost, too