A landscaping supplier quotes material by the cubic yard, but delivery trucks and hauling fees are priced by weight, this calculator converts between the two using each material’s density, since a cubic yard of gravel weighs vastly more than a cubic yard of mulch.

How to use this cubic yards to tons calculator

1. Enter the volume in Cubic Yards.
2. Pick a Material preset (gravel, sand, crushed stone, topsoil, mulch, concrete, or asphalt) for a typical density, or select Custom density and enter your own.
3. Review your Weight in US tons, pounds, metric tonnes, and kilograms.

What this cubic yards to tons calculator does

Cubic yards measure volume, while tons measure weight, converting between them requires knowing the material’s density, since equal volumes of different materials weigh very different amounts.

Typical densities by material

This calculator includes preset densities for common landscaping and construction materials: gravel at roughly 2,200 lb per cubic yard, sand and asphalt at roughly 2,700 lb, crushed stone at roughly 2,500 lb, topsoil at roughly 2,000 lb, mulch at a much lighter roughly 800 lb, and concrete at a much heavier roughly 4,056 lb per cubic yard.

Why actual density varies

These presets are typical values, actual material density varies with moisture content (wet sand or soil weighs noticeably more than dry), compaction level, and the specific source or supplier. For large orders where the weight difference matters for delivery cost or truck capacity, confirm the exact density with your supplier rather than relying on the generic preset alone.

Frequently asked questions