---
title: "Fired clay (terracotta) — density, melting point and propertie"
description: "Fired clay (terracotta) has a density of 1,900 kg/m³ (1,700–2,100). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is ma"
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/fired-clay/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Fired clay (terracotta)

**Density of fired clay (terracotta): 1,900 kg/m³ (1,700–2,100)**

1.90 g/cm³ · 118.6 lb/ft³

Earthenware fired below about 1200 °C stays porous — typically 5-15% water absorption — which is why an unglazed terracotta pot sweats and why an earthenware plate left in water gets heavier. That porosity makes it vulnerable to frost, since absorbed water expanding on freezing splits the body, and it is the reason cheap garden pots fail over winter and quarry tiles do not. Glazing seals the surface but does not change the body underneath, so a chipped glaze on earthenware still lets water in.

## Properties

- **Density:** 1,900 kg/m³ (1,700–2,100) — 1.90 g/cm³
- **Tensile strength:** 2–6 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 14 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 1 W/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Roof tiles and floor quarry tiles
- Plant pots and garden ware
- Earthenware pottery and tableware
- Drainage and land pipes

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- fired clay (terracotta): 1,900 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| fired clay (terracotta) ← | 1,900 kg/m³ | 1.90× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Fired clay (terracotta) contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Fired clay (terracotta) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of fired clay (terracotta)?

1,900 kg/m³ (1,700–2,100), or 1.90 g/cm³.

### Does fired clay (terracotta) float?

No. At 1,900 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is fired clay (terracotta) magnetic?

Fired clay (terracotta) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does fired clay (terracotta) float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/fired-clay/)
- [Concrete](https://atoneplace.net/material/concrete/)
- [Brick](https://atoneplace.net/material/brick/)
- [Gypsum board (drywall)](https://atoneplace.net/material/gypsum-board/)
- [Tungsten carbide](https://atoneplace.net/material/tungsten-carbide/)
- [Reinforced concrete](https://atoneplace.net/material/reinforced-concrete/)
- [Graphite](https://atoneplace.net/material/graphite/)
- [Porcelain](https://atoneplace.net/material/porcelain/)
- [Plaster](https://atoneplace.net/material/plaster/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)