Cubic yards to tons calculator
Pick a material, enter cubic yards, and get the approximate weight in tons and pounds. Weight varies with moisture, so enter your supplier's density if you have it.
Estimates round up. Check product labels and supplier figures before ordering.
Typical weight by material
| Material | Tons per cubic yard (about) | Pounds per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or crushed stone | 1.3-1.5 | 2,600-3,000 |
| Sand, dry | 1.3-1.5 | 2,600-3,000 |
| Topsoil, dry | 1.0-1.3 | 2,000-2,600 |
| Compost | about 0.5 | about 1,000 |
| Wood mulch | 0.1-0.4 | 200-800 |
How it's calculated
Suppliers sell stone and sand by the ton and by the cubic yard, and the link between them is the material's density. A US ton is 2,000 pounds.
Pounds = cubic yards x density (lb per cu yd)
Tons = pounds / 2,000
Example: 5 cubic yards of gravel at about 2,800 lb per cubic yard weighs 14,000 lb, or about 7 tons. Five yards of topsoil at 2,200 lb per cubic yard is about 5.5 tons, and five yards of compost at about 1,000 lb is 2.5 tons.
The default densities come from the middle of commonly published ranges, including 1.4 tons per cubic yard for sand from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, about 1,000 lb per cubic yard for compost from University of New Hampshire Extension, and roughly 0.1 to 0.4 tons for wood mulch. Wet material is heavier, and fine soils swing the most. Ask your supplier for the figure they use, enter it in the density box, and treat the result as an estimate.
What you'll need
- Wheelbarrow
- Landscape rake
- Heavy duty tarp
- Work gloves
Common questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture. This calculator uses about 1.4.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.7. Divide 1 by the tons per cubic yard, so 1 / 1.4 is about 0.71 cubic yards.
Does wet material weigh more?
Yes. Wet sand and soil can weigh noticeably more per cubic yard than dry, so a delivery after rain may be heavier than quoted.
Is a ton the same as a metric ton?
No. A US ton is 2,000 lb. A metric ton is about 2,205 lb. The results table shows both.