Cubic yards to tons of gravel: the conversion explained

Gravel suppliers are not consistent about how they price and sell their product. Some quote you by the ton because that is how the material leaves the quarry scale, while others quote by the cubic yard because that is how it fills a truck bed or a project. Your driveway, path, or drainage bed, meanwhile, is measured in cubic yards of volume. So you constantly need to convert between the two: turning a volume you calculated into the tonnage a yard will deliver, or turning a price per ton into what a yard of coverage actually costs. This guide gives you the conversion, a couple of worked examples, a quick reference table, and the reasons the number shifts depending on the type of gravel.

The rule of thumb: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard

For most common gravels, one cubic yard weighs roughly 1.4 tons, with typical values landing between 1.4 and 1.5 tons. That range covers pea gravel, crushed stone, and river rock in dry conditions. If you only remember one number, use 1.4 tons per cubic yard for estimating, then lean toward 1.5 if the gravel is dense crushed stone or slightly damp. The math itself is simple:

tons = cubic yards × 1.4

cubic yards = tons ÷ 1.4

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and dry gravel weighs somewhere around 100 to 105 pounds per cubic foot. Multiply that out and a cubic yard comes to roughly 2,700 to 2,850 pounds. Since a US ton is 2,000 pounds, that works out to about 1.35 to 1.43 tons, which is why 1.4 is the number the trade rounds to.

A worked example, both directions

Say you measured your project and need 5 cubic yards of crushed stone. To find out how many tons to order, multiply by 1.4:

5 cubic yards × 1.4 = 7 tons

So you would ask the supplier for about 7 tons. Now flip it. Suppose the yard quotes you gravel by the ton and you are looking at a 10 ton minimum delivery. How much volume is that, so you can check it will cover your area? Divide by 1.4:

10 tons ÷ 1.4 = 7.14 cubic yards

That 10 ton load fills roughly 7.1 cubic yards. The two calculations are mirror images: multiply to go from yards to tons, divide to go from tons back to yards. If you ever forget which way to point the operation, remember that a cubic yard weighs more than a ton, so the tonnage number is always the larger of the two.

Cubic yards to tons at a glance

The table below shows common cubic-yard amounts converted to tons at both ends of the usual density range. Use the 1.4 column for lighter gravels like pea gravel and the 1.5 column for dense crushed stone or damp material.

For amounts between these rows, the conversion scales in a straight line, so 3 cubic yards is about 4.2 to 4.5 tons and 7 cubic yards is about 9.8 to 10.5 tons. Nothing in the formula changes with size; you are just multiplying the same density factor.

Why density varies by gravel type

The reason you see a range instead of a single fixed number is that different stone products pack differently. Grain shape, particle size, and moisture all change how much weight fits into a given volume. Here is roughly where the common types fall:

• Pea gravel: small rounded stones with lots of air gaps, around 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
• Crushed stone #57: angular pieces that lock together, about 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
• River rock: smooth and rounded, similar to pea gravel at roughly 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
• Decomposed granite and stone dust: fine and dense, often at the top of the range or slightly above.
• Wet or damp gravel: water adds weight, pushing any of these a bit heavier.

In practice the differences are small enough that 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard covers almost every landscaping and driveway gravel you will buy. If your supplier lists a specific density or weight per yard for the product you want, use their figure instead of the rule of thumb, since they know exactly what is coming off their pile.

How much area does a ton cover?

Weight only tells half the story; what you really care about is coverage. Because a ton is roughly 0.7 cubic yards, which is about 19 cubic feet, the area it covers depends entirely on how deep you spread it. As a working guide:

• At 2 inches deep, one ton covers roughly 100 square feet.
• At 3 inches deep, one ton covers roughly 70 square feet.
• At 4 inches deep, one ton covers roughly 50 square feet.

Deeper layers eat through tonnage fast, so a driveway spread 4 inches deep needs about twice the gravel of a decorative bed at 2 inches. A common target for a walkable gravel surface is 2 to 3 inches, while driveways that carry vehicles are usually built up to 4 inches or more over a base layer.

Should you order by the ton or the yard?

It rarely matters to the finished job, because the material is the same either way; it only matters for comparing prices and reading the delivery ticket. If a supplier sells by the ton, convert your volume to tons before you call so you order enough. If they sell by the yard, you can order your measured volume directly. The one thing to avoid is comparing a price per ton against a price per yard as if they were the same unit, since a yard costs about 1.4 times what a ton does for the identical gravel.

To compare two quotes fairly, put them in the same unit first. A yard priced at 42 dollars is the same value as a ton priced at 30 dollars, because 42 divided by 1.4 is 30. Do that division and the cheaper supplier becomes obvious even when they quote in different units.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?

About 1.4 tons for most gravels, and commonly anywhere from 1.4 to 1.5 tons depending on the type and moisture. Pea gravel and river rock sit near 1.4, while dense crushed stone and damp material push toward 1.5. Multiply your cubic yards by 1.4 for a solid estimate.

How do I convert cubic yards of gravel to tons?

Multiply the number of cubic yards by 1.4. For example, 5 cubic yards times 1.4 equals 7 tons. To go the other way and turn tons into cubic yards, divide by 1.4, so 10 tons divided by 1.4 is about 7.1 cubic yards.

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of dry gravel weighs roughly 2,700 to 2,850 pounds, which is about 1.4 tons. That comes from 27 cubic feet per yard at around 100 to 105 pounds per cubic foot. Wet gravel weighs more because the water adds mass.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

Roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, about 70 square feet at 3 inches, and about 50 square feet at 4 inches. Coverage drops as depth increases, so decide your depth first, then work out how many tons the area needs.

Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or the yard?

Neither is inherently cheaper; they are just two ways of pricing the same material. To compare, convert both quotes to one unit. A yard costs about 1.4 times a ton for the same gravel, so divide a per-yard price by 1.4 to see the equivalent per-ton price before you decide.