Cubic Yards to Tons: Gravel, Sand, Soil and More
Short answer: to convert cubic yards to tons, multiply by the material’s weight per cubic yard in tons. For dry gravel that’s about 1.42, so 5 cubic yards weighs about 7.1 tons. To go from tons to cubic yards, divide by the same number.
The catch is that every material, and the same material wet or dry, weighs something different. Here are the numbers to use, and how to get the exact figure for your order.
Weight per cubic yard by material
| Material | lb per cu ft | lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd | Cu yd per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, dry | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 0.71 |
| Gravel, wet | 125 | 3,375 | 1.69 | 0.59 |
| Sand, dry | 97 | 2,619 | 1.31 | 0.76 |
| Sand, wet | 119 | 3,213 | 1.61 | 0.62 |
| Topsoil (loam) | 80 | 2,160 | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| Dirt, loose and dry | 76 | 2,052 | 1.03 | 0.97 |
| Dirt, loose and moist | 78 | 2,106 | 1.05 | 0.95 |
| Hot-mix asphalt, compacted | about 147 | about 3,960 | about 1.98 | about 0.51 |
Densities from Engineering ToolBox. Asphalt from the paving industry’s estimating rate of about 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness. Tons are US short tons (2,000 lb).
The formula
- Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
- Cubic yards = tons ÷ tons per cubic yard
- Tons per cubic yard = lb per cubic foot × 27 ÷ 2,000
Example: 3 cubic yards of dry sand × 1.31 = 3.93 tons. And 10 tons of dry gravel ÷ 1.42 = 7.0 cubic yards.
Why the numbers vary
- Water: wet sand and gravel can weigh about 20% more than dry. Material in a supplier’s yard is often damp.
- Stone type and size: dense crushed rock weighs more than rounded pea gravel; mixes with fine particles pack tighter than clean, single-size stone.
- Loose vs compacted: these figures are for loose material, as delivered. Once it is compacted it takes up less room, which is why the calculators add extra for compaction.
For an exact order, ask your supplier for their tons-per-yard figure for the product you’re buying. Most will give it, and it’s printed on many quarry price lists.
Convert with a calculator
- Cubic yard calculator: any length, width and depth to cubic yards, with an optional weight for gravel, sand or soil.
- Gravel calculator, sand calculator and topsoil calculator: tons, yards and bags with compaction or settling included, and a box for your supplier’s own figure.
- Asphalt calculator: tons from area and compacted thickness.
Common questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.42 tons dry, or 1.69 tons wet.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards of dry gravel.
How many tons is a yard of dirt?
About 1.0 to 1.1 tons for loose dirt or topsoil, depending on how damp it is.
Is a ton of sand more than a yard?
A ton of dry sand is about 0.76 cubic yards, so a ton is a bit less than a yard.