Cubic Yards to Tons of Gravel — How to Convert
Convert cubic yards of gravel to tons (and back) using density. Includes a quick-reference table for every common gravel type.
Suppliers quote in tons. Calculators output cubic yards. Most homeowners spend ten minutes Googling between the two before they realize the conversion isn't a single number — it depends on the gravel type. Here's the simple math, a quick-reference table, and the few sanity-checks that'll keep you from over-ordering.
The conversion formula
There's exactly one equation you need:
A short ton is 2,000 lb. Multiply your cubic-yard count by the material's density (lb/yd³), then divide by 2,000.
For example, 5 cubic yards of crushed stone #57 at 2,750 lb/yd³ is 5 × 2,750 ÷ 2,000 = 6.875 short tons.
To go the other direction, just rearrange:
Quick-reference conversion table
The numbers below are the average densities we use in the calculator. Real-world values vary ±5% by source and moisture.
| Gravel type | lb / yd³ | Tons / yd³ | yd³ / ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel (3/8") | 2,450 | 1.225 | 0.816 |
| Crushed Stone #57 | 2,750 | 1.375 | 0.727 |
| Crushed Stone #8 | 2,700 | 1.350 | 0.741 |
| Crushed Stone #4 | 2,650 | 1.325 | 0.755 |
| River Rock (1"–3") | 2,550 | 1.275 | 0.784 |
| Decomposed Granite | 2,550 | 1.275 | 0.784 |
| Crushed Limestone | 2,700 | 1.350 | 0.741 |
| CA6 / 21AA / Class 5 | 2,650 | 1.325 | 0.755 |
| ABC / Crusher Run | 2,700 | 1.350 | 0.741 |
| Recycled Concrete | 2,650 | 1.325 | 0.755 |
| Lava Rock | 1,500 | 0.750 | 1.333 |
Cubic yards to tons — worked examples
Example 1: A 200 sq ft patio at 4 inches deep with #57 stone.
- Volume: 200 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 2.47 yd³
- Weight: 2.47 × 2,750 ÷ 2,000 = 3.39 tons
- With 10% buffer: 3.73 tons → order 4 tons
Example 2: A 1,000 sq ft driveway with 4" of CA6 base + 2" of #57 top.
- Base volume: 1,000 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 12.35 yd³ → × 2,650 ÷ 2,000 = 16.36 tons
- Top volume: 1,000 × (2/12) ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³ → × 2,750 ÷ 2,000 = 8.49 tons
- Total: ~25 tons (with 10% buffer: 27.5 tons → order 28 tons)
Example 3: A 50 sq ft path at 2 inches deep with pea gravel.
- Volume: 50 × (2/12) ÷ 27 = 0.31 yd³
- Weight: 0.31 × 2,450 ÷ 2,000 = 0.38 tons (about 760 lb)
- Below most quarries' minimum order — buy bagged from a home center instead (about 16 half-cubic-foot bags).
Tons to cubic yards — worked examples
You'll do this conversion when a quarry quotes you in tons but your truck is rented by the cubic yard, or when you want to estimate how the pile will look on your driveway.
Example: 10 tons of #57 stone delivered.
- Volume: 10 × 2,000 ÷ 2,750 = 7.27 yd³
- That's about 196 cubic feet — roughly a 7-ft × 7-ft × 4-ft pile loose.
- Coverage at 4" deep: 7.27 × 27 / (4/12) = ~590 sq ft
Why density matters more than you think
A cubic yard of pea gravel and a cubic yard of #57 stone are the same volume but the stone is 12% heavier. If your supplier sells by the ton and you tell them "5 cubic yards" assuming pea-gravel density when you're actually buying #57, you'll get charged for ~7.5% more weight than you expected.
The fix: know your material before you call. The supplier's ticket will list the product (e.g., "#57 limestone, washed, dry") — match that to the calculator's material picker so the quoted tons line up with the cubic yards you planned for.
Metric: cubic meters to tonnes
The metric version of the same formula:
For example, #57 limestone at ~1,630 kg/m³: 3 m³ × 1,630 ÷ 1,000 = 4.89 tonnes.
Quick conversions you may need: 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 m³; 1 short ton = 0.9072 metric tonne. The metric calculator handles all of this automatically.