The conversion
- Tons = cubic yards × weight per cubic yard (in lb) ÷ 2,000
- Cubic yards = tons × 2,000 ÷ weight per cubic yard (in lb)
For general gravel at about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, that is × 1.4 to go from yards to tons and × 0.71 to go back.
Weight by gravel type
| Material | Lb per cubic yard (about) | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (general) | 2,800 | 1.40 | 0.71 |
| Pea gravel | 2,900 | 1.45 | 0.69 |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Crusher run | 3,000 | 1.50 | 0.67 |
| River rock | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
Cubic yards to tons chart (general gravel)
| Cubic yards | Tons (about) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.4 |
| 2 | 2.8 |
| 3 | 4.2 |
| 5 | 7.0 |
| 10 | 14.0 |
| 15 | 21.0 |
| 20 | 28.0 |
Tons to cubic yards chart (general gravel)
| Tons | Cubic yards (about) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.71 |
| 2 | 1.43 |
| 5 | 3.57 |
| 10 | 7.14 |
| 15 | 10.7 |
| 20 | 14.3 |
| 25 | 17.9 |
Metric: tonnes and cubic meters
General gravel weighs about 1.6 to 1.7 tonnes per cubic meter. One cubic yard is 0.765 cubic meters, and one metric tonne is 2,205 lb (about 1.1 US tons). So 1 m³ of gravel is roughly 1.65 tonnes, and 1 tonne is roughly 0.6 m³.
When to use which unit
- Ordering: use whatever unit the supplier sells in, so the quote and the quantity match.
- Truck limits: a pickup’s payload is a weight, so think in tons. A cubic yard of gravel weighs well over a ton, which is more than many half-ton pickups are rated to carry.
- Planning depth and coverage: think in cubic yards. One cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches, whatever the stone.
To get from your measurements to cubic yards in the first place, use the gravel calculator.
These are averages for dry, loose material. If your supplier publishes a weight per yard for their product, use theirs.
Questions people ask
- How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
- About 1.4 tons for general gravel. Pea gravel is about 1.45 tons, clean crushed stone about 1.35 tons and crusher run about 1.5 tons.
- How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
- About 0.71 cubic yards (19 cubic feet) for general gravel, and between 0.67 and 0.74 cubic yards for most other gravel types.
- How much does 1 cubic yard of gravel weigh in pounds?
- Roughly 2,600 to 3,000 pounds. The calculator uses 2,800 pounds for general gravel.
- Why do suppliers' figures differ?
- Rock type, stone size, how much dust is mixed in and how wet the pile is all change the weight of a cubic yard. Washed, dry stone is at the light end; damp stone with fines at the heavy end.