Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
Tons to cubic yards for gravel is a simple division once you know the material’s weight. Most gravel and crushed stone weigh about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so divide tons by 1.4 to get cubic yards. One ton is about 0.71 cubic yard, and 10 tons is about 7.1 cubic yards. Going the other way, multiply cubic yards by 1.4 to get tons. Because density varies by rock type, size, and moisture, use your supplier’s factor when they give one.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Conversion chart
| Tons | Cubic yards at 1.4 t/yd | At 1.3 t/yd | At 1.5 t/yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.71 | 0.77 | 0.67 |
| 2 | 1.43 | 1.54 | 1.33 |
| 5 | 3.57 | 3.85 | 3.33 |
| 10 | 7.14 | 7.69 | 6.67 |
| 15 | 10.7 | 11.5 | 10.0 |
| 20 | 14.3 | 15.4 | 13.3 |
Factors by material
| Material | Typical tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone, clean (#57) | 1.3 to 1.4 |
| Crusher run, dense-graded | 1.4 to 1.5 |
| Pea gravel | 1.3 to 1.45 |
| River rock | 1.3 to 1.4 |
| Stone dust | 1.3 to 1.45 |
| Sand | 1.3 to 1.5 |
| Topsoil | 1.0 to 1.3 |
See gravel weight per yard and how much does a yard of crushed stone weigh.
Worked example
You need gravel for a 20x40-foot parking pad, 6 inches deep. That is 800 square feet x 0.5 feet = 400 cubic feet, or 14.8 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per yard, order about 20.7 tons, plus 10 to 15 percent for compaction, so roughly 23 to 24 tons. The asphalt base calculator will do this for you.
Why suppliers sell by the ton
Quarries weigh every truck on a scale, so tons are exact. Landscape yards often sell by the yard because they measure with a loader bucket. If your estimate is in yards and the price is per ton, convert using the supplier’s factor to compare quotes fairly.
Loose vs compacted
A cubic yard in the truck is loose. After compaction, dense-graded base takes up less space, often 15 to 20 percent less. When you calculate the volume of a finished, compacted layer, add that allowance before converting to tons.
Truckloads
A tandem dump truck often hauls about 13 to 16 tons, roughly 9 to 11 cubic yards of gravel. A small single-axle truck hauls less. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
Moisture
Wet stone weighs more, so a ton of wet gravel is slightly less volume than a ton of dry gravel. The difference is usually small for clean stone and larger for sand and fine materials.
Bottom line
To convert tons to cubic yards for gravel, divide by about 1.4; to go from yards to tons, multiply by 1.4. Use 1.3 for lighter materials and 1.5 for dense base, or better, your supplier’s factor. Add 10 to 20 percent for compaction on base layers.
Questions people ask
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yard at 1.4 tons per yard.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons for most gravel and crushed stone.
How many yards is 10 tons of gravel?
About 7.1 cubic yards.
Should I add extra for compaction?
Yes, about 10 to 20 percent for dense-graded base.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per Yard by Stone Type
- How Much Does a Yard of Crushed Stone Weigh?
- How Much Does a Ton of Crushed Stone Cover?
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
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