---
title: "Marble — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Marble has a density of 2,700 kg/m³ (2,500–2,800). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/marble/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Marble

**Density of marble: 2,700 kg/m³ (2,500–2,800)**

2.70 g/cm³ · 168.6 lb/ft³

Recrystallized limestone, and still calcium carbonate, which means Mohs 3 — soft enough to scratch with a steel key and, more seriously, dissolved by any acid. A splash of lemon juice or vinegar etches a permanent dull mark, which is the reason marble kitchen worktops disappoint people who chose them over granite for looks. Its high thermal conductivity is why it feels cold and why bakers use it for pastry.

## Properties

- **Density:** 2,700 kg/m³ (2,500–2,800) — 2.70 g/cm³
- **Tensile strength:** 5–15 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 55 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 2.8 W/(m·K)
- **Hardness:** 3 Mohs
- **Thermal expansion:** 7 µm/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Sculpture and monumental work
- Bathroom and lobby floors
- Pastry and bakery slabs
- Fireplace surrounds

## 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
- marble: 2,700 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× |
| marble ← | 2,700 kg/m³ | 2.70× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Marble contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Marble is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of marble?

2,700 kg/m³ (2,500–2,800), or 2.70 g/cm³.

### Does marble float?

No. At 2,700 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is marble magnetic?

Marble is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does marble float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/marble/)
- [Diamond](https://atoneplace.net/material/diamond/)
- [Granite](https://atoneplace.net/material/granite/)
- [Quartz](https://atoneplace.net/material/quartz/)
- [Limestone](https://atoneplace.net/material/limestone/)
- [Slate](https://atoneplace.net/material/slate/)
- [Sandstone](https://atoneplace.net/material/sandstone/)

## Sources

- United States Geological Survey — USGS (https://www.usgs.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]