Soil - Bearing Strength

Allowable loads on soil. Reference table for bearing strength of various soil types measured in kPa (kiloPascals).

Soil TypeBearing Load (kPa)
Clay, soft100
Sand, dry fine200
Sand with clay, dry fine300
Sand, coarse300
Clay, dry hard350
Gravel400
Rock1000 - 4000

Notes

  • 1 kPa = 1 kN/m² = 10³ N/m²
  • Always check local building codes before designing foundations
  • Bearing strength values shown are allowable loads and should be verified with site-specific soil testing