Weight of compost

[ruthandsam]

Why do they list bags of compost in litres rather than kilograms?

[boxtops]

I never understand that either.

[carrust]

If the compost is wet it would weigh heavier. It stops the manufacturer fiddling you.

[The-HouseHusband]

1Kg is the same as 1Litre and they are giving an indication of the area that it would fill not how heavy it is to lift into the car.

[pretty_snowdrop]

1litre of water weighs 1 kilo, not 1 litre of compost.

[New Judge]

Yes, HH, I was about to say before snowdrop got in . A “1Kg is the same as 1Litre” ???

Try dropping a litre block of polystyrene on your head, then do the same with a litre block of lead!! They would be the same size but the polystyrene would weigh next to nothing. A litre of lead would weigh in at about 11 Kilograms and would cause your head some serious damage.

[The-HouseHusband]

Point taken, note to self, do not post after along day without thinking what you are saying. Luckily it was not a safety or Medical answer!!!

[slinkycat]

Just a point of interest though (or maybe not, depends on how interested you are in compost!)
The bags have got a lot smaller over the past couple of years, down from 80l to 60l , elf and safety I guess!
Or maybe I have wagon wheel syndrome:-)

[wildwood]

Litre is a volume measure. Kilogram is a weight measure.

If I was a negative person I could say that 60L looks a lot more of an attractive purchase than 9kg, but I am not so I am not going to say that.

[bizzylizzy]

Sometimes water gets in after the compost has been packed. If it did that would definitely increase the weight a lot. I suppose it must start off dry and what happens then depends on how its stored at the garden centre. I know that some compost brands are much better than others. I bought a cheap bag last week and it's hardly composted at all, full of sticks and large pieces of uncomposted material. I guess you get what you pay for.

[gingejbee]

Surely, when buying compost, you need an indication of the volume it will fill (holes and pots etc.). Isn't the weight irrelevant to the user?

[jomifl]

Strangely, barbeque charcoal is sometimes sold by volume although weight would be more relevant as how much energy you get for your buck is what matters.