How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per Yard by Stone Type

A cubic yard of gravel usually weighs somewhere around 2,400 to 3,000 pounds, or about 1.2 to 1.5 tons, depending on the type of stone, its size mix and how wet it is. For planning, many people use about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone, which is roughly 2,800 pounds. Dense-graded materials with fines, like crusher run, sit toward the heavy end; clean single-size stone and rounded pea gravel are often a bit lighter because they have more air space. Always confirm the figure with your supplier, since they weigh and sell their own material.

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Typical Weights by Material

These are planning ranges, not guarantees. Actual weights vary with rock type, gradation and moisture.

Material	Approx. tons per cubic yard (loose, dry)	Notes
Clean crushed stone (#57, #3)	About 1.3 to 1.5	Single-size stone, more voids
Crusher run / dense-graded base	About 1.4 to 1.6	Fines fill voids, heavier
Pea gravel	About 1.3 to 1.5	Rounded, small
Stone dust / screenings	About 1.2 to 1.4	Weight rises sharply when wet
Trap rock or basalt	Often at the high end	Denser rock than limestone

Why the Numbers Vary

• Rock type. Denser rocks like trap rock and basalt weigh more per yard than many limestones or sandstones.
• Gradation. A mix of sizes packs tighter than a single size, so there's more rock and less air in each yard.
• Moisture. Wet gravel can weigh noticeably more than dry. Material sold straight from a washed pile or after rain carries water weight.
• Loose vs compacted. Compacted gravel fits more rock into the same volume, so a compacted yard weighs more than a loose yard.

Converting Yards to Tons and Back

Tons = cubic yards × tons per yard. Cubic yards = length × width × depth (all in feet) ÷ 27.

Example: a 12 by 40 foot driveway topped with 4 inches of crushed stone.

• Volume: 12 × 40 × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 cubic feet
• Cubic yards: 160 ÷ 27 ≈ 5.9
• Tons at 1.4 per yard: about 8.3 tons

Our base and stone calculator does this math for you, and the gravel calculator guide explains thickness and waste allowances.

Loose vs Compacted: Order a Little Extra

Gravel is sold loose, but a driveway base is compacted. Compaction pushes particles together, so the finished layer is thinner than the loose layer you spread. That means you need more loose material than the compacted volume you designed for. The extra depends on the material and how hard it's compacted; many people add something in the range of 10 to 20 percent. Ask your supplier what they recommend for their product.

Can Your Pickup Carry a Yard of Gravel?

Often not safely. At around 2,800 pounds, a cubic yard of crushed stone can exceed the rated payload of many half-ton pickups. Check the payload sticker on the driver's door jamb, subtract the weight of passengers and anything else in the truck, and remember that the bed may hold more volume than the truck can carry in weight. Many landscape yards will load a half yard for smaller trucks. A sturdy contractor wheelbarrow holds around 6 cubic feet, so a cubic yard is roughly four to five full loads, depending on how heaped they are.

Buying by the Ton vs by the Yard

Quarries usually sell by the ton because they weigh trucks on a scale. Landscape supply yards often sell by the yard, measured with a loader bucket. If one supplier quotes per ton and another per yard, convert using the supplier's own weight figure before comparing prices. Ask for a scale ticket when buying by the ton.

How Many Yards Fit in a Dump Truck?

That depends on the truck's legal weight limit more than on the size of the box. Gravel is heavy enough that trucks often hit their weight limit before the box is full. Our post on tons in a dump truck explains truck classes; the same limits apply to gravel. Divide the truck's allowed load in tons by the material's tons per yard to estimate yards.

Gravel vs Asphalt Weight

Compacted asphalt is typically planned at about 145 pounds per cubic foot, or close to 2 tons per cubic yard, noticeably heavier than loose gravel. If you're planning both a base and a paved surface, don't mix up the factors. Our page on asphalt weight per cubic yard covers the paving side.

Measuring Your Area Accurately

Most ordering mistakes start with the measurements, not the weight factor. Measure long driveways with a measuring wheel, break odd shapes into rectangles and triangles, and check depth in several spots if you're topping up an existing driveway. A difference of one inch in depth over a large area changes the order by several tons.

Spreading What You Order

Have the truck spread material while dumping ("tailgating") if the driver offers it, which can save a lot of shoveling. Level it with a landscape rake and compact it in layers if it's a base.

Bottom Line on Gravel Weight per Yard

Plan on about 1.2 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard of gravel, with 1.4 tons (about 2,800 pounds) a common working number for crushed stone. Dense mixes and wet material weigh more; clean and rounded stone often weighs a little less. Convert your area to cubic yards, multiply by your supplier's factor, add a margin for compaction, and don't overload a pickup.