Updated September 28, 2026 · Methods & editorial approach
Cubic yards ↔ tons converter
Use your supplier’s bulk density and choose US tons or metric tonnes explicitly.
Prefilled numbers are a worked example, not product specifications or current prices. Replace them with your own figures.
Starting with measurements? Calculate cubic yards from dimensions, then enter that volume here. Include your allowance only once.
Submit the form to see the result and calculation steps.
Buying gravel? Compare two delivered gravel quotes. Enter your required cubic yards there and replace the example prices with your own quotes.
No extra allowance is applied here. This is a density-based estimate, not a safe vehicle payload or a certified scale weight. Calculation rules.
The conversion needs a density
Cubic yards describe volume. Tons describe mass. Multiply your cubic yards by the material’s bulk density in tons per cubic yard. The same volume of different aggregates can weigh different amounts, so a conversion without an assumed density is incomplete.
US tons and metric tonnes are different
A US short ton is 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, approximately 2,204.62 pounds. The main gravel dimension calculator reports US tons even when your measurements are metric. The converter on this page also reports metric tonnes and lets you choose the density unit.
Use a supplier figure
The gravel calculator starts at an illustrative density of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard. It is not a specification for every type of gravel. Particle size, moisture and how the material is packed change bulk density. Ask the supplier for the density of the exact product in the condition in which it will be delivered.
A worked example
At an assumed 1.4 US tons per cubic yard, 3 cubic yards weighs approximately 4.2 US tons: 3 × 1.4 = 4.2. If the supplier instead gives 1.6, the same volume weighs 4.8 US tons. That 0.6-ton difference is why density deserves its own input.
Do not use this as a vehicle loading limit
An estimated material weight does not determine safe vehicle payload. Delivery loads, trailers, axle ratings and wet material need separate checks. Confirm actual weight and transport arrangements with your supplier.
Work backward from a weight quote
If a supplier offers 5 US tons at a confirmed bulk density of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard, divide 5 by 1.4: approximately 3.571 cubic yards. At a 3-inch loose depth, that volume theoretically covers about 385.7 square feet before losses or compaction. A quote for 5 metric tonnes is a different weight; choose metric tonnes in the converter instead of relabeling US tons.
Translate the density units before comparing quotes
A quoted 2,800 lb per cubic yard equals 1.4 US tons per cubic yard because a US ton contains 2,000 lb. If the supplier uses kg/m³, the converter handles that unit directly. Changing the density-unit selector converts the entered density so the physical assumption stays the same. Changing the quantity unit clears the quantity so you do not accidentally reinterpret volume as weight.
Why loose and compacted density cannot be swapped
Our converter matches a volume and density describing the same material condition. If your dimensions describe a compacted layer but the supplier quotes loose bulk density, ask for their yield or loose-to-compacted conversion. An arbitrary percentage can make the arithmetic look precise without making the order accurate. The illustrative densities in the table are a sensitivity check, not recommended values for named gravel types.
| Volume | At 1.2 US ton/yd³ | At 1.4 US ton/yd³ | At 1.6 US ton/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | 1.2 US tons | 1.4 US tons | 1.6 US tons |
| 3 yd³ | 3.6 US tons | 4.2 US tons | 4.8 US tons |
| 5 yd³ | 6 US tons | 7 US tons | 8 US tons |
Before you order
- Ask: Is this quote in US short tons, metric tonnes, or cubic yards?
- Request the bulk density and its units for the specific product, not the density of solid rock.
- Confirm whether density describes loose delivered material or a compacted layer.
- Check minimum charges, actual delivered quantity, delivery cost and scale-ticket availability.
Source: NIST: unit conversion factors (unit definitions, not gravel density).
Put your measurements to work.
Calculate volume, adjust your allowance and save a link to your estimate.
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