Tons to Cubic Yards Calculator for Gravel and Stone
This tons to cubic yards calculator converts a weight of gravel, stone or rock into cubic yards, or cubic yards into tons, using the density of the material you choose. Add a spread depth and it also shows how much area the gravel covers, in square feet or square yards.
Tons to cubic yards calculator
Results
Results appear here as you type.
How to convert tons to cubic yards
A ton is a weight and a cubic yard is a volume, so you need the material’s density to go from one to the other. Divide the weight by the density:
cubic yards = tons ÷ density (tons per cubic yard)
square feet covered = cubic yards × 27 ÷ (depth in inches ÷ 12)
For example, 10 tons of crushed stone at a planning density of 1.40 tons per cubic yard is 10 ÷ 1.40 = 7.14 cubic yards. Spread 4 inches deep, that covers about 579 square feet (64.3 square yards). Converting tons to yards adds no allowance, because the weight is already what you have.
How to convert cubic yards of gravel to tons
Going the other way, multiply the volume by the density. If the cubic yards came from measuring your project, add an allowance for uneven ground and settling first, so the order is not short:
tons = cubic yards × (1 + allowance % ÷ 100) × density
order = tons rounded up to a whole ton
Worked example: a project needs 15 cubic yards of crushed stone. With a 10% allowance that is 15 × 1.10 = 16.5 cubic yards. At 1.40 tons per cubic yard, 16.5 × 1.40 = 23.1 tons, so you would order 24 tons.
Tons per cubic yard by material
The material list fills in a planning density for each type of gravel, stone or rock. These are typical starting values, not measured or standard figures: the real density of a load depends on the rock, its grading and how wet it is. When your supplier gives you a density, type it in and it overrides the preset.
| Material | Tons per yd³ | Pounds per yd³ | Cubic yards per ton | Tonnes per m³ | Cubic metres per tonne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone (#57) | 1.40 | 2,800 | 0.71 | 1.66 | 0.60 |
| Class 5 / road base / crusher run | 1.50 | 3,000 | 0.67 | 1.78 | 0.56 |
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | 2,700 | 0.74 | 1.60 | 0.62 |
| River rock / round gravel | 1.45 | 2,900 | 0.69 | 1.72 | 0.58 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.30 | 2,600 | 0.77 | 1.54 | 0.65 |
| Crushed concrete (recycled) * | 1.30 | 2,600 | 0.77 | 1.54 | 0.65 |
Not sure which material you have? The types of gravel for driveways guide explains the differences. For quick answers without the calculator, see the tons-to-yards tables for 1 to 25 tons.
Tons to square yards: how far will it spread?
Enter a spread depth to see the area your gravel covers. Area depends on depth: the same 10 tons of crushed stone covers about 771 square feet at 3 inches but about 386 square feet at 6 inches. If you are working from a measured area instead, the gravel driveway calculator takes length, width and depth directly.
Related calculators and guides
- Don’t know your volume yet? Calculate cubic yards from length, width and depth.
- Have your tonnage? Turn it into a cost with your own prices.
- Want to check the arithmetic? See the formulas worked through by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards is a ton of gravel?
At the 1.40 tons per cubic yard planning value for crushed stone, one ton is about 0.71 cubic yards. Denser road base at 1.50 is about 0.67 cubic yards per ton, and pea gravel at 1.35 is about 0.74.
Is this tons or tonnes?
In US mode the calculator uses US short tons of 2,000 pounds. In metric mode it uses tonnes (metric tons) of 1,000 kilograms and cubic metres. One tonne is about 1.10 short tons.
How many tons does a dump truck hold?
It depends on the truck and on local road weight limits, so ask the supplier how much they can deliver to your address in one load and whether there is a minimum. Ordering close to a full load often lowers the delivery cost per ton.
Does wet gravel weigh more?
Yes. Water held in and between the stones adds weight, so a wet load can contain less stone per ton on the scale. How much depends on the material and the weather; ask your supplier whether their density figure is for dry or as-delivered material.