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Construction, Aggregates & Landscaping Calculator
Convert Tons to Cubic Yards
Quickly convert between Tons and Cubic Yards (and vice versa) for gravel, crushed stone, topsoil, sand, mulch, and asphalt with calibrated material densities, project area estimation, and truckload calculations.
Tons & Yards Calculator
Choose your calculation mode and material preset below:
Standard angular crushed stone. Excellent for driveways, drainage, concrete mixing, and French drains.Category: Gravel & Stone
Short Tons
Quick Weights:
Equivalent VolumeDensity: 1.4 tons/yd³
7.14Cubic Yards (yd³)
Exact volume occupied by 10 short tons of Crushed Stone #57 (3/4").
= 192.9 Cubic Feet (ft³) • 5.46 m³
Handling & Transport
Pickup Truck Beds (~1.5 yd³):~4.8 loads
Contractor Wheelbarrows (3 ft³):~65 loads
Standard 2 cu ft Bags:97 bags
Total Weight (LBS / KG):20,000 lbs / 9,072 kg
Calculation Formula & Step-by-Step Substitution:
1. Formula: Cubic Yards = Weight (Tons) ÷ Density (Tons / yd³)
2. Step: 10 tons ÷ 1.4 tons/yd³ = 7.1429 yd³
📊 Quick Reference Guide
Tons to Cubic Yards Conversion Charts
Instant look-up tables for popular landscaping, aggregate, and building materials based on standard loose dry densities.
Tons to Cubic Yards Table
Shows volume (yd³) for common weights
| Weight (Tons) | Gravel (1.4 t/yd³) | Sand (1.3 t/yd³) | Topsoil (1.05 t/yd³) | Mulch (0.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton | 0.71 yd³ | 0.77 yd³ | 0.95 yd³ | 2.50 yd³ |
| 2 Tons | 1.43 yd³ | 1.54 yd³ | 1.90 yd³ | 5.00 yd³ |
| 3 Tons | 2.14 yd³ | 2.31 yd³ | 2.86 yd³ | 7.50 yd³ |
| 5 Tons | 3.57 yd³ | 3.85 yd³ | 4.76 yd³ | 12.50 yd³ |
| 10 Tons | 7.14 yd³ | 7.69 yd³ | 9.52 yd³ | 25.00 yd³ |
| 15 Tons | 10.71 yd³ | 11.54 yd³ | 14.29 yd³ | 37.50 yd³ |
| 20 Tons | 14.29 yd³ | 15.38 yd³ | 19.05 yd³ | 50.00 yd³ |
| 25 Tons | 17.86 yd³ | 19.23 yd³ | 23.81 yd³ | 62.50 yd³ |
Cubic Yards to Tons Table
Shows weight (Tons) for common volumes
| Volume (yd³) | Gravel (1.4 t/yd³) | Crusher Run (1.5 t/yd³) | Topsoil (1.05 t/yd³) | Asphalt (2.0 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | 1.40 tons | 1.50 tons | 1.05 tons | 2.00 tons |
| 2 yd³ | 2.80 tons | 3.00 tons | 2.10 tons | 4.00 tons |
| 3 yd³ | 4.20 tons | 4.50 tons | 3.15 tons | 6.00 tons |
| 5 yd³ | 7.00 tons | 7.50 tons | 5.25 tons | 10.00 tons |
| 8 yd³ | 11.20 tons | 12.00 tons | 8.40 tons | 16.00 tons |
| 10 yd³ | 14.00 tons | 15.00 tons | 10.50 tons | 20.00 tons |
| 12 yd³ | 16.80 tons | 18.00 tons | 12.60 tons | 24.00 tons |
| 15 yd³ | 21.00 tons | 22.50 tons | 15.75 tons | 30.00 tons |
Full Material Density Reference Chart
| Material | Category | Tons / Cu Yard | LBS / Cu Yard | LBS / Cu Foot | KG / Cu Meter | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone #57 (3/4") | Gravel & Stone | 1.4 | 2,800 lbs | 103.7 lbs | 1,661 kg | Driveway base, drainage ditches, concrete aggregates |
| Crusher Run / Road Base (DGA) | Gravel & Stone | 1.5 | 3,000 lbs | 111.1 lbs | 1,780 kg | Paver base, shed foundations, driveway sub-base |
| Pea Gravel (3/8" Smooth) | Gravel & Stone | 1.4 | 2,800 lbs | 103.7 lbs | 1,661 kg | Walkways, decorative borders, playgrounds |
| River Rock / Round Drain Rock (1"-3") | Gravel & Stone | 1.3 | 2,600 lbs | 96.3 lbs | 1,542 kg | Decorative landscaping, swales, drainage beds |
| Crushed Limestone | Gravel & Stone | 1.35 | 2,700 lbs | 100 lbs | 1,602 kg | Driveways, road construction, retaining wall backfill |
| Crushed Granite | Gravel & Stone | 1.45 | 2,900 lbs | 107.4 lbs | 1,720 kg | Heavy vehicle driveways, railway ballast, heavy fill |
| Riprap / Large Rock (4"-8") | Gravel & Stone | 1.3 | 2,600 lbs | 96.3 lbs | 1,542 kg | Erosion control, slope stabilization, culverts |
| Dry Concrete / Mason Sand | Sand & Aggregates | 1.3 | 2,600 lbs | 96.3 lbs | 1,542 kg | Paver bedding layer, masonry mortar, pool bases |
| Wet / Packed Sand | Sand & Aggregates | 1.5 | 3,000 lbs | 111.1 lbs | 1,780 kg | General construction, trench backfill |
| Decomposed Granite (DG) | Sand & Aggregates | 1.45 | 2,900 lbs | 107.4 lbs | 1,720 kg | Walking trails, xeriscape ground cover, bocce courts |
| Stone Dust / Screenings | Sand & Aggregates | 1.35 | 2,700 lbs | 100 lbs | 1,602 kg | Paver joint filler, final leveling, horse arenas |
| Screened Topsoil (Dry/Typical) | Soil & Dirt | 1.05 | 2,100 lbs | 77.8 lbs | 1,246 kg | Lawn seeding, sod underlayment, flower beds |
| Garden Soil / 50-50 Compost Blend | Soil & Dirt | 0.9 | 1,800 lbs | 66.7 lbs | 1,068 kg | Raised garden beds, vegetable patches, planter boxes |
| Fill Dirt (Unscreened Subsoil) | Soil & Dirt | 1.25 | 2,500 lbs | 92.6 lbs | 1,483 kg | Filling sinkholes, raising grade around foundations, road beds |
| Heavy Clay Soil (Moist/Wet) | Soil & Dirt | 1.4 | 2,800 lbs | 103.7 lbs | 1,661 kg | Pond liners, core trench dams, retaining earthworks |
| Hardwood / Shredded Bark Mulch | Mulch & Compost | 0.4 | 800 lbs | 29.6 lbs | 475 kg | Garden bed topdressing, tree rings, moisture retention |
| Pine Bark Nuggets / Woodchips | Mulch & Compost | 0.35 | 700 lbs | 25.9 lbs | 415 kg | Decorative beds, playground safety groundcover |
| Organic Compost (Aged/Mushroom) | Mulch & Compost | 0.55 | 1,100 lbs | 40.7 lbs | 653 kg | Soil amendment, topdressing lawns, potting mix |
| Hot Mix Asphalt (Blacktop Compacted) | Paving & Concrete | 2 | 4,000 lbs | 148.1 lbs | 2,373 kg | Driveways, road paving, parking surfaces |
| Solid Concrete / Masonry Rubble | Paving & Concrete | 2.025 | 4,050 lbs | 150 lbs | 2,403 kg | Foundations, slabs, footings, demolition debris |
| Crushed Recycled Concrete (RCA) | Paving & Concrete | 1.25 | 2,500 lbs | 92.6 lbs | 1,483 kg | Sub-base under asphalt, temporary haul roads, backfill |
📖 How It Works & Contractor Rules
How to Convert Tons to Cubic Yards
1
Weight vs. Volume
A Ton is a unit of mass/weight (2,000 lbs in the US), whereas a Cubic Yard is a unit of volume (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 ft³). You cannot convert between them without knowing the density of the specific material.
2
The Standard Formulas
To convert Tons to Yards:Yards = Tons ÷ Density (tons/yd³)
To convert Yards to Tons:Tons = Yards × Density (tons/yd³)
3
The 10% Waste Rule
Always add 10% extra material when ordering bulk aggregates, gravel, or soil. Materials naturally compact during rolling/tamping and settle into subgrade depressions.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Tons to Cubic Yards FAQ
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