Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator
This calculator converts a volume in cubic yards into an estimated weight in short tons or metric tonnes, using standard bulk density values for common construction and landscaping materials. Bulk materials such as gravel, sand, topsoil, concrete, asphalt, mulch, compost, limestone, clay and coal are bought by volume but often billed or trucked by weight, so a reliable conversion matters when ordering fill for a driveway, topsoil for a garden, or aggregate for a concrete pour. You enter the volume in cubic yards and choose your material from the dropdown, which applies its typical density, or enter a custom density if you know your supplier's exact figure. You also choose whether results display in short tons or metric tonnes, and can enter your number of loads and truck capacity to estimate deliveries needed. The calculator returns the total weight in your chosen unit, the short ton, metric tonne and kilogram equivalents, a conversion breakdown showing the density used, and a trucking estimate showing loads needed against your truck capacity and load count. A comparison table shows results across common volumes for your selected material, so you can quickly check a range of quantities. Because bulk density varies with moisture content, particle size and compaction, treat the figures as reliable working estimates rather than exact measurements, and confirm actual weights with your supplier for structural or load-bearing applications.
1. Volume
2. Units and Options
Conversion Breakdown
Trucking Estimate
Common Volumes for Selected Material
| Cubic Yards | Short Tons | Metric Tonnes | Kilograms | Approx. Loads (10 t truck) |
|---|
How to Convert Cubic Yards to Tons
A cubic yard is a unit of volume: one yard (0.9144 m) cubed, equal to 27 cubic feet or approximately 0.7646 cubic metres. A ton is a unit of weight. To convert between the two you need to know the bulk density of the material, which is its weight per unit volume.
The formula is:
Short tons = Cubic yards × Density (short tons per cubic yard)
For example, 5 cubic yards of gravel at 1.35 short tons per cubic yard gives 5 × 1.35 = 6.75 short tons (6.12 metric tonnes).
To convert short tons to metric tonnes, multiply by 0.9072. One metric tonne equals 1,000 kg; one short ton equals 907.2 kg.
Bulk Density by Material
The table below shows typical bulk densities for common loose, dry materials. Moisture content and compaction significantly affect actual weight. Always confirm with your supplier if precision matters for a structural or load-bearing application.
| Material | Short Tons per yd³ | Metric Tonnes per yd³ | kg per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel / crushed stone | 1.35 | 1.22 | 1,225 |
| Sand, dry | 1.30 | 1.18 | 1,179 |
| Sand, wet | 1.63 | 1.48 | 1,479 |
| Topsoil, loose dry | 1.10 | 1.00 | 998 |
| Topsoil, wet / clay | 1.40 | 1.27 | 1,270 |
| Fill dirt, loose | 0.90 | 0.82 | 816 |
| Concrete | 2.03 | 1.84 | 1,842 |
| Asphalt / tarmac | 1.50 | 1.36 | 1,361 |
| Mulch / bark | 0.40 | 0.36 | 363 |
| Compost | 0.65 | 0.59 | 590 |
| Limestone, crushed | 1.50 | 1.36 | 1,361 |
| Clay, dry | 1.15 | 1.04 | 1,043 |
| Coal | 1.35 | 1.22 | 1,225 |
Worked Example
Suppose you need to order 5 cubic yards of gravel for a driveway. Using a bulk density of 1.35 short tons per cubic yard:
- Short tons = 5 × 1.35 = 6.75 short tons
- Metric tonnes = 6.75 × 0.9072 = 6.12 metric tonnes
- Kilograms = 6.1235 × 1,000 ≈ 6,123 kg
If your delivery truck holds 10 short tons per load, you would need at least 1 load (with some room to spare), or about 0.68 of a load if ordering precisely.
Cubic Yards vs Cubic Metres
In New Zealand, volume is typically measured in cubic metres (m³) rather than cubic yards. One cubic yard equals 0.7646 cubic metres, and one cubic metre equals approximately 1.308 cubic yards. If your supplier quotes volume in cubic metres, you can use the volume conversion calculator to convert first, then use this tool with the converted cubic yard figure.
Tips for Ordering Bulk Materials
- Always add 10 to 15 percent to your calculated volume to allow for compaction, wastage, and uneven ground.
- Wet materials weigh significantly more than dry ones. If material will be delivered wet, the metric tonne figure may be more reliable than the short ton figure.
- Confirm units with your supplier: quarries and landscaping suppliers in New Zealand typically quote in metric tonnes, while some US-origin spec sheets use short tons.
- For structural applications (e.g., concrete pours or load-bearing fill), have a geotechnical engineer verify material specifications rather than relying on generic bulk density values.
Related Calculators
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- Cubic Metre Calculator: calculate volume in metric units.
- Density Calculator: find mass, volume or density when two values are known.
- Weight Converter: convert between grams, kilograms, pounds, tons and more.
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Sources and method: Bulk density values are sourced from standard reference tables including the Engineering Toolbox (engineeringtoolbox.com/weight-material-d_1714.html) and standard civil engineering handbooks. Short ton to metric tonne conversion: 1 short ton = 0.907185 metric tonnes (NIST). All values are for loose, dry material under standard conditions unless otherwise noted.
This calculator provides estimates based on typical bulk density values. Actual weights depend on moisture content, particle size, compaction, and supplier-specific material properties. For structural or commercial applications, verify weights with your supplier and a qualified engineer.