Tons to cubic yards
Multiply tons by 2,000 and divide by the weight of a cubic yard. 10 tons of gravel is about 7.41 cubic yards, enough to cover 800 sq ft 3 in deep.
The conversion
Cubic yards = tons × 2,000 ÷ pounds per cubic yard
10 tons × 2,000 ÷ 2,700 lb per loose cu yd = 7.41 cu yd
200 cu ft ÷ 3 in = 800 sq ft
Suppliers sell stone by the ton because they weigh every truck. When a quote is in tons, this tells you how much ground it will cover. The answer depends on the weight per yard, so the converter also shows the range of volumes across the published weights for the material.
What one ton covers
| Material | Cu yd per ton | Cu ft per ton | Sq ft at 2 in | Sq ft at 3 in | Sq ft at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (mixed sizes) | 0.74 | 20 | 120 | 80 | 60 |
| Pea gravel | 0.74 | 20 | 120 | 80 | 60 |
| Crushed stone (#57 and other clean stone) | 0.74 | 20 | 120 | 80 | 60 |
| Crusher run (road base with fines) | 0.71 | 19.3 | 116 | 77 | 58 |
| River rock | 0.77 | 20.8 | 125 | 83 | 62 |
| Stone dust (screenings) | 0.83 | 22.5 | 135 | 90 | 68 |
| Sand | 0.74 | 20 | 120 | 80 | 60 |
| Topsoil | 0.83 | 22.5 | 135 | 90 | 68 |
| Asphalt millings (recycled asphalt) | 0.83 | 22.5 | 135 | 90 | 68 |
| Crushed concrete (recycled) | 0.87 | 23.5 | 141 | 94 | 70 |
For a compacted base, choose "compacted" in the converter: a ton fills less compacted volume than loose volume, because compaction squeezes the stone together.
Sources
- Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 2016. Loose weights of gravel, rock, sand, sandy loam soil and shredded wood chips.
- Maintenance Manual Volume 1, Appendix: Useful Information, California Department of Transportation, July 2014. Loose weights of crushed gravel, limestone, granite, screenings, sand and soil; 111 lb of asphalt mix per square yard per inch; 2.0 tons per compacted cubic yard of base.
- Highway Maintenance Tables and Conversion Factors (Engineering Policy Guide appendix), Missouri Department of Transportation, current guide. Loose and compacted weights of crushed stone, sand, asphalt and concrete in pounds per cubic foot and per cubic yard.
- Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates of Wisconsin (WHRP 0092-22-05), Wisconsin Highway Research Program, Michigan State University, December 2023. Measured loose and compacted weights of base aggregates, recycled asphalt and recycled concrete; tons per compacted cubic yard.