Multiply cubic yards by the material’s density to get tons: crushed stone is about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, gravel 1.4, sand 1.5, and topsoil 1.1. So 5 cubic yards of crushed stone weighs roughly 7.5 tons.
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Order – tons (includes your waste allowance) so compaction and spillage don’t leave you short.
Cubic Yards to Tons — How the Conversion Works
You measure projects in volume; quarries sell material by weight. The bridge between them is one multiplication — tons = cubic yards × density — but the density belongs to the material, and getting it wrong by one material class is enough to leave a driveway half-finished. Enter your area and depth above, pick the material, and this calculator applies the correct density in both directions.
Going the other way is just as common: a supplier quotes “18 tons” and you need to know if that fits your hole. Divide tons by density to get cubic yards — 18 tons of crushed stone ÷ 1.5 = 12 cubic yards.
Conversion Table: Tons per Cubic Yard by Material
| Material | Tons per yd³ | 5 yd³ = | 10 tons = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | 1.50 | 7.5 tons | 6.7 yd³ |
| #57 stone | 1.45 | 7.3 tons | 6.9 yd³ |
| Crusher run / DGA | 1.55 | 7.8 tons | 6.5 yd³ |
| Gravel | 1.40 | 7.0 tons | 7.1 yd³ |
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | 6.8 tons | 7.4 yd³ |
| River rock | 1.50 | 7.5 tons | 6.7 yd³ |
| Sand | 1.50 | 7.5 tons | 6.7 yd³ |
| Riprap | 1.65 | 8.3 tons | 6.1 yd³ |
| Topsoil / fill dirt | 1.10 | 5.5 tons | 9.1 yd³ |
| Lava rock | 0.65 | 3.3 tons | 15.4 yd³ |
Three Traps in Volume-Weight Conversion
- Tons vs tonnes. A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 2,204.6 lb. A 20-“ton” order differs by two full tons depending on which one the seller meant. Our results show both.
- Moisture. Material is weighed as it crosses the scale, and damp sand or screenings can carry 10%+ water weight. Densities here assume typical as-delivered moisture.
- Loose vs compacted volume. A yard of crusher run compacts to about 0.85–0.9 yd³ in place. If your measurement is the finished, compacted layer, add 10–15% before converting — the waste field above does exactly this.
When your supplier publishes their own density chart, trust it over any generic table — quarry rock varies, and their scale is the one that decides your invoice. For a full material estimate rather than a pure conversion, start from the crushed stone calculator or the material-specific tool for your stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons is 1 cubic yard?
It depends entirely on the material: crushed stone is about 1.5 tons, pea gravel 1.35, sand 1.5, riprap 1.65, topsoil 1.1, and lightweight lava rock only about 0.65 tons per cubic yard.
How do I convert tons back to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the density. Ten tons of crushed stone at 1.5 tons per cubic yard is 10 ÷ 1.5 = 6.7 cubic yards. Enter your area and depth here and the calculator does both directions for you.
Why do suppliers sell by the ton instead of the yard?
Truck scales measure weight precisely, while volume changes with how loosely material is loaded. Selling by weight protects both sides — but it means you must convert your measured volume into tons before ordering.
Are these US tons or metric tonnes?
US short tons (2,000 lb). The results panel also shows metric tonnes (1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lb) — a tonne is about 10% heavier than a US ton, so mixing them up leads to real ordering errors.