Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator · Material Weight Converter

Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator

Convert cubic yards to US tons and back for topsoil, sand, gravel, concrete and more

Setup

Solve for

Unit system

1 cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. 1 US short ton is 2,000 lb. Weight = volume × material density — different materials weigh very different amounts.

Material

Material preset

Density

Choosing a preset fills the density automatically. You can always type your own value — useful for wet or compacted material.

Volume → Weight

Volume

Weight

From dimensions (optional)

Length

Width

Depth / thickness

Calculated volume

yd³

Ideal for landscaping: enter the area length and width, plus depth (thickness). Common depths: 1–2 in for mulch top-up, 3–4 in for new mulch, 4–6 in for gravel driveways, 4 in for a concrete slab.

Quick examples

Result

🚚 Medium load

Weight

—

Volume — Weight —

Cubic yards

—

US short tons

—

Pounds

—

Metric tonnes

—

Kilograms

—

Cubic feet

—

Cubic meters

—

Density used

—

Full breakdown — the result in every unit

Unit	Value	Unit	Value

Same volume, different materials

Material	Density (lb/yd³)	Weight (US tons)	Weight (lb)

Densities are typical averages — actual values vary with moisture, compaction and particle size. 1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³ · 1 US ton = 2,000 lb = 907.18 kg · 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lb.

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Creator & Maintainer

Faiq Ur Rahman is a web designer, digital product developer, and founder of Toolraxy, a growing platform of web-based calculators and utility tools. He specializes in building structured, user-friendly tools focused on health, finance, productivity, and everyday problem-solving.

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Ordering topsoil by the cubic yard is easy. Knowing what that weighs on a truck is harder. A cubic yard of dry sand tips the scales at 1.3 tons. The same volume of wood chips weighs a quarter of that. This calculator bridges the gap. It uses material density to convert between volume and weight. Twenty‑eight presets cover everything from topsoil and pea gravel to concrete and compost. You can also type your own density for wet or compacted loads. The dimensions helper works out volume from a patio slab or garden bed. Then one click feeds that number into the main converter.

How to Use the Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator

Pick volume → weight or weight → volume from the Solve for dropdown.
Choose US or Metric units.
Select a material preset from the list. The density field fills automatically.
Adjust the density if you have a specific value. Change the unit to lb/ft³, kg/m³, or t/m³ if needed.
Enter the volume (or weight) in the primary field.
Read the result in the second field.
Optionally, use the dimensions helper to calculate volume from length, width, and depth. Click “Use this volume” to transfer it.

How the Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator Formula Works

The conversion relies on density. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet or 0.764555 cubic meters.

Formula: Weight (kg) = Volume (yd³) × 0.764555 × Density (kg/m³)
Formula: Volume (yd³) = Weight (kg) ÷ Density (kg/m³) ÷ 0.764555
Formula: US tons = pounds ÷ 2,000
Formula: Metric tonnes = kilograms ÷ 1,000

Density is the bridge between volume and weight. A cubic yard of topsoil at 1,200 lb/yd³ weighs 1,200 pounds, or 0.6 US tons. The same volume of concrete at 4,050 lb/yd³ weighs 2.025 US tons. The calculator stores 28 material densities, from light mulch to heavy limestone. You can override any preset with your own number.

The tool converts all volume units to cubic yards and all weight units to kilograms internally. That keeps the math consistent whether you work in feet, meters, gallons, pounds, or tonnes. Validation blocks zero or negative density and negative input values. If the numbers don’t make sense, you get a clear error message.

Worked Example

You need 10 cubic yards of topsoil for a new garden bed. The supplier lists topsoil at 1,200 lb/yd³. How much does it weigh?

Volume: 10 yd³
Density: 1,200 lb/yd³

Weight in pounds: 10 × 1,200 = 12,000 lb
Weight in US tons: 12,000 ÷ 2,000 = 6.0 tons
Weight in kilograms: 12,000 × 0.45359237 = 5,443.1 kg
Weight in metric tonnes: 5,443.1 ÷ 1,000 = 5.44 tonnes
Volume in cubic feet: 10 × 27 = 270 ft³
Volume in cubic meters: 10 × 0.764555 = 7.65 m³

The badge reads “Medium load” because 6 tons sits between 5 and 20. A standard pickup truck handles 2–3 cubic yards. So 10 cubic yards needs a dump truck or multiple trips.

How Do You Convert Cubic Yards to Tons?

Multiply the volume in cubic yards by the material density in pounds per cubic yard. Then divide by 2,000 to get US short tons. For a 5‑cubic‑yard load of dry sand at 2,600 lb/yd³: 5 × 2,600 = 13,000 lb. 13,000 ÷ 2,000 = 6.5 tons. The formula works for any material once you know its density.

How Many Cubic Yards in a Ton?

It depends on the material. A ton of topsoil at 1,200 lb/yd³ is about 0.83 cubic yards. A ton of concrete at 4,050 lb/yd³ is about 0.49 cubic yards. Lighter materials need more volume per ton. Heavier materials need less. Use the weight → volume mode in the calculator to get the exact figure for your material.

What Is the Density of Topsoil?

Topsoil typically weighs 1,100 to 1,400 pounds per cubic yard. The exact figure depends on moisture and composition. Dry, screened topsoil sits near the low end. Wet, clay‑heavy soil sits higher. The calculator uses 1,200 lb/yd³ as a default for topsoil. You can adjust it if your supplier provides a different number.

How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Weigh?

Pea gravel and crushed stone weigh about 2,800 to 3,000 pounds per cubic yard. That’s 1.4 to 1.5 US tons. River rock is similar. Limestone is heavier at 4,200 to 4,400 lb/yd³. Always confirm the density with your supplier, because moisture and particle size change the number.

How Many Cubic Yards Are in a Dump Truck?

A standard dump truck holds 10 to 16 cubic yards. Smaller dump trucks handle 5 to 10 cubic yards. A pickup truck holds 2 to 3 cubic yards. These capacities matter when you order bulk material. If you need 12 cubic yards of mulch, one large dump truck delivers it in a single trip.

What Is the Difference Between a Ton and a Tonne?

A US short ton equals 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne equals 1,000 kilograms, or about 2,204.6 pounds. A UK long ton equals 2,240 pounds. The calculator shows all three. Always check which ton your supplier uses. A 10‑ton order in the US is different from a 10‑tonne order in Europe.

How Do You Calculate Volume from Dimensions?

Multiply length by width by depth. All three dimensions must be in the same unit. A garden bed 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 6 inches deep has a volume of 20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 cubic feet. That’s 100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards. The dimensions helper in the calculator does this for you and lets you transfer the volume with one click.

What Is a Good Depth for Mulch or Topsoil?

For mulch, 2 to 4 inches is typical. New beds often need 3 to 4 inches. Top‑ups need only 1 to 2 inches. For topsoil, 4 to 6 inches supports most lawns and garden beds. Gravel driveways need 4 to 6 inches of compacted stone. A concrete slab is usually 4 inches thick. The dimensions helper lets you enter any depth and see the volume instantly.

Why Does Wet Material Weigh More?

Water adds weight without adding volume. A cubic yard of dry sand weighs about 2,600 pounds. Wet sand can weigh 3,100 pounds or more. The calculator’s density presets give dry weights. If your material is wet, increase the density by 10–20% for a more accurate estimate. The same applies to compacted soil or saturated mulch.

Disclaimer

This calculator uses typical material densities. Actual weights vary with moisture, compaction, and particle size. Always confirm the density with your supplier before ordering. The tool provides estimates for planning. For structural, engineering, or delivery decisions, verify with a professional or the supplier’s own figures.

Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator

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