Cubic Yards to Tons Gravel — Conversion Chart & Calculator

Cubic Yards to Tons Gravel — Conversion Chart & Calculator

To convert cubic yards to tons of gravel, multiply cubic yards by the density: 1.4 for pea gravel, 1.5 for crushed stone, 1.4 for #57 gravel. Use the gravel tonnage calculator below for instant results, or follow the step-by-step formula and charts. This is one of the guides on OnSiteCalculator.

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The Cubic Yards to Tons Formula

Contractor-tested conversion formula:

Tons = Cubic Yards × Gravel Density (t/yd³)

To reverse (tons → cubic yards):

Cubic Yards = Tons ÷ Gravel Density (t/yd³)

Use the density table below to find the correct multiplier for your gravel type.

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Gravel Density Table — Tons per Cubic Yard

Gravel Type	Density (t/yd³)	Density (lbs/yd³)	Best Use
Crushed stone / #411	1.50	3,000 lbs	Driveways, base layers
Pea gravel	1.40	2,800 lbs	Paths, playgrounds, landscaping
#57 gravel	1.40	2,800 lbs	French drains, drainage base
Decomposed granite	1.45	2,900 lbs	Walkways, xeriscaping
River rock	1.35	2,700 lbs	Decorative beds, water features
¾” clean crushed stone	1.50	3,000 lbs	Drainage, structural base
#3 crushed stone	1.50	3,000 lbs	Driveway base layer
Marble chips	1.35	2,700 lbs	Decorative landscaping
Lava rock	0.90	1,800 lbs	Mulch replacement, planters

Densities are dry-weight averages. Wet or compacted gravel can weigh 5–10% more.

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Cubic Yards to Tons Conversion Chart

Pre-calculated for the four most common gravel types:

Cubic Yards	Pea Gravel (1.4 t/yd³)	Crushed Stone (1.5 t/yd³)	#57 Gravel (1.4 t/yd³)	River Rock (1.35 t/yd³)
0.25 yd³	0.35 tons	0.38 tons	0.35 tons	0.34 tons
0.50 yd³	0.70 tons	0.75 tons	0.70 tons	0.68 tons
0.75 yd³	1.05 tons	1.13 tons	1.05 tons	1.01 tons
1.00 yd³	1.40 tons	1.50 tons	1.40 tons	1.35 tons
1.50 yd³	2.10 tons	2.25 tons	2.10 tons	2.03 tons
2.00 yd³	2.80 tons	3.00 tons	2.80 tons	2.70 tons
3.00 yd³	4.20 tons	4.50 tons	4.20 tons	4.05 tons
4.00 yd³	5.60 tons	6.00 tons	5.60 tons	5.40 tons
5.00 yd³	7.00 tons	7.50 tons	7.00 tons	6.75 tons
7.00 yd³	9.80 tons	10.50 tons	9.80 tons	9.45 tons
10.00 yd³	14.0 tons	15.0 tons	14.0 tons	13.5 tons
15.00 yd³	21.0 tons	22.5 tons	21.0 tons	20.3 tons
20.00 yd³	28.0 tons	30.0 tons	28.0 tons	27.0 tons

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Tons to Cubic Yards — Reverse Conversion Chart

Tons	Pea Gravel (÷ 1.4)	Crushed Stone (÷ 1.5)	#57 Gravel (÷ 1.4)	River Rock (÷ 1.35)
1 ton	0.71 yd³	0.67 yd³	0.71 yd³	0.74 yd³
2 tons	1.43 yd³	1.33 yd³	1.43 yd³	1.48 yd³
3 tons	2.14 yd³	2.00 yd³	2.14 yd³	2.22 yd³
5 tons	3.57 yd³	3.33 yd³	3.57 yd³	3.70 yd³
10 tons	7.14 yd³	6.67 yd³	7.14 yd³	7.41 yd³
14 tons	10.0 yd³	9.33 yd³	10.0 yd³	10.37 yd³
20 tons	14.3 yd³	13.3 yd³	14.3 yd³	14.8 yd³

Quick reference: 1 ton of pea gravel ≈ 0.71 cubic yards. 1 ton of crushed stone ≈ 0.67 cubic yards.

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How to Convert Cubic Yards to Tons — Step by Step

1. Know your cubic yards. If you have area dimensions, calculate first: (Length ft × Width ft × Depth in.) ÷ 324 = cubic yards

2. Find your gravel density from the table above.

   • Pea gravel → 1.4 t/yd³
   • Crushed stone / #411 → 1.5 t/yd³
   • #57 gravel → 1.4 t/yd³
   • River rock → 1.35 t/yd³

3. Multiply: Tons = Cubic Yards × Density

4. Add 10% waste: Tons × 1.10 = final order quantity

5. Round up to the nearest 0.5-ton — never round down when ordering.

Worked Example — Pea Gravel Patio

• Area: 12 ft × 15 ft at 3 in. deep
• Cubic yards: (12 × 15 × 3) ÷ 324 = 1.67 yd³
• Tons: 1.67 × 1.4 = 2.33 tons
• With 10% waste: 2.33 × 1.10 = 2.57 tons → order 3 tons

Worked Example — Crushed Stone Driveway

• Area: 20 ft × 40 ft at 4 in. deep
• Cubic yards: (20 × 40 × 4) ÷ 324 = 9.88 yd³
• Tons: 9.88 × 1.5 = 14.81 tons
• With 10% waste: 14.81 × 1.10 = 16.3 tons → order 16.5 tons

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Tonnage Estimates by Project Type

Common project estimates using contractor-tested formulas:

Project	Dimensions	Depth	Cubic Yards	Tons (Pea Gravel)	Tons (Crushed Stone)
Small garden path	3×20 ft	2 in.	0.37 yd³	0.52 tons	0.56 tons
Garden bed	10×10 ft	3 in.	0.93 yd³	1.30 tons	1.39 tons
Patio	12×16 ft	3 in.	1.78 yd³	2.49 tons	2.67 tons
1-car driveway	10×20 ft	4 in.	2.47 yd³	3.46 tons	3.70 tons
2-car driveway	20×40 ft	4 in.	9.88 yd³	13.83 tons	14.81 tons
2-car driveway	20×40 ft	6 in.	14.81 yd³	20.74 tons	22.22 tons
French drain	50 ft × 12 in. × 18 in.	—	2.78 yd³	3.89 tons	4.17 tons
Playground base	15×15 ft	6 in.	5.21 yd³	7.29 tons	7.81 tons

For project-specific numbers, the gravel calculator accepts exact dimensions, gravel type, waste, and compaction allowances and outputs cubic yards, tons, and estimated cost.

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Why Gravel Density Matters for Ordering

Gravel weight varies because of grain size, shape, and moisture content:

• Angular crushed stone packs tighter → higher density (1.5 t/yd³)
• Round pea gravel has more air gaps → lower density (1.4 t/yd³)
• Wet gravel weighs up to 10% more than dry
• Compacted gravel yields 10–15% less coverage than loose

Always use dry density values when ordering — suppliers measure and sell by dry weight. If your supplier lists a different density for your specific product, use their number instead of the defaults above.

A 10% error in density on a large driveway can mean an extra half-truckload or a project that falls short. Confirm with the quarry.

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Dump Truck Loads — How Many Tons and Yards Per Truck

Truck Type	Tons	Cubic Yards
Standard dump truck	10–14 tons	7–10 yd³
Tandem axle	up to 18 tons	≈ 12 yd³
Tri-axle	up to 22 tons	≈ 14–15 yd³

Most residential deliveries arrive by standard dump truck. Minimum delivery is typically 5 tons. For smaller quantities, check whether your supplier offers partial loads or pick up with a trailer.

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Related Tools

• Gravel Calculator — Enter area, depth, gravel type, waste, and compaction to get cubic yards and tons with optional cost estimate.
• How Much Gravel Do I Need? Complete Guide — Full planning guide covering formula, coverage tables, driveway depth, French drain sizing, and ordering tips.
• Mulch Calculator — Calculate cubic yards and bags of mulch for landscape beds adjacent to your gravel project.
• Concrete Slab Calculator — Estimate concrete volume for driveways poured over a compacted gravel sub-base.