How Heavy Is a School Bus?
a School Bus weighs exactly
14.97 t (16.5 US tons)
- a blue whale150,000 kg
adult; females larger than males; Antarctic subspecies up to 330,000 lb (149,685 kg), North Atlantic/North Pacific over 100,000 lb (45,359 kg)
- a school bus15,000 kg
IC Bus CE Series Type C school bus at its maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR up to 33,000 lb), fully loaded with passengers and cargo
- an African elephant4,500 kg
adult male 4,500–6,100 kg; adult female 2,000–3,500 kg
- an average new car1,980 kg
model year 2024 US fleet average curb weight
- You
Open full comparison → to add more objects on one scale.
Put it in perspective
- About 3.3× an African elephant
- About 7.6× an average new car
- About 10.0× a blue whale
Why weights differ
School bus manufacturers publish GVWR rather than curb weight; actual weight depends on wheelbases, seating, engine (diesel/gas/electric) and options. 33,000 lb ≈ 14,969 kg by 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
Sources
[1] IC Bus (Navistar, Inc.)
IC Bus NextGen CE Series School Bus Spec Sheet (diesel & gas, INT25, June 2025)Manufacturer
“GVWR: Up to 33,000 lbs.”
Value as published: GVWR: up to 33,000 lbs · accessed 2026-11-11.
[2] Thomas Built Buses, Inc.
Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 Specification Sheet (spring 2018)Manufacturer
“GVWR ... Up to 33,000 lbs”
Value as published: GVWR up to 33,000 lbs · accessed 2026-11-11.
Last updated 2026-11-11.Report a correction (please include a source link).
Related objects
- a 20 ft shipping container30.5 t (33.6 US tons)
- a 40 ft shipping container32.5 t (35.8 US tons)
- a semi-truck at maximum gross weight40 US tons (36,290 kg)
- a Space Shuttle orbiter68.6 t (75.7 US tons)
- an average new car4,350 lb (1,980 kg)
- a Honda Civic1,460 kg (1.61 US tons)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus weigh?
a School Bus weighs exactly 14.97 t (16.5 US tons) — IC Bus CE Series Type C school bus at its maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR up to 33,000 lb), fully loaded with passengers and cargo.
How much is a school bus in pounds and ounces?
33,000 lb, which is 528,000 oz. In metric terms: 14,970 kg.
Is a school bus heavier than an African elephant?
Yes. a School Bus weighs exactly 14.97 t (16.5 US tons), while an African elephant is about 4.5 t (4.96 US tons) — roughly 3.3×.
Why do sources give different weights?
School bus manufacturers publish GVWR rather than curb weight; actual weight depends on wheelbases, seating, engine (diesel/gas/electric) and options. 33,000 lb ≈ 14,969 kg by 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
Where does this number come from?
Every source is listed at the bottom of this page with publisher, link, access date and a verbatim quote. Numbers are only published when a qualifying source can be verified.