The formula
tons = cubic yards × weight per cubic yard (lb) ÷ 2,000
cubic yards = tons × 2,000 ÷ weight per cubic yard (lb)
A cubic yard is a fixed volume, but a ton is a weight, so there is no single conversion factor. You need the weight of one cubic yard of the material you are moving. Volume is what you measure on site; weight is what trucks, scales and some suppliers price by.
Example: you need 3.5 cubic yards and the supplier sells by the ton. For a material weighing about 2,700 lb per yard: 3.5 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 4.73 tons.
Weight per cubic yard chart
| Material | About lb per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 4,050 | 2.03 | 0.49 |
| Asphalt (compacted hot mix) | 3,915 | 1.96 | 0.51 |
| Gravel | 2,800 | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Topsoil | 2,000 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Water | 1,685 | 0.84 | 1.19 |
| Mulch | 400 to 800 | 0.2 to 0.4 | 2.5 to 5 |
These are typical figures for planning. Real loads vary: wet sand and soil can be noticeably heavier than dry, crushed stone with fines packs heavier than washed stone, and bark mulch varies widely with moisture.
Cubic yards to tons table
| Cubic yards | Concrete | Asphalt | Gravel | Sand | Topsoil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.03 | 1.96 | 1.40 | 1.35 | 1.00 |
| 2 | 4.05 | 3.92 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.00 |
| 3 | 6.08 | 5.87 | 4.20 | 4.05 | 3.00 |
| 5 | 10.13 | 9.79 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 5.00 |
| 10 | 20.25 | 19.58 | 14.00 | 13.50 | 10.00 |
| 15 | 30.38 | 29.36 | 21.00 | 20.25 | 15.00 |
| 20 | 40.50 | 39.15 | 28.00 | 27.00 | 20.00 |
All values in US tons, based on the typical weights above.
Short tons, metric tonnes and long tons
- Short ton (US): 2,000 lb. This is what “ton” means on US quotes and scale tickets, and what the converter shows first.
- Metric tonne: 1,000 kg, about 2,205 lb. Used in Canada, the UK, Australia and most of the world. The converter shows this too.
- Long ton: 2,240 lb. Mostly historical, still seen in some UK contexts.
A load of 10 short tons is about 9.07 metric tonnes.
Getting the right weight for your material
- Ask the supplier. Most yards know the weight per cubic yard of what they sell, and it is often printed on the scale ticket.
- Say whether it is wet or dry. Material stored outside after rain weighs more for the same volume.
- Use “My supplier’s weight” in the converter to enter their figure in pounds per cubic yard.
- For delivery limits, compare the tonnage with the truck’s capacity. A small dump truck may be limited by weight before it is full by volume.
From measurements to tons
If you have dimensions rather than cubic yards, the cubic yard calculator finds the volume and shows the weight when you pick a material. For paving, the asphalt calculator works in tons from the start. For concrete weights, see one yard of concrete.
Tonnage from this page is an estimate built on typical weights. If you are ordering by the ton, the supplier's scale ticket is the real number, so leave a margin rather than ordering to the exact figure.
Questions people ask
- How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
- Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight in pounds per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000. Five cubic yards of gravel at about 2,800 lb per yard is 5 × 2,800 ÷ 2,000 = 7 tons.
- How many tons is 1 cubic yard?
- It depends on the material: about 2 tons for concrete, about 1.96 for compacted asphalt, about 1.4 for gravel, about 1.35 for dry sand, about 1 for topsoil and 0.2 to 0.4 for mulch.
- How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
- Multiply tons by 2,000 and divide by the weight per cubic yard. Ten tons of gravel at 2,800 lb per yard is 10 × 2,000 ÷ 2,800 = 7.14 cubic yards.
- Is a ton 2,000 pounds?
- In the US, yes: a short ton is 2,000 lb. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg (about 2,205 lb), and a long ton, used in the UK, is 2,240 lb.
- Why does my supplier's number differ from the chart?
- Weight per yard depends on moisture, particle size, how much the material is compacted and where it was quarried or mixed. Always use the supplier's figure when they give one.