5 Cubic Yards of Road Base in Tons
5 cubic yards of road base in tons works out to about 7.5 tons using a planning weight of 1.5 tons per yard. Real loads land between roughly 7.0 and 8.2 tons depending on stone size, fines and moisture. That is about 15,000 pounds.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The conversion
- Yards × tons per yard: 5 × 1.5 = 7.5 tons.
- Low end: 5 × 1.4 = 7.0 tons.
- High end: 5 × 1.65 = 8.2 tons.
The scale ticket on delivery day is the final word on weight.
What 5 yards covers
| Depth | Square feet |
|---|---|
| 4 in | 405 |
| 6 in | 270 |
| 8 in | 202 |
About road base
Road base (also called base rock, ABC, or Class 2 base in different states) is a graded mix of stone and fines made to compact into a load-bearing layer.
Hauling 5 yards
Plan the delivery around 7.5 tons: one small truck in most areas. A pickup is a poor fit for anything past a fraction of a yard; see how much gravel a half-ton pickup can carry.
Before you order
- Confirm whether the yard prices road base by the ton or by the yard.
- Add about 10 percent for compaction and uneven ground.
- Clear a firm spot for the truck to dump.
The volume and tonnage calculator converts any area and depth into yards and tons.
When to choose road base
Works well for:
- Base under asphalt and concrete
- Gravel roads and drives
- Equipment and shed pads
Poor fit for:
- Drainage layers
- Decorative surfaces
- Surfaces that will stay uncompacted
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.46 tons of road base (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.6 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 14x28 area at 3 inches takes about 5.4 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
Questions people ask
How many tons is 5 yards of road base?
About 7.5 tons, with a typical range of 7.0 to 8.2.
How many pounds is 5 cubic yards of road base?
About 15,000 pounds.
How much area does 5 yards of road base cover at 6 inches?
About 270 square feet.
Why does road base weight vary?
Stone size, the share of fines and moisture all change how much a yard weighs.
Is it better to buy by the ton or the yard?
Either works; just convert with the supplier’s own weight per yard so the two quotes compare fairly.
Related guides
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Yard of Crushed Stone Weigh?
- 3 Cubic Yards of Road Base in Tons
- 4 Cubic Yards of Road Base in Tons
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