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Cubic yards measure volume; tons measure weight. There is no single conversion between them – it depends entirely on what is in the yard. A cubic yard of mulch weighs about a third of a ton; a cubic yard of wet sand weighs over one and a half tons. This guide gives you the conversion factor for every common landscaping and construction material, plus the formula so you can do it yourself.
The formula
Tons = Cubic yards × Density (lb/ft³) × 27 ÷ 2,000or simply:
Tons = Cubic yards × tons-per-yard factor · Cubic yards = Tons ÷ factor
The factor is just the material’s bulk density in pounds per cubic foot multiplied by 27 (cubic feet in a yard) and divided by 2,000 (pounds in a US ton). For 3/4″ gravel at 105 lb/ft³: 105 × 27 ÷ 2,000 = 1.42 tons per cubic yard.
Cubic yards to tons: conversion factors by material
| Material | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton | lb per cubic foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bark mulch | 0.35 | 2.85 | 26 |
| Compost | 0.74 | 1.35 | 55 |
| Lava rock | 0.68 | 1.48 | 50 |
| Topsoil, dry | 1.05 | 0.95 | 78 |
| Topsoil, moist (screened) | 1.22 | 0.82 | 90 |
| Fill dirt, loose | 1.35 | 0.74 | 100 |
| Fill dirt, compacted | 1.55 | 0.64 | 115 |
| Clay | 1.49 | 0.67 | 110 |
| Sand, dry | 1.35 | 0.74 | 100 |
| Sand, wet | 1.62 | 0.62 | 120 |
| Pea gravel | 1.30 | 0.77 | 96 |
| 3/4″ gravel / #57 stone | 1.42 | 0.70 | 105 |
| River rock 1–3″ | 1.35 | 0.74 | 100 |
| Crushed limestone | 1.35 | 0.74 | 100 |
| Stone dust | 1.35 | 0.74 | 100 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.69 | 0.59 | 125 |
| Recycled concrete | 1.28 | 0.78 | 95 |
| Rip rap (placed) | 1.49 | 0.67 | 110 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.42 | 0.70 | 105 |
| Asphalt millings | 1.55 | 0.64 | 115 |
Typical loose bulk values. Your supplier’s figure may differ by ±10%. Full list on our methodology page.
Worked examples
5 cubic yards of crusher run to tons
5 × 1.69 = 8.45 tons
8 tons of topsoil to cubic yards
8 ÷ 1.22 = 6.6 cubic yards
A 14-yard dump truck of sand – how many tons?
14 × 1.35 = 18.9 tons dry, or 14 × 1.62 = 22.7 tons wet – which is why the truck may not be filled to the top
Metric: cubic metres to tonnes
The same logic applies with metric units, and the numbers are conveniently close: a density of 1,600 kg/m³ means 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre. Typical figures: gravel 1.6–1.7 t/m³, sand 1.6 t/m³, topsoil 1.2–1.4 t/m³, crusher run 2.0 t/m³. To convert US tons per cubic yard to tonnes per cubic metre, multiply by 1.187.
Why suppliers use both units
Quarries weigh trucks on a scale, so stone is naturally sold by the ton. Landscape yards load with a bucket of known volume, so soil and mulch are sold by the yard. When you get quotes in different units, convert both to the same one before comparing: $50 per ton of 3/4″ gravel is the same as $71 per cubic yard.
Skip the factor tables – pick your material and the calculator converts volume to weight (and back) for you.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard?
It depends on the material: about 1.4 tons for gravel and crushed stone, 1.35 for dry sand, 1.2 for topsoil, 1.7 for crusher run, and only 0.35 for bark mulch.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the material’s tons-per-yard factor. For example 10 tons of 3/4″ gravel ÷ 1.42 = about 7 cubic yards.
Is a yard the same as a ton?
No. A cubic yard is a volume (27 cubic feet); a ton is a weight (2,000 lb). For most stone and soil a yard weighs between 1.2 and 1.7 tons, so treating them as equal leads to ordering 20–40% too little.
