Published values
| Material | kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | lb per yd³ | US tons per yd³ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, dry | 1,680 | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | Engineering ToolBox |
| Gravel, wet | 2,000 | 125 | 3,375 | 1.69 | Engineering ToolBox |
| Gravel, range | 1,460–1,920 | 91–120 | 2,460–3,240 | 1.23–1.62 | Hartman (1992), via Wikipedia |
| Sand, dry | 1,555 | 97 | 2,619 | 1.31 | Engineering ToolBox |
| Sand, wet | 1,905 | 119 | 3,213 | 1.61 | Engineering ToolBox |
lb/ft³ values are the source's rounded figures; lb per yd³ = lb/ft³ × 27; tons = lb ÷ 2,000.
Why the figure varies
- Moisture
- Water fills the gaps between stones. The reference values above for wet and dry gravel differ by about 19%.
- Grading and fines
- A mix of sizes, or stone with dust in it, packs tighter than stone of a single size, so it weighs more per yard.
- Rock type
- Different parent rocks have different solid densities.
- Loose vs. compacted
- These are loose bulk values. Compacted material weighs more per yard because there is less air in it.
Using the number when you order
If the supplier sells by the ton, work out the volume you need and convert with their conversion factor if they publish one — it reflects their stone. The yards-to-tons calculator lets you enter any density. Example: 4 yd³ at 105 lb/ft³ = 4 × 2,835 = 11,340 lb ≈ 5.67 tons; at the top of the published range (120 lb/ft³) it would be about 6.48 tons. That difference is why the density is worth checking.
Weight and your vehicle
Weight matters if you're hauling it yourself: at about 1.4 tons per yard, one cubic yard of gravel is much heavier than a yard of mulch. Check your vehicle's payload rating before loading bulk material.