The conversion needs density
Tons measure weight; cubic yards measure volume. There is no single universal conversion. The calculator converts the selected material's estimated pounds per cubic foot into both units.
Gravel conversion
Gravel tons to yards calculator
Convert gravel between US short tons and cubic yards, then estimate coverage at your chosen depth.
Converted amount
—Enter an amount to convert gravel.
| US short tons | — |
|---|---|
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Coverage | — |
| Density used | — |
Density matters.
This is a volume-to-weight estimate using an approximate loose bulk density. Moisture,
gradation, compaction, and the supplier's scale can change the delivered conversion.
One-ton crushed-stone example
At 100 lb per cubic foot, one 2,000 lb short ton occupies about 20 cubic feet, or 0.741 cubic yards. One cubic yard at that density weighs about 1.35 tons.
Gravel tons and yards conversion table
These are planning conversions for one US short ton and one cubic yard. Use a supplier's product sheet when it provides a more specific density.
| Material | Density used | 1 ton ≈ cubic yards | 1 cubic yard ≈ tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone (#57 / driveway) | 100 lb/cu ft | 0.741 cu yd | 1.350 tons |
| Pea gravel | 96 lb/cu ft | 0.772 cu yd | 1.296 tons |
| River rock | 98 lb/cu ft | 0.756 cu yd | 1.323 tons |
| Sand | 100 lb/cu ft | 0.741 cu yd | 1.350 tons |
| Paver base / road base | 115 lb/cu ft | 0.644 cu yd | 1.552 tons |
Formula: gravel tons to cubic yards
Cubic yards = tons × 2,000 ÷ density (lb/cu ft) ÷ 27.
The reverse is tons = cubic yards × 27 × density ÷ 2,000. The result is an estimate because loose bulk density is not fixed.
FAQ
How many cubic yards are in one ton of gravel?
With the approximate densities used here, one US short ton is about 0.64–0.77 cubic yards. Representative crushed stone at 100 lb per cubic foot is about 0.74 cubic yards per ton.
How many tons are in one cubic yard of gravel?
The estimate is about 1.30–1.55 US short tons per cubic yard depending on material. Representative crushed stone at 100 lb per cubic foot is about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Why is my supplier's tons-to-yards conversion different?
Bulk density changes with stone size, gradation, moisture, void space, and compaction. Suppliers may use a product-specific density or sell by certified scale weight, which should override a general calculator estimate.
Does this use US short tons or metric tonnes?
It uses US short tons of 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is about 2,204.6 pounds, so do not mix the two units when ordering.
How much area does one ton of gravel cover?
At the representative crushed-stone density, one ton is about 20 cubic feet. That covers about 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 square feet at 3 inches, or 60 square feet at 4 inches before any ordering allowance.
Conversion estimate only. Final delivered quantity and price should use the supplier's product density, sales unit, scale weight, and ordering policy.