Cubic yards to tons
Multiply cubic yards by the density of what you’re buying, in short tons per cubic yard. Quarries sell by the ton, landscapers and the calculator think in yards, and the density is the bridge. Crushed stone, the usual pick for driveways and paver bases, is 1.35.
These are loose, as-delivered figures. Compacted in place the same stone runs heavier per yard. So order the loose volume for your finished depth, not the other way round.
Multiply cubic yards by the density of the material. Crushed stone is the usual pick for driveways and paver bases, so it’s the default in the calculator.
| Cubic yards | Crushed stone (1.35) | Pea gravel (1.25) | Road base (1.4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cu yd | 1.35 tons | 1.25 tons | 1.40 tons |
| 2 cu yd | 2.70 tons | 2.50 tons | 2.80 tons |
| 5 cu yd | 6.75 tons | 6.25 tons | 7.00 tons |
| 10 cu yd | 13.5 tons | 12.5 tons | 14.0 tons |
| 15 cu yd | 20.3 tons | 18.8 tons | 21.0 tons |
| 20 cu yd | 27.0 tons | 25.0 tons | 28.0 tons |
A 24 by 24 ft driveway at 4 in is 7.1 cubic yards, which is 9.6 tons of crushed stone. The same drive at 6 in is 10.7 yards and 14.4 tons.
Tons to cubic yards
Divide tons by the density. A ton of crushed stone is 1 ÷ 1.35, or 0.74 cubic yards, which is 20 cubic feet. Pea gravel is lighter, so a ton of it is a bit more volume at 0.80 yards. If the quarry quoted you 10 tons and you need to know whether that fills the bed, it’s 7.4 yards of crushed stone.
Divide tons by the density. Quarries quote by the ton, landscapers usually by the yard.
| Tons | Crushed stone | Pea gravel | Road base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ton | 0.74 cu yd | 0.80 cu yd | 0.71 cu yd |
| 2 tons | 1.48 cu yd | 1.60 cu yd | 1.43 cu yd |
| 5 tons | 3.70 cu yd | 4.00 cu yd | 3.57 cu yd |
| 10 tons | 7.41 cu yd | 8.00 cu yd | 7.14 cu yd |
| 20 tons | 14.8 cu yd | 16.0 cu yd | 14.3 cu yd |
Density by material
The four presets in the calculator, with the same figure three ways. Pounds per cubic foot is what the engineering tables quote, tons per cubic yard is what you multiply by, and cubic yards per ton is what you divide by. They’re all the same number rearranged.
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Lb per cu yd | Lb per cu ft | Cu yd per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4 in clean) | 1.35 | 2,700 | 100 | 0.74 |
| Pea gravel | 1.25 | 2,500 | 93 | 0.80 |
| Sand and screenings | 1.40 | 2,800 | 104 | 0.71 |
| Road base, crusher run | 1.40 | 2,800 | 104 | 0.71 |
Wet material runs 10 to 15 percent heavier for the same volume, so a load delivered after rain weighs more on the ticket and fills the same bed.
How much area a ton covers
Coverage is a property of depth, not of the gravel. One ton of crushed stone is 20 cubic feet, so at 3 in it spreads over 80 sq ft and at 6 in over 40. Double the depth and you halve the area.
Crushed stone at 1.35 tons per cubic yard. One ton is about 0.74 cubic yards, or 20 cubic feet.
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 80 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
For pea gravel at the same depths, add about 8 percent to each coverage figure, because a ton of it is slightly more volume.
Doing the sum yourself
Cubic yards first. Length in feet times width in feet times depth in inches, divided by 324. A 10 by 20 ft parking pad at 4 in is 10 × 20 × 4 ÷ 324, which is 2.47 cubic yards. Then tons: 2.47 × 1.35 is 3.3 tons of crushed stone.
From square feet there’s a shortcut. Square feet times depth in inches times 0.0042 gives tons of crushed stone directly (that’s 1.35 ÷ 324). The 200 sq ft pad at 4 in is 200 × 4 × 0.0042, or 3.4 tons, close enough to the long way.
Order the loose volume for your finished depth and let the plate compactor take it down. Don’t add a compaction factor on top of the density, because the density is already a loose figure. Add 5 to 10 percent for an uneven subgrade and the handwork at the edges instead.
Which density to use
Crushed stone covers most of what a homeowner buys. #57 stone, 3/4 in clean, #8 and the like are all angular crushed rock around 1.35 tons a yard. Pea gravel is rounded, packs less tightly and sits at 1.25. Crusher run, road base and screenings carry fines that fill the voids, so they’re the heaviest at 1.4.
If the supplier gives you a density, use theirs. If they quote cubic yards and you need tons, or the reverse, the tables above are what their counter staff are doing in their heads.
Sources
Densities are the loose, as-delivered figures the gravel calculator uses, kept separate from compacted-in-place values. Stone sizes follow ASTM D448.
ASTM D448 aggregate size numbers (ASTM store) ↗IRC R506.2.2 base course (UpCodes) ↗Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel product page ↗
Run your numbers
Length, width and depth in, cubic yards and tons out, with density presets for crushed stone, pea gravel, screenings and road base.
Common questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.35 tons for crushed stone, 1.25 for pea gravel and 1.4 for road base or crusher run. That’s 2,700, 2,500 and 2,800 lb per cubic yard, loose and as delivered.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.74 cubic yards of crushed stone, 0.80 of pea gravel or 0.71 of road base. One ton of crushed stone is 20 cubic feet.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 2,700 lb for crushed stone, 2,500 lb for pea gravel and 2,800 lb for road base. Wet material can run 10 to 15 percent heavier.
How many tons of pea gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.25 tons. Pea gravel is rounded and packs looser than crushed stone, so a yard of it weighs around 2,500 lb and a ton of it is about 0.80 cubic yards.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
About 240 sq ft at 1 in, 120 at 2 in, 80 at 3 in, 60 at 4 in and 40 at 6 in, for crushed stone. Halve the depth and you double the coverage.
Is 3/4 gravel the same density as crushed stone?
Yes. 3/4 in clean stone, #57 and #8 are all angular crushed rock at about 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Use the crushed stone column.
How do I convert square feet of gravel to tons?
Square feet × depth in inches × 0.0042 gives tons of crushed stone. A 300 sq ft patio base at 4 in is 300 × 4 × 0.0042, or about 5 tons. Use 0.0039 for pea gravel and 0.0043 for road base.