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Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator

Ready to calculate
10 Materials.
US + Metric.
Industry Density.
100% Free.
Privacy Secure.

How it Works

01Pick Material

Gravel, crushed stone, sand, topsoil, mulch, concrete, asphalt — 10 presets.

02Enter Volume

Cubic yards. Most landscape and concrete orders are in yd³.

03Density Applied

Tons = yd³ × density / 2,000. Density varies by material.

04All Units

US short tons, metric tonnes, pounds, kilograms — all four.

What is a Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator?

A cubic yards to tons calculator — also called a yd³ to tons converter, landscape material weight calculator, or aggregate density calculator — converts volume (cubic yards) to weight (US short tons and metric tonnes) using the specific density of the material. This conversion matters because landscape supply yards sell by the ton, but contractors buy by the yard — and the two are not a 1:1 swap. Different materials have wildly different densities: mulch is 800 lb/yd³, topsoil is 2,200 lb/yd³, crushed gravel is 2,835 lb/yd³, and cured concrete is 4,050 lb/yd³. Same yard of volume, 5× the weight.

This tool handles 10 common construction and landscape materials with industry-accurate density values: gravel (2,835 lb/yd³), crushed stone (2,700), sand dry (2,700), topsoil loose (2,200), wood mulch (800), fill dirt (2,400), cured concrete (4,050), asphalt (3,960), river rock (2,700), and crushed limestone (2,700). Values are derived from ASTM C29 bulk density test results and landscape supply yard averages — what you'll actually see on a tag ticket.

Weight output is given in all four common units simultaneously: pounds, kilograms, US short tons, and metric tonnes. Covers US DOT weight limits (80,000 lb gross, 34,000 lb per tandem axle), Canadian and UK limits, and international metric specs.

Used by landscape supply customers converting yard orders to tons for tag tickets and invoices; trucking dispatchers checking DOT weight limits before scheduling a run; contractors comparing yard vs ton pricing at different suppliers (some quote one, some the other); excavation crews converting fill dirt volume to haul-out weight for disposal fees; and municipal inspectors verifying delivered aggregate quantity against tag tickets on public works projects.

Density varies with moisture content and compaction: dry sand is 2,700 lb/yd³, wet/packed sand can reach 3,200. Compacted gravel is 5-10% heavier than loose. Values in this tool are industry averages for typical loose, slightly damp conditions.

How It Works

Pick material from 10 presets. Density varies: mulch 800 lb/yd³, topsoil 2,200 lb/yd³, gravel 2,835 lb/yd³, concrete 4,050 lb/yd³.
Enter cubic yards. Landscape and concrete are always sold by the yard; aggregate and fill sometimes by yard, sometimes by ton.
Weight = Volume × Density. yd³ × lb/yd³ = lb. Divide by 2,000 for US tons, by 2,204.62 for metric tonnes.
All units at once — US tons, metric tonnes, pounds, kilograms. Covers US DOT weight limits and international specs.

Conversion Formula

Weight_lb = Volume_yd³ × Density_lb/yd³
Weight_kg = Weight_lb / 2.20462
Tons_US = Weight_lb / 2,000
Tonnes_metric = Weight_lb / 2,204.62
Volume_m³ = Volume_yd³ × 0.764555
Typical densities (lb/yd³):
  Mulch:        800
  Topsoil:      2,200
  Dirt (fill):  2,400
  Crushed stone 1-2": 2,700
  Sand (dry):   2,700
  River rock:   2,700
  Limestone:    2,700
  Gravel 3/4":  2,835
  Asphalt:      3,960
  Concrete:     4,050
Real-World Example

Worked Example

You need 5 cubic yards of 3/4 inch gravel for a driveway:

  • Density = 2,835 lb/yd³
  • Weight = 5 × 2,835 = 14,175 lb
  • US tons = 14,175 / 2,000 = 7.09 tons
  • Metric = 14,175 / 2,204.62 = 6.43 tonnes
  • Compare to mulch: 5 yd³ of mulch = 5 × 800 = 4,000 lb = 2 tons. Huge density difference — same volume, 3.5× the weight.

Who Uses This Calculator?

1
Landscape supply customers converting yard orders to tons for tag tickets
2
Trucking dispatchers checking if a load is within DOT weight limits (80,000 lb gross)
3
Contractors comparing yard pricing versus ton pricing at different suppliers
4
Excavation crews converting fill dirt volume to haul-out weight
5
Municipal inspectors verifying delivered aggregate quantity on public works

Technical Reference

Aggregate density tables — ASTM C29 bulk density test values published by NSSGA and AGC. Dry-rodded unit weights range 85-110 lb/ft³ for crushed stone.

USDA soil density — topsoil 1,200-1,800 lb/yd³ for screened garden soil; uncleared fill 2,200-2,400 lb/yd³.

Concrete density — ACI 318 standard 150 lb/ft³ = 4,050 lb/yd³ for normal-weight concrete. Applies to cured concrete weight for demolition haul-out.

Key Takeaways

Mulch is less than 1/5 the density of cured concrete — always confirm which material you're dealing with before doing volume-to-weight math. Density varies with moisture content (dry sand 2,700 vs wet sand 3,200 lb/yd³) and compaction state (loose gravel vs packed base course). Truck capacity is usually weight-limited, not volume-limited: a 10-yard dump truck can carry 13-14 tons (26,000-28,000 lb), which fills with ~7 yd³ of dirt/concrete or ~10 yd³ of mulch. Density always wins — weight is the binding constraint, not volume. For ordering aggregate: bulk by the ton is always cheaper than bagged, but landscape yards often have a 3-ton minimum on ton pricing. Under 3 tons, by-yard pricing is usually cheaper; over 5 tons, by-ton almost always wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons per cubic yard of 3/4 inch crushed gravel (2,835 lb ÷ 2,000 lb/ton). River rock and crushed stone are slightly less at 1.35 tons/yd³.
How many tons in a cubic yard of concrete?
2.03 US tons per cubic yard of cured concrete (4,050 lb ÷ 2,000). This matters for demolition hauling — a 2-yard slab tear-out weighs about 8 tons.
How many tons of sand in a cubic yard?
1.35 US tons (2,700 lb). Wet or compacted sand can reach 1.5-1.6 tons/yd³ — always ask your supplier if the moisture content affects the price.
How many tons in a cubic yard of mulch?
0.4 US tons (800 lb) — mulch is much lighter than aggregate because of its wood fiber and air content. A full 10-yard dump truck of mulch only weighs about 4 tons.
How many tons of topsoil per cubic yard?
1.1 US tons (2,200 lb) for screened loose topsoil. Compacted or wet topsoil can run 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³.
Can I convert cubic yards to tons without density?
No — tons and yards measure different things (weight vs volume). You must know the material's density (lb/yd³) to convert. This calculator has 10 preset densities for common materials.
Why does the same volume weigh different amounts?
Density varies by material and compaction state. Mulch has lots of air pockets (800 lb/yd³). Concrete is solid (4,050 lb/yd³). Same yard of volume, 5× the weight.
How many cubic yards in a ton of gravel?
About 0.70 yd³ per US ton for 3/4 inch gravel (2,000 ÷ 2,835). So 1 ton doesn't quite fill 3/4 of a cubic yard. If a supplier gives you a ton price, a yard typically costs ~43% more.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Depends on the supplier and quantity. Large landscape yards often have a 3-ton minimum on ton pricing. For under 3 tons, by-yard pricing is usually cheaper. Over 5 tons, by-ton almost always wins.
How much does a 20-yard dumpster weigh full of concrete?
Roughly 40 tons (80,000 lb) if filled with cured concrete — that's 2x legal weight for most roll-off trucks. Most haulers limit concrete loads to 5-6 yards per 20-yard box (10-12 tons) to stay under DOT limits.

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Disclaimer

Educational reference. Actual weight varies with moisture and compaction. Verify with your supplier tag ticket.