Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator
Convert yd³ to US tons for gravel, sand, topsoil, concrete and mulch
Tons = cubic yards × material density. A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs 1.55 tons (range 1.4–1.7), sand about 1.35 tons and placed concrete about 2 tons.
Cubic yards to tons
LiveUS short tons (2,000 lb). Densities vary with moisture and grading, so confirm with your supplier.
How to convert cubic yards to tons
A cubic yard is a measure of space and a ton is a measure of weight, so there is no single conversion factor between them. The link is density: how many tons one cubic yard of a particular material weighs. Stone is dense, so a yard of gravel weighs well over a ton, while bark mulch is mostly air and a full yard weighs only a few hundred pounds. The calculator multiplies your volume by a typical density for the material you choose and also shows the low and high ends of the usual range. Related volume and material tools are on the construction calculators page.
Step by step
- Find the volume in cubic yards. If you measured in feet, multiply length × width × depth (depth in inches ÷ 12) and divide by 27.
- Pick the density for your material from the table below, or use the figure your supplier quotes.
- Multiply cubic yards by the density to get US short tons.
- Plan with the high end of the range if the material may be wet, or if a trailer or truck has a strict weight limit.
Worked example: a gravel driveway 40 ft long and 10 ft wide at 4 in deep holds 40 × 10 × 4 ÷ 12 = 133.33 ft³, which is 4.94 yd³. At a typical 1.55 tons per yd³ that is 7.65 tons, with a likely range of 6.91 to 8.40 tons. If your measurements are in cubic feet, the cubic feet to cubic yards converter handles the first step.
All densities on this page are typical ranges, not exact values. Moisture, particle size, compaction and the parent rock all change the weight, so treat the result as an estimate and confirm the figure with your quarry or landscape supplier before you order.
Tons per cubic yard, by material
- Concrete (placed)2 t
- Gravel1.55 t
- Sand1.35 t
- Topsoil1.15 t
- Mulch0.3 t
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
A 12 × 50 ft driveway with 4 in of gravel needs 7.41 cubic yards, about 11.48 tons at a typical 1.55 tons per yard (range 10.37–12.59 tons).
The method works for any size: multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches, divide by 324 to get cubic yards, then multiply by the density.
| Driveway | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 40 ft | 4 in | 4.94 yd³ | 7.65 t |
| 12 × 50 ft | 4 in | 7.41 yd³ | 11.48 t |
| 12 × 50 ft | 6 in | 11.11 yd³ | 17.22 t |
| 20 × 50 ft | 4 in | 12.35 yd³ | 19.14 t |
New driveways are usually built in layers, with coarser crushed stone at the bottom and a finer surface stone on top, so estimate each layer separately. Compaction shrinks the volume, so order roughly 10–15% more stone than the finished depth suggests, and confirm the density of each product with your quarry.
How do I convert lb/ft³ or t/m³ to tons per cubic yard?
Multiply pounds per cubic foot by 0.0135, or tonnes per cubic meter by 0.8428, to get US tons per cubic yard.
Both factors are exact unit arithmetic. A cubic yard holds 27 ft³ and a short ton is 2,000 lb, so lb/ft³ × 27 ÷ 2,000 = lb/ft³ × 0.0135. For the metric route, one cubic yard is 0.764554857984 m³ and one short ton is 0.90718474 tonnes, so t/m³ × 0.764554857984 ÷ 0.90718474 = t/m³ × 0.842777.
- Sand listed at 100 lb/ft³ is 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
- Crushed stone listed at 1.8 t/m³ is 1.52 tons per cubic yard.
- Concrete at 150 lb/ft³ is 2.02 tons per cubic yard.
Use these when a supplier's data sheet or a soils report gives density in other units, then multiply the result by your cubic yards as in the formula above. The kg to lbs converter helps when a metric data sheet lists mass in kilograms.
Tons per cubic yard by material
Typical dry densities in US short tons. Wet material is heavier, so ask your supplier for their figure.
| Material | Per cubic yard | 1 yd³ | 5 yd³ | 10 yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.4–1.7 tons | 1.55 t | 7.75 t | 15.50 t |
| Sand | 1.2–1.5 tons | 1.35 t | 6.75 t | 13.50 t |
| Topsoil | 1.0–1.3 tons | 1.15 t | 5.75 t | 11.50 t |
| Concrete (placed) | 1.9–2.1 tons | 2.00 t | 10.00 t | 20.00 t |
| Mulch | 0.2–0.4 tons | 0.30 t | 1.50 t | 3.00 t |
Cubic yards vs tons: what is the difference?
A cubic yard measures how much space a material fills, and a ton measures how heavy it is. Suppliers use both, so the same order often has to be read in each.
| Attribute | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Volume (space filled) | Mass (weight) |
| Exact size | 27 ft³ = 0.764554857984 m³ | US short ton: 2,000 lb = 907.18474 kg |
| Defined in | The international yard of 0.9144 m (1959), as used in NIST Handbook 44 | NIST Handbook 44 (short ton); the SI tonne is 1,000 kg |
| How materials are sold | Mulch, topsoil and ready-mix concrete | Crushed stone, sand and fill weighed on the quarry scale |
| Changes with moisture | No: a yard is always 27 ft³ | Yes: wet material weighs more per yard |
| One yard of typical gravel | 1 yd³ | About 1.55 tons (1.4–1.7) |
4 key differences
- A cubic yard measures space and a ton measures weight, so no single factor links them; the material's density does.
- A cubic yard of typical gravel weighs about 1.55 tons, over 5 times the 0.3 tons of a cubic yard of mulch.
- The US short ton of 2,000 lb is about 9.3% lighter than the metric tonne of 1,000 kg.
- Volume stays fixed when material gets wet but weight rises, so a load bought by the ton after rain contains fewer cubic yards.
Material densities in other units
The same typical densities expressed per cubic foot, per cubic yard in pounds and in metric tonnes per cubic meter. Figures are derived from the typical value for each material and rounded.
| Material | Tons per yd³ | Pounds per ft³ | Pounds per yd³ | Tonnes per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.55 t/yd³ | 115 lb/ft³ | 3,100 lb/yd³ | 1.84 t/m³ |
| Sand | 1.35 t/yd³ | 100 lb/ft³ | 2,700 lb/yd³ | 1.60 t/m³ |
| Topsoil | 1.15 t/yd³ | 85 lb/ft³ | 2,300 lb/yd³ | 1.36 t/m³ |
| Concrete (placed) | 2.00 t/yd³ | 148 lb/ft³ | 4,000 lb/yd³ | 2.37 t/m³ |
| Mulch | 0.30 t/yd³ | 22 lb/ft³ | 600 lb/yd³ | 0.36 t/m³ |
How many cubic yards are in a ton?
One ton fills about 0.65 yd³ of gravel, 0.74 yd³ of sand, 0.87 yd³ of topsoil, 0.5 yd³ of placed concrete or 3.33 yd³ of mulch at typical densities. Quarries often sell by the ton. Divide the tonnage by the typical density to see how many cubic yards you will receive, then compare that with the volume your project needs. The pounds to kilograms converter helps when a delivery ticket is in pounds and your plans are metric.
| Material | 1 ton | 5 tons | 10 tons | 20 tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 0.65 yd³ | 3.23 yd³ | 6.45 yd³ | 12.90 yd³ |
| Sand | 0.74 yd³ | 3.70 yd³ | 7.41 yd³ | 14.81 yd³ |
| Topsoil | 0.87 yd³ | 4.35 yd³ | 8.70 yd³ | 17.39 yd³ |
| Concrete (placed) | 0.50 yd³ | 2.50 yd³ | 5.00 yd³ | 10.00 yd³ |
| Mulch | 3.33 yd³ | 16.67 yd³ | 33.33 yd³ | 66.67 yd³ |
Why does a cubic yard of the same material vary in weight?
Moisture, grading, compaction, rock type and organic content all change how much a cubic yard weighs, which is why suppliers quote ranges rather than a single figure.
- Moisture. Water fills the gaps between particles. Sand and topsoil that have been rained on can weigh noticeably more than the dry figures here, which is why suppliers often quote a range.
- Grading and particle shape. A well-graded mix of large and small pieces packs tightly and weighs more per yard than uniform, rounded stone such as pea gravel, which leaves more voids.
- Loose versus compacted. Loose material in a truck bed has more air in it than the same material rolled into a driveway base. Buy by loose volume, then expect it to settle when compacted.
- Rock type. Granite, limestone and basalt have different densities, and recycled concrete or asphalt is lighter than virgin stone.
- Organic content. Topsoil and compost with more organic matter are lighter; clay-rich fill is heavier.
Placed concrete is the most predictable material in the list. Normal-weight concrete weighs roughly 145 to 150 lb per cubic foot, which is about 2 tons per cubic yard. The concrete calculator works out the volume for slabs and columns.
Which ton does the calculator use?
This calculator uses the US short ton of 2,000 lb, the ton on almost every US delivery ticket. Other countries and some technical documents use different tons, and the gap is large enough to matter for a truckload.
- Short ton (US): 2,000 lb, or 907.18474 kg exactly.
- Metric tonne: 1,000 kg, about 2,204.62 lb, or 1.1023 short tons.
- Long ton (UK imperial): 2,240 lb, about 1,016.05 kg, now rarely used outside shipping.
To switch a result to metric, multiply short tons by 0.9072. The calculator shows the metric figure under the main result, and the weight converters cover every other mass unit.
Can a pickup truck carry a yard of gravel?
Only if its payload rating is above about 3,100 lb, the typical weight of one cubic yard of gravel; many light pickups and small utility trailers are rated for less.
Weight matters most when you haul material yourself. A pickup truck bed or utility trailer usually fills its weight rating long before it runs out of space. For example, a single cubic yard of gravel at a typical 1.55 tons is 3,100 lb, and a yard of sand at 1.35 tons is 2,700 lb. Check the payload rating on your vehicle's door-jamb label and the trailer's rating plate before loading, and remember that wet material can push the weight past the typical figure.
Mulch is the opposite case: at around 0.3 tons per yard (600 lb), a load of mulch is limited by volume rather than weight, and it is usually sold by the cubic yard or by the bag rather than by the ton. For covering beds, work out the volume from area and depth first; one cubic yard spreads over 108 ft² at 3 in deep.
Sources and further reading
The standards and references behind the numbers on this page. Links open in a new tab.
Standards and official sources
Cubic yards to tons FAQs
Short, exact answers to what people ask most.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs 1.4 to 1.7 US tons, about 1.55 tons on average, depending on stone size and moisture. Your supplier can give the exact figure for their product.
How many tons is a yard of sand?
Dry sand weighs about 1.2 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, typically around 1.35 tons. Wet sand is heavier.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Topsoil typically weighs 1.0 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard, or roughly 2,000 to 2,600 lb, depending on moisture and organic content.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
At a typical 1.55 tons per cubic yard, one ton of gravel is about 1 ÷ 1.55 = 0.65 cubic yards.
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
Placed normal-weight concrete weighs about 1.9 to 2.1 tons per cubic yard, roughly 4,000 lb, because it weighs about 145 to 150 lb per cubic foot.
How do you convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply the cubic yards by the material's density in tons per cubic yard. For example, 10 yd³ of gravel at 1.55 tons per yard is 15.5 tons.
How much does a yard of mulch weigh?
A cubic yard of mulch typically weighs about 0.3 tons, or 600 lb, within a range of about 400 to 800 lb depending on the wood and how wet it is.
How many tons is 10 yards of topsoil?
At a typical 1.15 tons per cubic yard, 10 yd³ of topsoil weighs about 11.5 tons, within a likely range of 10 to 13 tons.
How many tons is 5 yards of gravel?
5 yd³ of gravel weighs about 7.75 tons at a typical 1.55 tons per yard, with a range of 7 to 8.5 tons.
How many pounds is a cubic yard of gravel?
A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs about 3,100 lb, within a range of about 2,800 to 3,400 lb.
Related conversions
Ton and pound definitions from NIST Handbook 44 (1 short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.18474 kg) and the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement (1 yd³ = 0.764554857984 m³); material densities are typical published ranges for bulk aggregates and soils, which vary by supplier and moisture. Last updated . How we verify our numbers.