# How much does poop weigh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612 "2007-07-05T17:16:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![regoarrarr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@regoarrarr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regoarrarr)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/1 "2007-07-05T17:16:06Z")
Frankly, I’m surprised that this question has not been definitively answered by Cecil yet as it seems vitally important to humankind. After lunch today I sat down on the toilet and unleashed a big ol’ poo, pardon my grossness 🙂 So then I got to wondering if this might have affected my morning weigh-in, which was higher than expected. Searching on the Internet did not seem to be very fruitful. 2 sites I found: > **[The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment,...](https://www.seattletimes.com)** > > Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Average daily weight of human poop: 2.5 pounds > **[Classroom Activities - Susan Goodman Books](https://www.susangoodmanbooks.com/educators/poopguide.html)** > > A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Download the PDF The Truth about Poop by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by Elwood H. Smith Viking HC ISBN 0-670-03674-9 Funny, fascinating, and educational can be a hard combination to come by. Yet The Truth... Each day, on average, people produce 1 ounce of poop for each 12 pounds of their body weight (which would be closer to 1 lb) Now I realize that poop weight is extremely variable, so I’m just looking for a range, but 1-2.5 lbs seems like an awful big range, especially considering that 2.5 is supposed to be an “average” Any thoughts / wisdom / insight? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/2 "2007-07-05T17:25:31Z")
I suspect that on average it’s a little denser than water (1 kg/dm[sup]3[/sup]). I base this on the fact that it_usually_ sinks. So, if we know the volume typically ejected in one session, we’ll know how much it masses. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/3 "2007-07-05T18:17:46Z")
That’s a very good question… ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/4 "2007-07-05T18:25:34Z")
I’m sorry, but I’m not willing to do an experiment to answer this question. ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/5 "2007-07-05T18:36:42Z")
[QUOTE=regoarrarr] Frankly, I’m surprised that this question has not been definitively answered by Cecil yet as it seems vitally important to humankind. After lunch today I sat down on the toilet and unleashed a big ol’ poo, pardon my grossness 🙂 So then I got to wondering if this might have affected my morning weigh-in, which was higher than expected. Searching on the Internet did not seem to be very fruitful. 2 sites I found: > **[The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment,...](https://www.seattletimes.com)** > > Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Average daily weight of human poop: 2.5 pounds > **[Classroom Activities - Susan Goodman Books](http://www.susangoodmanbooks.com/educators/poopguide.html)** > > A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Download the PDF The Truth about Poop by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by Elwood H. Smith Viking HC ISBN 0-670-03674-9 Funny, fascinating, and educational can be a hard combination to come by. Yet The Truth... Each day, on average, people produce 1 ounce of poop for each 12 pounds of their body weight (which would be closer to 1 lb) Now I realize that poop weight is extremely variable, so I’m just looking for a range, but 1-2.5 lbs seems like an awful big range, especially considering that 2.5 is supposed to be an “average” Any thoughts / wisdom / insight? [/QUOTE] I’m 5’8’’ and weigh 163 lbs. After my morning BM, I weigh 161.5- 162 lbs. I take Metamucil every night at 9:30, or after heavy meals. You want info, I give info. And hope it is useful. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/6 "2007-07-05T18:39:57Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] I’m sorry, but I’m not willing to do an experiment to answer this question. [/QUOTE] Thanks for not shitting in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/7 "2007-07-05T19:30:23Z")
What we need is a few people who are regular and have a very accurate scale in their bathroom of choice. 1. Weigh yourself before your BM and then again after your BM. 2. Plot results over a set length of time. 3. Compare results. 4. Profit? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/8 "2007-07-05T19:32:41Z")
[QUOTE=Madd Maxx] What we need is a few people who are regular and have a **very accurate scale** in their bathroom of choice. 1. Weigh yourself before your BM and then again after your BM. 2. Plot results over a set length of time. 3. Compare results. 4. Profit? [/QUOTE] Well, I can tell you that on even an innaccurate scale, one does weigh noticably less given a substantial deposit (don’t ask how I know this.) Now one needs a way to measure volume. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/9 "2007-07-05T19:44:17Z")
Measure water displacement. There ya go! Take one for science!! (Paging **Eureka**!) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/10 "2007-07-05T19:58:06Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] That’s a very good question… [/QUOTE] So \*that’s \* how you racked up that post count. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/11 "2007-07-05T19:59:28Z")
Several years back we had a pretty accurate “spirit level” scale in our bathroom, and my wife and I regularly weighed ourselves before and after. As I recall, it took a pretty impressive dump to exceed 1#, and I don’t think either of us ever attained a 2-pounder. Obviously, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/12 "2007-07-05T20:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] So \*that’s \* how you racked up that post count. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Not a Triumph fan, I see. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/13 "2007-07-05T20:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] That’s a very good question… [/QUOTE] I missed the reference too. But if you had said something like: [Triumph the Insult comic dog] That’s a very good question…[/tticd] I certainly would have come back with a: FOR ME TO **POOOP** ON! Maybe I’m just dense? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mike\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Fun)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/14 "2007-07-05T21:57:53Z")
It weighs a shitload. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/15 "2007-07-05T23:03:32Z")
Sorry. If you want anything like an accurate weighing, the container has to weigh less than what you’re weighing. But I suspect there are medical tables out there for this sort of thing. Hospitals sometimes check on output. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/16 "2007-07-05T23:16:55Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Measure water displacement. There ya go! Take one for science!! (Paging **Eureka**!) [/QUOTE] I knew my graduated toilet would come in handy one day. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/17 "2007-07-05T23:18:34Z")
-Every day, people on Earth produce over 11 billion pounds of poop. -Americans own approximately 73 million dogs, which produce more than 7 billion pounds of poop per year. -Toilet users in the US flush 108 million pounds of poop down the toilet every single day. -A well-fed dairy cow produces 120 pounds of poop a day, or some 43,000 pounds a year. -An average thousand-pound horse produces about 50 pounds of poop per day. -A Canada goose drops about 3 pounds of poop a day. -The driver of Dave Matthews’ band bus discharged 800 pounds of poop on to the heads of a hapless group of tour boat passengers. [Cite](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22pounds+of+poop%22&btnG=Search), you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/18 "2007-07-05T23:35:40Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] -Every day, people on Earth produce over 11 billion pounds of poop. -Americans own approximately 73 million dogs, which produce more than 7 billion pounds of poop per year. [/QUOTE] I am having a hard time believing that just the US dogs produce almost as much poop as all humans on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/19 "2007-07-06T00:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] I am having a hard time believing that just the US dogs produce almost as much poop as all humans on Earth. [/QUOTE] They don’t - read that more closely - the people figure is per day - the dog figure is per year. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612/20 "2007-07-06T01:25:43Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] Several years back we had a pretty accurate “spirit level” scale in our bathroom, and my wife and I regularly weighed ourselves before and after. As I recall, it took a pretty impressive dump to exceed 1#, and I don’t think either of us ever attained a 2-pounder. Obviously, YMMV. [/QUOTE] Word. You’ve also got to take in to account the weight of the the #1, if you normally hit the Exacta. We’ve got a digital scale that’s accurate to a fifth of a pound. Being a guy, I’ve often used it to check the weight of my daily constitutional. My normal output is in the 1-1.2 lb range. I’m a 150lb male who eats like a horse and probably drinks too much coffee. If for some reason I’ve held it for a day, I get in the 1.4-1.8 lb range. The non-linear distribution is probably due to my large intestine doing its job and making jerky, so to speak. My most impressive achievement to date is 2.2 pounds, after a three day camping trip where I didn’t go for nearly four days. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-poop-weigh/410612.md?page=2)