Calculator 05 / 08
Cubic yards to tons calculator
Suppliers quote by the ton; calculators give cubic yards. Convert either way using a density you can see and change.
- Outputs
- yd³ ⇄ tons · m³ ⇄ tonnes
- Material basis
- Gravel · 105 lb/ft³ default, editable
- Method
- Formulas & sources
The conversion
There is no single factor. Yards measure space and tons measure weight; the link between them is the material's bulk density, which depends on the material, size, moisture and how settled it is. Density is always visible here, and you can edit it.
Density values used
| Material | lb/ft³ | US tons per yd³ | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, dry (default) | 105 | 1.42 | Engineering ToolBox source |
| Gravel, published range | 91–120 | 1.23–1.62 | Handbook range source |
| Gravel, wet | 125 | 1.69 | Engineering ToolBox source |
| Sand, dry | 97 | 1.31 | Engineering ToolBox source |
| Sand, wet | 119 | 1.61 | Engineering ToolBox source |
Pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock, landscape rock and road base all use the general dry-gravel value in this tool because we did not find a reliable material-specific figure. Your supplier's conversion factor is better than any of these.
Worked examples
Yards to tons: 3 yd³ of dry gravel = 3 × 27 × 105 ÷ 2,000 = 4.25 tons.
Tons to yards: a 10-ton load at 105 lb/ft³ = 10 × 2,000 ÷ 105 ÷ 27 = 7.05 yd³. Spread 3 in deep, that covers about 7.05 × 27 ÷ 0.25 ≈ 762 ft².
Metric tonnes are 1,000 kg; US (short) tons are 2,000 lb. A tonne is about 1.10 US tons. Make sure you know which one the supplier means.
Reading the result
Each line of the order sheet answers a different question. Read them in order: geometry first, then your allowances, then the quantity you can actually buy.
- Volume
- The quantity in yd³, m³ and ft³.
- Weight
- US tons, tonnes and pounds at the density shown.
- Coverage
- How much area that volume covers at 3 in / 7.5 cm, as a sense-check.
What this calculator assumes
- The density shown applies to the whole quantity.
- Density is a loose bulk value unless you enter your supplier's figure.
- US ton = 2,000 lb; tonne = 1,000 kg.
It can't see your site or your supplier's stone. What the calculators cannot know · Full methodology
Common mistakes with this calculator
Treating tons and cubic yards as the same thing
What goes wrong: Weight depends on the material. The same 2 yd³ is about 2.62 tons of dry sand but 3.38 tons of wet gravel at the reference values.
How to avoid it: Convert with a density you can see — ideally your supplier's — using the yards-to-tons calculator.
Mixing up tons and tonnes
What goes wrong: A tonne is about 10% heavier than a US ton; using the wrong one shifts the order by that much.
How to avoid it: Check the unit on the quote. The converter shows both.
Assuming every gravel weighs the same
What goes wrong: The published gravel range of 91–120 lb/ft³ turns 2 yd³ into anything from 2.46 to 3.24 tons.
How to avoid it: Ask the supplier for their weight per yard or conversion factor and type it into Density.
Questions
How many tons are in a yard of gravel?
About 1.42 US tons at the 105 lb/ft³ dry-gravel value, within a published range of roughly 1.23–1.62 tons. Moisture and stone type make the real figure vary.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
At 105 lb/ft³, one US ton is about 0.71 cubic yards (2,000 ÷ 105 ÷ 27).
Is a ton the same as a tonne?
No. A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, about 2,205 lb. The calculator shows both.