Cubic Yards to Tons Converter: Gravel, Sand, Stone & Aggregate
Enter cubic yards or tons, whichever you already have, and this converter fills in the other instantly, for twelve common aggregate materials including sand and topsoil.
Enter either value. The other updates instantly
Cubic yards
3 cu yd
US tons
4.25 tons
3 cubic yards of pea gravel weighs about 4.25 US tons, at a density of 105 lb/ft³.
Why weight, not volume
Why Suppliers Sell Aggregate by Weight
You plan a project in volume, cubic yards, because that's what fills a hole, but a supplier bills in weight, because that's what a scale at the yard actually measures. A loaded truck drives over a weighbridge on the way out, and that reading, not an estimate of how full the bed looks, is what shows up on the invoice. Bridging those two units is the one calculation almost everyone ordering bulk material has to do at least once.
The bridge is a single number: density, in pounds per cubic foot. Multiply a material's density by 27 to get the weight of one cubic yard, then divide by 2,000 to reach US tons. Because every material packs differently (round pea gravel, angular crushed stone, and loose topsoil all weigh different amounts for the same volume), this conversion only works if you use the right density for the specific material you're ordering, which is why the selector above lists densities per material rather than a single average.
Density reference
Density Table: Pounds and Tons per Cubic Yard
This table lists every material in the calculator above, so you can look up a conversion factor directly without touching the tool. Topsoil is the clear outlier. At 80 lb/ft³ it's roughly a quarter lighter than standard gravel, which is why a "yard of dirt" and a "yard of gravel" never weigh the same on a delivery ticket.
| Material | lb/ft³ | kg/m³ | US tons / cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel | 105 | 1,680 | 1.42 |
| Crushed Stone #57 | 100 | 1,600 | 1.35 |
| Crushed Stone #411 | 95 | 1,520 | 1.28 |
| Item #4 / Crusher Run | 105 | 1,680 | 1.42 |
| River Rock | 100 | 1,600 | 1.35 |
| Decomposed Granite | 106 | 1,700 | 1.43 |
| Class 5 / Base Rock | 110 | 1,760 | 1.49 |
| Limestone (#8 / #57) | 97 | 1,550 | 1.31 |
| 3/4" Clean Stone | 100 | 1,600 | 1.35 |
| Sand | 100 | 1,600 | 1.35 |
| Topsoil | 80 | 1,280 | 1.08 |
Units
US Tons vs. Metric Tonnes
A US ton is 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, which converts to about 2,204.6 pounds, roughly 10 percent more than a US ton. The difference is easy to miss on a written quote, since both units are often just shortened to "ton," but it changes the math: one cubic yard of standard gravel is 1.42 US tons but only about 1.29 metric tonnes, because the metric tonne is the larger unit. Always confirm which one a supplier means before comparing two quotes, especially across a supplier that prices in one system against a supplier that prices in the other.
Related tools
Related Aggregate Calculators
If you're converting specifically for pea gravel, the pea gravel coverage calculator skips the density lookup entirely. It's locked to pea gravel's exact figure and adds area and bag count on top. For any of the six crushed stone grades this site covers, the crushed stone calculator pairs the same weight conversion with a coverage area, so you get tons and yards from a single set of dimensions instead of converting a number you already calculated elsewhere.
For the full calculator, with area, depth, all ten homepage materials and a cost estimate in one tool, see the gravel coverage calculator homepage.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply your cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, multiply that by the material's density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. For standard gravel at 105 lb/ft³, one cubic yard comes to 1.42 tons. Sand and topsoil convert differently. Sand at 100 lb/ft³ is about 1.35 tons per yard, while topsoil at 80 lb/ft³ is closer to 1.08 tons per yard.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide your tons by the material's tons-per-cubic-yard figure. One ton of standard gravel is about 0.71 cubic yards; one ton of sand is about 0.74 cubic yards; one ton of topsoil, being lighter, is about 0.93 cubic yards. This calculator does the conversion instantly in either direction. Enter tons and the cubic yards field updates on its own.
Why do suppliers sell aggregate by weight instead of volume?
Because a loaded truck is weighed on a scale at the yard, not measured with a tape. Weight is also what a truck's axle rating actually limits, so quoting and billing by the ton reflects what the supplier is physically handling. You still need the volume, in cubic yards, to know how much material fills your space, which is exactly what this converter bridges.
What's the difference between a US ton and a metric tonne?
A US ton is 2,000 pounds; a metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, which works out to about 2,204.6 pounds, roughly 10 percent heavier. One cubic yard of standard gravel is 1.42 US tons or about 1.29 metric tonnes. Always confirm which unit a supplier is quoting before you place an order, especially if you're comparing a quote in tonnes against a US-ton price elsewhere.
Does density change between wet and dry aggregate?
Yes. A rained-on stockpile can carry several percent of extra weight in absorbed water, so a wet load weighs more per cubic yard than the same material dry, without actually containing more stone. This is one reason a delivered tonnage can run slightly different from a calculator estimate; ask your supplier for their currently tested density on large orders if precision matters.
Which is heavier, gravel or sand?
Standard gravel at 105 lb/ft³ is slightly heavier than construction sand at roughly 100 lb/ft³, though both are close enough that the difference rarely changes an order size meaningfully. Topsoil is the lightest material in this comparison at around 80 lb/ft³, since it contains organic matter and holds more air than mineral aggregate.