Key takeaways
- Tons = cubic yards × density. Gravel is about 1.4 tons per yard, sand 1.35, loose topsoil 1.05 and mulch 0.3.
- Five yards of gravel weigh about 7 tons. One ton of gravel is about 0.71 cubic yards.
- Water adds weight but no volume. Wet sand runs about 1.65 tons per yard against 1.35 dry, and you pay for the difference.
- Published bulk prices run $10–$50 a ton for gravel and $15–$50 a ton for sand, before delivery.
How many tons is a cubic yard?
Multiply the cubic yards by the material's density in tons per yard. Five yards of gravel at 1.4 tons a yard is 7 tons. Five yards of hardwood mulch at 0.3 is a ton and a half. Same pile, almost five times the weight, which is why stone and sand are often sold by the ton and mulch by the yard.
If you don't know the yards yet, start with the cubic yard calculator, or go straight to the gravel calculator, which shows yards and tons together.
What a cubic yard weighs, by material
These are weights for a loose cubic yard as delivered. Wet material sits at the top of each range. Use the row that matches what your supplier sells.
| Material | Pounds per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | Yards per ton | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, crushed stone (3/4 in) | 2,600–3,000 | 1.4 | 0.71 | Gravel |
| Pea gravel | 2,600–2,900 | 1.35 | 0.74 | Gravel |
| River rock | 2,600–2,900 | 1.35 | 0.74 | Rock & stone |
| Crushed limestone (#57) | 2,800–3,000 | 1.45 | 0.69 | Rock & stone |
| Lava rock | 1,200–1,800 | 0.75 | 1.33 | Rock & stone |
| Sand (dry) | 2,500–2,800 | 1.35 | 0.74 | Sand |
| Sand (wet) | 3,000–3,400 | 1.65 | 0.61 | Sand |
| Topsoil (loose, dry) | 2,000–2,300 | 1.05 | 0.95 | Topsoil |
| Topsoil (packed or damp) | 2,400–2,800 | 1.3 | 0.77 | Topsoil |
| Fill dirt | 2,000–2,600 | 1.1 | 0.91 | Soil |
| Garden soil / compost blend | 1,600–2,200 | 0.9 | 1.11 | Soil |
| Compost | 1,000–1,600 | 0.6 | 1.67 | Soil |
| Hardwood mulch | 400–800 | 0.3 | 3.33 | Mulch |
| Bark mulch | 400–700 | 0.25 | 4.00 | Mulch |
The yards to tons formula
- Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)
- Cubic yards = tons ÷ density
- Density from pounds = pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 (a US short ton)
The arithmetic is easy. The density is where people go wrong, because gravel from one quarry isn't gravel from another and water adds weight without adding volume. The regional weight chart we cite lists ¾-inch gravel at 2,565 lb a yard dry and 3,375 lb wet. That's about a 30% swing on the same yard of stone. The sources for every figure are on the methodology page.
The converter's metric tonnes figure uses 0.907 tonnes per US ton. If a supplier outside the US quotes in tonnes, that's the number to compare.
How many yards are in a ton?
Divide 1 by the density. For crushed stone that's 1 ÷ 1.4 = 0.71 cubic yards, or about 19 cubic feet. Spread out, a ton of gravel covers about 115 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 77 sq ft at 3 inches and 58 sq ft at 4 inches.
For a driveway, think in tons per 100 feet of length. A 10 ft wide drive with 4 inches of stone takes 12.3 yards per 100 ft, which is about 17 tons.
What a price per ton means
A per-ton price means you pay for weight. Yards that sell this way weigh the load, usually on a truck scale, so the bill depends on how heavy that particular load is. Here's what the major cost guides published this year for the materials most often sold by the ton.
| What you're buying | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or crushed stone, bulk | $10–$50per ton | [1] |
| Crusher run (crush and run) | $24–$34per ton | [1] |
| Crushed limestone | $30–$38per ton | [1] |
| River rockBased on 1-4 in. river rock | $45–$130per ton | [2] |
| Sand, bulkMaterial only | $15–$50per ton | [3] |
| Paver sand, washed | $35–$50per ton | [3] |
| Gravel deliveryOr free with a 5-ton minimum up to 5 miles; add $10 per extra mile | $10–$25per ton | [1] |
- [1] HomeGuide, How Much Does Crushed Stone or Gravel Cost? (2026), updated Dec 2025.
- [2] HomeGuide, How Much Do Landscaping River Rocks and Stones Cost? (2026), updated Dec 2025.
- [3] HomeGuide, How Much Does Sand Delivery Cost? (2026), updated Jun 2026.
Prices as published by each source, checked November 2026. They are national ranges, not quotes: your local yard can be well above or below them.
Put those together for the converter's starting example. Five yards of gravel is 7 tons, and 7 tons at $10–$50 a ton is $70–$350 of stone. Delivery at $10–$25 a ton adds $70–$175, so the job lands around $140–$525 before tax. Five yards of dry sand is 6.75 tons, or about $101–$338 at $15–$50 a ton.
When you compare quotes, convert them to the same unit first. A per-yard quote and a per-ton quote for the same stone look very different until you multiply by the density.
Before you order by the ton
Ask whether the per-ton price includes delivery, and whether there's a minimum load. HomeGuide notes that some yards deliver gravel free within about five miles on orders of five tons or more.
Sand and topsoil hold water, so a load after a week of rain weighs more than the same volume in a dry spell. If the yard sells by weight, ask how wet the pile is. Washed stone drains quickly and matters less.
How many tons fit in a truck?
| Truck | Typical payload | Gravel (1.4 t/yd) | Topsoil (1.05 t/yd) | Mulch (volume-limited) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-axle dump | 5–7 tons | 4–5 yd | 5–6 yd | 8–10 yd |
| Tandem-axle dump | 12–15 tons | 9–11 yd | 12–14 yd | 15–20 yd |
| Tri-axle dump | 18–22 tons | 13–16 yd | 17–20 yd | 20–25 yd |
These are typical ratings. The truck's legal limit and the size of its bed decide the real load, so ask the yard what theirs carry. Mulch fills the bed long before it reaches the weight limit, which is another reason mulch is quoted in yards and gravel in tons.
Hauling it yourself? Read the payload on the sticker inside the driver's door. A yard of gravel at 2,600–3,000 lb is more than many half-ton pickups are rated for. A yard of mulch is well under it.