Convert cubic yards to US tons for 14 materials including gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, and concrete. Includes dump truck load estimator, weight comparison, and density table.
Cubic yards and tons are the two dominant units in landscaping and construction material ordering. You measure the space to fill in cubic yards and the supplier charges by the ton. The conversion factor varies by material: gravel is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, dry sand is 1.35 tons, and mulch is a light 0.34 tons.
This converter includes 14 pre-loaded materials with accurate tons-per-yard factors, a custom option, and instant output in US short tons, metric tonnes, pounds, kilograms, cubic feet, and cubic meters. Preset buttons let you quickly check common volumes from half a yard to 20 yards.
The dump truck load estimator shows how many single-axle dump truck loads (~10 yd³) you'll need for your project. The weight comparison bars let you visually compare how the same volume of different materials translates to different weights, which is critical for transport and structural planning. It helps estimators, contractors, and homeowners plan realistic order quantities before placing supplier calls.
Landscaping and construction suppliers price by the ton while you measure your job in cubic yards. This tool converts between the two with pre-loaded densities for 14 common materials, preventing expensive ordering errors and helping you plan deliveries with more confidence, clearer communication, and fewer costly adjustments on site during busy project schedules.
Weight (US tons) = Volume (yd³) × Material Factor (tons/yd³) 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.7646 m³ 1 US short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.185 kg
Result: 14 US tons
10 yd³ × 1.4 tons/yd³ = 14 US short tons = 28,000 lb. This is a full single-axle dump truck load of gravel, typical for a medium driveway project.
Most landscaping supply yards price per ton for bulk materials. Step 1: measure your area and desired depth to calculate cubic yards (L × W × D ÷ 27). Step 2: multiply by the material density (tons/yd³) from this calculator. Step 3: add 10-15% for waste and settling. Step 4: divide by the truck size to estimate delivery trips.
A 2-inch mulch layer over 500 sq ft: 500 × (2/12) ÷ 27 = 3.1 yd³ = ~1.05 tons. A 4-inch gravel driveway, 12 × 50 ft: 600 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 7.4 yd³ = ~10.4 tons. A 4-inch concrete patio, 15 × 20 ft: 300 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 3.7 yd³ = ~7.5 tons.
When planning deliveries, consider both volume and weight limits. A single-axle dump truck holding 10 yd³ of mulch (3.4 tons) is well within weight limits, but 10 yd³ of concrete (20.3 tons) may exceed the GVWR. For heavy materials, you may need a tandem or tri-axle truck even if the volume fits a single-axle bed.
About 1.4 US short tons (2,800 lb). This ranges from 1.3-1.5 depending on gravel size and moisture.
About 0.93 yd³. Topsoil averages 1.08 tons per cubic yard. Moisture and organic content can shift this number in practice.
Single-axle: ~10 yd³. Tandem-axle: 14-18 yd³. Tri-axle: 16-20 yd³. Payload limits may reduce the usable volume for heavier materials.
Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Depth is often in inches, so convert first (inches ÷ 12).
No. US short ton = 2,000 lb. Metric tonne = 2,204.6 lb. The tonne is about 10% heavier.
About 0.34 tons (680 lb). Mulch is one of the lightest landscaping materials.