Cubic Yards to Tons: Converting Gravel Volume to Weight
You measure a project in feet and inches, which gives you a volume. Many quarries and landscape yards sell stone by the ton. Bridging the two is a single multiplication, but the number you multiply by is where most mistakes happen.
The formula
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)
Cubic yards = tons ÷ density
The density is the weight of one cubic yard of that specific material. For general crushed stone and gravel, 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a widely used planning figure. Real materials typically land somewhere around 1.3 to 1.5, and some dense-graded or wet materials run higher.
Step 1: Get cubic yards from your measurements
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Example: a 20 × 10 ft area, 3 in deep. 20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³.
Step 2: Multiply by density
1.85 yd³ × 1.4 = 2.6 tons.
If the supplier says their product weighs 1.5 tons per cubic yard, the same area needs 1.85 × 1.5 = 2.8 tons. That 0.2-ton difference is small on a path but adds up quickly on a driveway.
Typical density ranges
Weights vary with rock type (limestone, granite, trap rock), particle size mix, and moisture. The ranges below are typical planning values; treat them as a starting point and confirm with your supplier.
| Material | Typical tons per yd³ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clean crushed stone (#57, #3) | about 1.3–1.5 | Voids between stones keep weight down |
| Pea gravel | about 1.3–1.5 | Rounded, fairly uniform size |
| Crusher run / dense-graded base | about 1.4–1.6+ | Fines fill voids, so heavier; heavier still once compacted |
| Dry sand | about 1.3–1.5 | Wet sand weighs more |
| Topsoil (for comparison) | about 1.0–1.3 | Varies widely with moisture and organic content |
Moisture matters. Stone stored outside after rain carries extra water weight, so a ton of wet stone covers slightly less ground than a ton of dry stone.
Short tons vs metric tonnes
In the US, “ton” normally means the short ton: 2,000 lb (907 kg). A metric tonne is 1,000 kg (2,204.6 lb), about 10% heavier.
| Conversion | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 0.7646 m³ = 27 ft³ |
| 1 cubic metre | 1.308 yd³ = 35.31 ft³ |
| 1 short ton | 0.9072 tonne |
| 1 tonne | 1.1023 short tons |
| 1.4 short tons per yd³ | about 1.66 tonnes per m³ |
To convert metric: tonnes = cubic metres × density (t/m³). Using 1.66 t/m³, 2 m³ of gravel is about 3.3 tonnes.
Quick conversion table (at 1.4 tons per cubic yard)
| Cubic yards | Short tons | Cubic metres | Metric tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.4 | 0.76 | 1.27 |
| 2 | 2.8 | 1.53 | 2.54 |
| 5 | 7.0 | 3.82 | 6.35 |
| 10 | 14.0 | 7.65 | 12.70 |
| 15 | 21.0 | 11.47 | 19.05 |
| 20 | 28.0 | 15.29 | 25.40 |
Going the other way, 1 ton at 1.4 tons per yd³ is about 0.71 yd³ (19.3 ft³).
Worked example: ordering for a shed pad
A 10 × 12 ft shed pad with 6 in of #57 stone.
- Volume: 10 × 12 × 6 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 2.22 yd³ (about 1.70 m³).
- Add 10% for settling and uneven ground: 2.44 yd³.
- Weight at 1.4: 2.44 × 1.4 = 3.4 tons (about 3.1 tonnes).
If the yard sells in half-ton increments, order 3.5 tons.
Worked example: what will a 10-ton load cover?
You have been quoted a 10-ton delivery of crusher run and want to know how much ground it covers at 4 in deep.
- Convert to volume: 10 ÷ 1.4 = 7.14 yd³ = 192.9 ft³.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Area: 192.9 ÷ 0.333 = about 579 ft², for example a strip roughly 48 ft long and 12 ft wide.
If the material is actually 1.5 tons per cubic yard, the same 10 tons is 6.67 yd³ and covers about 540 ft². Knowing the real density changes the answer by about 7%.
Why sellers use different units
Quarries weigh trucks on a scale, so tons are the natural unit for them. Landscape yards that load with a bucket often sell by the cubic yard. Bagged products are sold by cubic foot or by weight (a 0.5 ft³ bag of pea gravel, for example). When you compare prices, convert everything to the same unit first:
- Price per ton ÷ (1 ÷ density) = price per cubic yard. At 1.4 tons per yd³, $40 per ton is $56 per cubic yard (illustrative prices only).
- 1 cubic yard = 27 ft³, so it takes 54 bags of 0.5 ft³ to make a yard.
Common mistakes
- Treating cubic yards and tons as interchangeable. A cubic yard of stone weighs more than a ton. Ordering “5” without the unit is a recipe for a short delivery.
- Using one density for every product. Crusher run and clean #57 from the same quarry can differ noticeably.
- Ignoring compaction. Weight does not change when stone compacts, but volume does. A compacted base needs more loose material than its finished volume suggests.
- Forgetting the depth conversion. Depth in inches must be divided by 12 before multiplying with feet. Forgetting it inflates the order twelvefold.
- Mixing tons and tonnes. If a supplier quotes in tonnes, the load is about 10% heavier than the same number of short tons.
Let the calculator do it
The gravel calculator converts your area and depth to cubic yards, cubic metres and tons, and lets you change the density to match your supplier’s product.
FAQ
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
Typically about 1.4 tons, with a common range of roughly 1.3 to 1.5 depending on the stone and its moisture. Ask the supplier for their figure.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 0.71 cubic yards, or roughly 19 cubic feet.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Neither is inherently cheaper. Convert both prices to the same unit using the product’s density, then compare. Delivery fees often matter more than the unit price on small orders.
How many tons of gravel fit in a pickup truck?
It depends on the truck’s payload rating, not the bed volume. A bed can hold more stone by volume than many trucks can safely carry. Check the payload on the door-jamb sticker before loading.