tons to cubic yards calculator
Convert tons of gravel, sand, or stone to cubic yards using the material's density. Enter tons and density to get the cubic yardage.
Aggregate is sold by weight but placed by volume, so converting tons to cubic yards is a constant on any material job. The only extra piece you need is the material’s density.
How this calculator works
Divide the tonnage by how many tons one cubic yard of the material weighs.
Formula: Cubic yards = tons ÷ density (tons per cubic yard).
Worked example
10 tons of gravel at a density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
- Cubic yards: 10 ÷ 1.4 ≈ 7.143 yd³
Order a little over this figure to allow for compaction and spread.
Density reference
| Material | Tons per yd³ | 10 tons = |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 9.1 yd³ |
| Sand / crushed stone | 1.35 | 7.4 yd³ |
| Gravel | 1.4 | 7.1 yd³ |
| Crusher run | 1.5 | 6.7 yd³ |
Where this conversion is used
Use it to translate a supplier’s per-ton delivery into the cubic yards your project needs, or to check whether a quoted tonnage matches your measured volume. For the reverse, see the Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator, and for a full material estimate use the Gravel Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the material's density in tons per cubic yard. Gravel is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so 10 tons of gravel is roughly 7.1 cubic yards. Lighter materials like topsoil give more cubic yards per ton.
What density should I use?
Gravel and river rock are about 1.4 tons/yd³, sand and crushed stone 1.35, crusher run and road base 1.5, topsoil and fill dirt about 1.1. The calculator defaults to gravel — adjust it for your material.
Why do suppliers quote both tons and yards?
Trucks are weighed at the quarry scale, so gravel is priced by the ton, but it's placed and measured on-site by the cubic yard. Converting between them lets you check a per-ton quote against the volume you actually need.
Is this loose or compacted volume?
Densities like 1.4 tons/yd³ reflect loose delivered material. Compacted in place, the same tonnage occupies less volume, so a compacted layer needs more tons than the loose conversion suggests.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.