Sand and aggregate across Maharashtra are sold by the brass — 100 cubic feet, a 10 × 10 × 1 ft heap. Convert any direction between brass, cft and m³, and check what a truckload actually delivers.
Why suppliers use brass
The brass predates metric adoption and survives because it is easy to verify on a truck: measure the box, multiply, divide by 100. When a challan says "2.5 brass", the box should measure 250 cft — carrying a tape to the first delivery from a new supplier is a normal and wise habit.
Common conversions
Brass to cubic feet and cubic metres| Brass | Cubic feet | Cubic metres |
|---|
| 0.5 | 50 | 1.42 |
| 1 | 100 | 2.83 |
| 1.5 | 150 | 4.25 |
| 2 | 200 | 5.66 |
| 2.5 | 250 | 7.08 |
| 3 | 300 | 8.5 |
| 5 | 500 | 14.16 |
| 10 | 1,000 | 28.32 |
Going the other way: 1 m³ = 0.353 brass, so a bill of quantities in cubic metres divides by 2.83168 to become a brass order. The concrete and brick calculators on this site show sand and aggregate in both units for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 brass in cubic feet and cubic metres?
1 brass = 100 cubic feet = 2.83168 cubic metres. Picture a heap 10 ft long, 10 ft wide and 1 ft high.
How many brass does a truck carry?
A standard 6-wheel tipper delivers about 2.5–3 brass; smaller mini-trucks around 1–1.5 brass. Ask for the truck's measured box dimensions — volume billed should match length × width × height of the box.
How much does 1 brass of sand weigh?
Dry river sand is roughly 4.5–5 tonnes per brass; crushed sand and aggregate run 4.2–4.8 tonnes depending on moisture and gradation. Suppliers bill by volume precisely because weight swings with moisture.
Is brass used for anything besides sand?
Yes — aggregate (khadi), murum, rubble and excavation are all quoted in brass. For excavation, 1 brass of dug earth is likewise 100 cft, so a 10 × 10 ft pit dug 5 ft deep is 5 brass of excavation.
Reviewed on 15 August 2026. These are preliminary planning quantities from standard methods — actual consumption varies with workmanship, wastage and site conditions. VastuCalc does not provide structural design; sizes, grades and reinforcement must come from a qualified engineer.