Turn a material volume into a weight you can work with. Choose a material, check its density, and see the whole calculation.
Change any value for an instant result.
Starting estimate: 3,250 lb/yd³, the midpoint of Lurvey's 3,000–3,500 lb/yd³ gravel range. Confirm the bulk density of your actual product.
Use the supplier's bulk density, including spaces between particles. Editing this value overrides the preset.
Find volume from length × width × depth
Rectangular area with an even depth. For separate areas, calculate each and add the volumes. Placed dimensions do not automatically determine loose delivery volume.
Ordering allowance, quotes & loads
Allowance adds material; it does not model compaction. Quotes exclude delivery and taxes. Load count is weight-only arithmetic using your usable payload, not a vehicle capacity assessment.
Record supplier & material assumptions
A record of your assumption. This does not silently change density.
Estimated material weight
8.125
US short tons
For 5 cubic yards of gravel at 3,250 lb/yd³.
Supplier range: 7.5–8.75 US tons for this volume. This is a reference range, not a guaranteed bound.
16,250 lbTotal material weight
5 yd³Material volume
THE WORKING5 yd³ × 3,250 lb/yd³ ÷ 2,000 = 8.125 US tons
Your ordering comparison
—Quote A · by US ton
—Quote B · by cubic yard
A precise formula. An honest estimate. Material density is always the deciding factor.
Same volume. Different weight.
Compare 5 cubic yards across our material references. All weights use US short tons.
Material
lb / yd³
US tons
Reference range
Gravel
3,250
8.125
7.5–8.75
Sand
2,970
7.425
6.75–8.1
Topsoil
2,160
5.4
4.725–6.075
Mulch
1,200
3
2–4
Range presets use the midpoint of the source's pounds-per-cubic-yard range. These products are examples, not universal material specifications. The comparison excludes ordering allowance.
The conversion, explained
How to convert cubic yards to tons
A cubic yard measures volume. A ton measures mass. To move between them, you need the material's bulk density: how much a given volume weighs, including the spaces between particles.
US short tons = cubic yards × lb per cubic yard ÷ 2,000If density is given in lb/ft³, first multiply it by 27. For the reverse conversion, divide pounds by lb/yd³.
For example, 5 cubic yards at a supplier density of 2,700 lb/yd³ weighs 13,500 pounds, or 6.75 US short tons. If the density is instead 3,250 lb/yd³, the same volume weighs 8.125 US tons.
Better inputs, better estimates
Choose the density that fits the job
Particle size, moisture, composition and packing change the bulk density of gravel, soil and other materials. A solid-rock density is not a substitute for the bulk density of a pile of crushed rock.
Ask the supplier for the density of the actual product in the condition it will be measured. If your dimensions describe a compacted layer, use a separate supplier-supported allowance or loose-to-placed volume estimate. Selecting “compacted” here records your assumption; it does not invent a compaction factor.
You can record a product name and density source, compare quotes on the same quantity, and export the result with your assumptions. This keeps the important context with the number.
Questions before you order
How many tons are in one cubic yard?
There is no single answer. At 2,700 lb/yd³, one cubic yard is 1.35 US tons. At 3,250 lb/yd³, it is 1.625 US tons. Choose the material and use its actual bulk density.
What does “ton” mean here?
The default is a US short ton, exactly 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, and a long ton is 2,240 pounds. Choose the unit used on your supplier's quote. Ordering quotes and payload fields are explicitly in US short tons.
Can I convert tons back to cubic yards?
Yes. Choose Weight → volume, enter your mass and unit, then select the density. The calculator divides the equivalent pounds by pounds per cubic yard.
Does wet material weigh more?
Water content can increase the weight of a given volume, but there is no universal wet-to-dry multiplier. Use a density measured or specified for your material's moisture condition.
Does the number of loads include truck volume?
No. It divides the estimated ordering weight by your entered usable payload and rounds up. Body volume, axle limits, other cargo and operating conditions can create additional limits. Confirm the actual delivery arrangement with the supplier.
Can I save or share my calculation?
Copy includes the amount, density and assumptions. CSV downloads a calculation record you can keep. Optional remembered settings stay in this browser; they are not sent to an account or database. Reset clears saved settings.
Start with square feet and depth to find cubic yards and tons, or see how much area your gravel will cover. Includes a depth chart and clear density assumptions.
Cubic Yards to Tons