Free Yards to Tons Calculator
Use this yards to tons calculator to convert cubic yards to tons, or tons to yards, for gravel, sand, soil, mulch and stone.
Bulk stone, sand and soil are often priced by the ton, but most project calculators work in cubic yards. To convert, you need the weight of one cubic yard of the material. That depends on the stone type, grading and moisture, so the figures below are typical values, not exact ones.
How the yards to tons calculator works
Tons = cubic yards × the weight of one cubic yard of the material, in tons. Going the other way, cubic yards = tons ÷ weight per yard. The weight depends on the material, so choose it first.
Weight per cubic yard by material
| Material | Typical range (lb/yd³) | We use (tons/yd³) | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 400 to 1,000 | 0.35 | 2.86 |
| Gravel | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Pea gravel | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Crushed stone | 2,600 to 3,200 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| River rock | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Decomposed granite | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Topsoil | 2,000 to 2,800 | 1.1 | 0.91 |
| Compost | 800 to 1,400 | 0.5 | 2 |
| Sand | 2,600 to 3,400 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Fill dirt | 2,000 to 2,800 | 1.2 | 0.83 |
| Concrete | 3,800 to 4,200 | 2 | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight per cubic yard in tons. For gravel at about 1.4 tons per yard, 5 cubic yards is about 7 tons.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the weight per cubic yard. 10 tons of gravel ÷ 1.4 is about 7.1 cubic yards.
Can I use this as a tons to yards calculator?
Yes. Type in the tons box and the cubic yards update. Use it when a supplier quotes by the ton but your project is measured in yards.
How accurate is the yards to tons calculator?
The maths is exact, but material weights vary with moisture and grading. Our weights are typical loose figures; ask your supplier for theirs if you buy by the ton.
Why do suppliers sell some materials by the ton?
Stone and sand are weighed on a truck scale as they are loaded, so a ton price is easy to measure. Light materials like mulch are sold by volume instead.
Need the volume first? Use the cubic yard calculator.