How Many Tons of Gravel in a Cubic Yard?
Quick Answer
One cubic yard of typical crushed stone or gravel weighs about 1.4 tons (2,800 pounds). The exact weight depends on the material and moisture — dry gravel runs 1.25 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
- 1 cubic yard of gravel ≈ 1.4 tons (2,800 lbs)
- To get tons: cubic yards × 1.4
- To get cubic yards: tons ÷ 1.4
- Sand, stone, and topsoil each weigh slightly different amounts
Formula
Multiply cubic yards by 1.4 to estimate tons for standard crushed gravel. This assumes a density of about 2,800 lbs per cubic yard. Wet or compacted material weighs more.
Step-by-Step Calculation
- 1
Start with volume
1 cubic yard of gravel
- 2
Apply density
~2,800 lbs per cubic yard
- 3
Convert to tons
2,800 ÷ 2,000 = 1.4 tons
- 4
Reverse the math
1 ton ÷ 1.4 = 0.71 cubic yards
Weight per Cubic Yard by Material
| Material | Pounds per Cu Yd | Tons per Cu Yd |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone / Gravel | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Pea Gravel | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Topsoil | 2,000–2,200 | 1.00–1.10 |
| Wet / compacted gravel | 3,000–3,400 | 1.50–1.70 |
Weights are approximate and vary with moisture content and stone type. Ask your supplier for the exact conversion for their material.
Pro Tips
- When ordering gravel, always order by the ton — not the cubic yard — because suppliers load by weight, and a wet cubic yard can weigh 20–30% more than a dry one. You could get significantly less volume than expected if you order by the yard and the stockpile is rain-soaked.
- Keep a bathroom scale and a 5-gallon bucket on site to verify delivery weight. Fill the bucket with delivered gravel, weigh it, and multiply by the number of buckets per yard (about 54 buckets). If the weight per bucket times 54 is significantly less than 2,800 lbs, you were shorted.
- Different gravel types have different weights per cubic yard: pea gravel is about 1.35 tons/yd, crushed limestone is 1.40 tons/yd, and washed river rock is 1.30 tons/yd. Always ask your supplier for the specific material weight when converting between tons and yards.
- For large orders (5+ tons), negotiate the per-ton price and ask about 'load lot' pricing — many quarries drop the price by $3–$5/ton for full truck loads of 15–20 tons.
Key Cost Factors
- Gravel prices are quoted two ways: per ton ($15–$45/ton) and per cubic yard ($20–$60/yd). At 1.4 tons per yard, a $30/ton price equals $42/yard. Always convert to the same unit before comparing supplier quotes — the cheaper per-ton quote may actually be more expensive per cubic yard or vice versa.
- Delivery fees are typically flat-rate ($50–$150 per trip) regardless of tonnage up to the truck's capacity (15–20 tons). This means ordering 3 tons and 15 tons costs the same in delivery — plan your project to maximize each delivery trip.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming all gravel weighs the same. Weight per cubic yard varies with stone type and moisture — dry gravel runs about 1.4 tons per yard, but wet or dense stone can exceed 1.5 tons.
- Mixing up volume and weight orders. Some suppliers sell by the ton, others by the yard. Ordering '3 yards' when you meant '3 tons' can leave you short or over by a significant margin.
- Ignoring moisture content. Wet gravel weighs noticeably more than dry. If you order by weight after rain, you get less actual volume than expected.
- Forgetting compaction. The delivered loose volume compacts down about 15–20%, so the finished, compacted coverage is less than the yardage you bought.
Related Project Considerations
- Know your project's unit. Decide whether you are estimating by volume (yards) or weight (tons) and convert consistently — roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard for typical gravel.
- Confirm the material's density. Ask your supplier the weight per yard for the specific product, since crushed stone, pea gravel, and road base differ.
- Account for delivery truck limits. Trucks are often limited by weight, not volume. Heavier stone may mean more trips, which affects delivery cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards per ton for standard crushed stone (1 ÷ 1.4). So 1 ton covers roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep. The exact ratio varies slightly by stone type — limestone and granite run about 1.4 tons per yard, while lighter volcanic rock or pea gravel may be closer to 1.2–1.3 tons per yard. Ask your supplier for their specific weight-per-yard figure.
Is gravel sold by the ton or the yard?
Both. Bulk gravel is often sold by the ton at quarries and gravel pits (where it is weighed on a truck scale) and by the cubic yard at landscape supply yards (where it is scooped by a front loader). Use the 1.4 tons-per-yard conversion to compare prices between the two. Bagged gravel at hardware stores is sold by weight per bag — typically 50 lbs — and costs significantly more per ton than bulk.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, 160 square feet at 2 inches, or 80 square feet at 4 inches. The relationship is linear: double the depth halves the coverage area. For driveways and parking pads (4–6 inch depth), a yard does not go far, so order in tons and convert. For decorative landscaping at 2 inches, a single yard covers a surprisingly large area.