What to measure
How to use the ton to cubic yard calculator
Enter the weight in tons and choose the material. The density shown next to each material is the one the site uses on all its calculators. Set the spreading depth to see how many square feet the load covers.
The formula
- Cubic yards = tons ÷ tons per cubic yard
- Cubic feet = cubic yards × 27
- Coverage (sq ft) = cubic feet ÷ depth in feet
Worked example: 10 tons of gravel, spread 3 in deep
- 10 ÷ 1.4 = 7.14 cubic yards
- 7.14 × 27 = 192.9 cu ft
- 192.9 ÷ (3 ÷ 12) = 771 sq ft covered
Tons to cubic yards by material
| Material | t/yd³ | 1 ton | 5 tons | 10 tons | 20 tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, pea gravel | 1.4 | 0.71 | 3.57 | 7.14 | 14.29 |
| Crushed stone, river rock, sand | 1.35 | 0.74 | 3.7 | 7.41 | 14.81 |
| Fill dirt | 1.2 | 0.83 | 4.17 | 8.33 | 16.67 |
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 0.91 | 4.55 | 9.09 | 18.18 |
| Asphalt, concrete | 1.96 | 0.51 | 2.55 | 5.11 | 10.22 |
Asphalt is compacted hot mix and concrete is hardened, both at 145 lb per cubic foot. The rest are loose, as delivered.
Common mistakes
- Using one density for everything. A ton of topsoil fills almost twice the volume of a ton of asphalt. Pick the material, not just “dirt” or “rock”.
- Mixing loose and compacted volumes. A delivered yard of gravel packs down when you compact it. Order for the loose volume plus your supplier’s compaction allowance.
- Short tons vs metric tonnes. Prices from a metric source per tonne cover 10% more weight than per US ton.
- Forgetting moisture. Wet sand and soil weigh more, so a ton buys less volume after rain.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards, at 1.4 tons per yard. Put the other way, one cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the material's weight per cubic yard. 10 tons of gravel ÷ 1.4 = 7.14 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards is 10 tons of topsoil?
About 9.09 cubic yards at 1.1 tons per yard. Wet soil is heavier, so the same tons can be noticeably fewer yards after rain.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
About 77 sq ft at 3 inches deep, at 1.4 tons per yard. Crushed stone and sand at 1.35 cover about 80 sq ft.
Why do different materials give different yards for the same tons?
Density. Asphalt and concrete pack about 1.96 tons into a yard, gravel 1.4 and topsoil 1.1, so a ton of topsoil fills almost twice the space of a ton of asphalt.
Are these short tons or metric tonnes?
US short tons of 2,000 lb, which is how US quarries and landscape yards sell. A metric tonne is 2,205 lb, about 10% more.
How accurate is the conversion?
Good enough to order with, but densities vary with stone size, moisture and compaction. If your supplier quotes their own tons per yard, that figure wins.
Sources
Formulas and defaults last reviewed October 30, 2026. How we check our math.