How it works
US short tons = cubic yards × density in US tons per cubic yard. For a range, calculate the minimum and maximum separately. Pounds = US short tons × 2000; metric tonnes = pounds × 0.45359237 ÷ 1000.
In metric density mode, the same physical density is expressed in tonnes per m³. Switching units preserves both volume and density.
The starting ranges are a typical range — ask your supplier:
- Gravel / crushed stone: 1.4–1.7 US tons/cu yd.
- Sand — dry: 1.3–1.5 US tons/cu yd.
- Sand — wet: 1.5–1.7 US tons/cu yd.
- Topsoil / soil — dry: 1.0–1.3 US tons/cu yd.
- Fill dirt — dry: 1.0–1.3 US tons/cu yd.
- Mulch: 0.2–0.4 US tons/cu yd.
Confirm the density with your supplier. An exact value means a single calculation input; it does not guarantee an exact delivered weight.
Worked example
For 3 cu yd of gravel at 1.4–1.7 US tons/cu yd: 3 × 1.4 = 4.20, and 3 × 1.7 = 5.10.
Estimated weight: 4.20–5.10 US tons (8400.00–10200.00 lb, or 3.81–4.63 metric tonnes).
Tips and common mistakes
- Moisture, stone size, voids and compaction change bulk density. A wet load can be heavier than a dry one.
- Ask whether the supplier's “ton” means a US short ton or a metric tonne.
- Changing material resets density to that material's typical range. Replace it with supplier data when available.
- A density outside the starting range triggers a warning but still calculates your estimate.
- Measure volume first with the Cubic Yard Calculator.
Questions about this calculator
Is 1 ton a cubic yard?
No. A cubic yard is a volume and a ton is a weight, so how many tons a yard weighs depends on the material.
Using the site's typical ranges:
- a cubic yard of gravel is about 1.4–1.7 tons;
- dry topsoil is about 1.0–1.3 tons;
- mulch is about 0.2–0.4 tons.
Ask your supplier for their figure.
How do you convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight in tons per cubic yard.
Example: 3 cu yd of gravel × 1.4–1.7 = 4.2–5.1 tons.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the material's tons per cubic yard. For gravel, 1 ton ÷ 1.4–1.7 is about 0.59–0.71 cu yd.
How many yards is 20 tons of gravel?
At 1.4–1.7 tons per cubic yard, 20 tons is about 11.8–14.3 cubic yards. Wet material is heavier, so the same weight takes up fewer yards.
How do I convert cubic feet to tons?
Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by the material's tons per cubic yard.
Sources
Densities are a typical range — ask your supplier. Weight varies with moisture and gradation.
Values marked with a link come from the linked source, which opens in a new tab. Unit conversions and our own defaults are listed separately. Every value the site uses is in the methodology source register.
Where the numbers come from 10
- Gravel / crushed stone density range
- 1.4 – 1.7 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Dry sand density range
- 1.3 – 1.5 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Wet sand density range
- 1.5 – 1.7 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Dry soil / topsoil density range
- 1 – 1.3 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Dry fill dirt density range
- 1 – 1.3 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Mulch density range
- 0.2 – 0.4 US tons/cu yd
- Typical range; no primary standard exists, and weight varies with moisture and gradation. Confirm with your supplier.
- Meters per international foot
- 0.3048 m/ft
- NIST, international foot conversion (opens in a new tab)nist.gov
- Pounds per US short ton
- 2000 lb/US ton
- NIST Guide to the SI, US short ton (2000 lb) (opens in a new tab)nist.gov
- Kilograms per pound
- 0.45359237 kg/lb
- NIST Guide to the SI, pound conversion; exact definition (opens in a new tab)nist.gov
Unit conversions and our defaults3
- Cubic feet per cubic yard
- 27 cu ft/cu yd
- Geometry: 3 × 3 × 3 feet
- Weight converter starting volume
- 3 cu yd
- Owner worked example; editable starting volume
- Volume and weight display precision
- 2 decimal places
- Owner specification: display volume and tons to two decimals