How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? Yards to Tons

A yard of gravel does not always weigh one ton

One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. One US short ton is 2,000 pounds. A yard would equal exactly one short ton only at a bulk density of about 74.074 lb/ft³. A different density gives a different number of tons for the same volume.

The cited Earth Haulers page reports 2,400–2,900 lb per yard as a gravel estimating range. It is a supplier reference, not a test certificate for every type of stone. Use a density or pounds-per-yard value for the actual product when the order depends on weight.

Gravel weight table: change the density, change the order

The rows below deliberately use stated input densities rather than assigning one number to all pea gravel, crushed stone or river rock. Grading, particle shape, packing and moisture can change bulk weight. A supplier can identify which value applies to its material.

Convert cubic yards to tons, or tons back to yards

Pounds = cubic yards × 27 × density in lb/ft³. US short tons = pounds ÷ 2,000. If the supplier already gives pounds per cubic yard, multiply yards by that value directly; do not multiply by 27 again.

For the reverse calculation, cubic yards = US short tons × 2,000 ÷ (27 × density). At 100 lb/ft³, 2 tons corresponds to about 1.481 yd³. At 120 lb/ft³, the same 2 tons corresponds to about 1.235 yd³. Tonnes use 1,000 kg and need their own conversion; they are not US short tons.

Worked order: five yards with half-ton rounding

At an entered density of 105 lb/ft³, 5 yd³ weighs 5 × 27 × 105 = 14,175 lb, or 7.0875 US tons. If the supplier sells in half-ton increments and the order must meet that calculated weight, round up to 7.5 tons.

At an illustrative $50 per ton, the rounded material subtotal is $375, before delivery and tax. That price is invented to show order arithmetic. Charging the unrounded 7.0875 tons would instead give about $354.38 and would not represent the stated half-ton purchase policy.

Keep loose delivery volume and compacted depth separate

A finished area at a chosen depth describes the project’s compacted or placed geometry. A truck may deliver a loose volume with a different bulk density. Make sure the supplier’s quantity estimate and your dimensions use the same basis before combining them.

If a supplier has already converted the finished requirement into a loose delivery quantity, do not apply the same compaction allowance again. Record any additional allowance explicitly. Water can add weight without adding the same amount of usable stone, so a dry-material factor is not automatically suitable for wet stock.

Weight does not tell you surface coverage or vehicle capacity

At a uniform 3-inch depth, one cubic yard geometrically covers 27 ÷ (3 ÷ 12) = 108 ft² before allowance or compaction. Weight enters only when you convert that volume into a billed tonnage. The separate gravel coverage guide has the depth table.

A bed or trailer that has enough space for one cubic yard may still be unable to carry its weight. This calculator estimates material quantity only; it does not evaluate payload, axle limits or hauling suitability. Confirm delivery and load arrangements with the supplier.

• Confirm whether the quote uses yards, US short tons or metric tonnes.
• Ask for the product’s bulk density or pounds per yard.
• Record whether the stated volume is loose or compacted.
• Apply the supplier’s purchase rounding after the conversion.

Common questions

Sources and product references

• Earth Haulers — How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Weigh?

  Supplier gives a 2,400–2,900 lb-per-yard gravel range. Used as a bounded example; it is not a density guarantee for another product. Checked September 23, 2026.

• Mulzer Crushed Stone — aggregate calculator

  Supplier estimates distinguish cubic feet, cubic yards and tons. Obtain the material-specific basis for an actual order.

• NIST — SI units: volume

  Unit reference. Density-table values and worked order calculations on this page are Calcstead arithmetic.