Cubic Yards to TonsHow to calculate gravel coverage
Start with the area you want to fill and the depth of the layer. Square feet alone do not tell you how much gravel to order: a layer twice as deep needs twice the volume. The calculator above keeps that relationship visible and then converts volume to weight using the bulk density you enter.
US tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000
The 324 comes from 12 inches per foot and 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. If you are covering a rectangle, first multiply its length by its width in feet. For an irregular area, divide it into smaller rectangles, calculate their areas and add them before entering the total.
Example: a 20 × 10 foot area, 3 inches deep
The area is 200 square feet. At 3 inches deep it contains 50 cubic feet, or about 1.852 cubic yards. With the example gravel density of 3,250 lb/yd³, that is about 6,019 pounds or 3.009 US short tons.
That estimate describes the specified volume and density. If the supplier’s gravel is 3,000 lb/yd³ instead, the same area and depth require about 2.778 tons. At 3,500 lb/yd³, the result is about 3.241 tons. The dimensions have not changed; the assumed weight of each cubic yard has.
How much does one ton of gravel cover?
At 3,250 lb/yd³, one US ton is about 0.615 cubic yards. It covers about 99.7 square feet at 2 inches deep, or 66.5 square feet at 3 inches deep. These are calculated examples, not a universal coverage promise.
| Layer depth | Sq ft per cubic yard | Sq ft per US ton |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 | 199.4 |
| 2 inches | 162 | 99.7 |
| 3 inches | 108 | 66.5 |
| 4 inches | 81 | 49.8 |
| 6 inches | 54 | 33.2 |
The yard column depends only on geometry. The ton column also depends on density. Change the density in the calculator if your quote uses a different material specification.
Keep loose and compacted measurements separate
Bulk density includes the gaps between particles. A delivery pile, a spread layer and a compacted base may have different volumes for the same material. If your project calls for a compacted depth, ask the supplier for a compatible density or a loose delivery quantity for that finished volume.
This tool deliberately adds no automatic compaction factor. It also does not choose a construction depth. Use the project specification for depth, and calculate different layers separately when they use different materials. For a top-up, enter the depth you intend to add, rather than the full depth of the existing gravel.
From the estimate to the order
Confirm whether your supplier sells by cubic yard or US short ton, and whether their density describes loose or placed material. Ask separately about minimum orders, delivery fees and any allowance they recommend for your job.
When you have a volume or need to compare a price per yard with a price per ton, use the main cubic yards to tons calculator. It includes other material references, a dimensions helper, quote comparisons and an explicit ordering allowance.
Sources and calculation notes
The gravel starting density uses the midpoint of the 3,000–3,500 lb/yd³ range in Lurvey’s 2025 Landscape Product Guide, printed page 44. That guide also lists cubic-yard coverage at several depths. The NIST unit reference supports the volume and mass unit conversions. Sources checked September 14, 2026.
Results keep their precision during calculation and round for display. Inputs stay in this page; this tool does not save them. Found an error? Email contact@cubicyardstotons.org.