Gravel Tonnage Calculator: Convert Cubic Yards to Tons
Enter area dimensions and material type to convert gravel cubic yards to tons. Uses material-specific densities: pea gravel 1.35, #57 stone 1.40, river rock 1.30, paver base and crusher run 1.40 ton/yd³.
Gravel is sold by the ton, not the cubic yard — so converting your volume estimate to weight is the critical last step before calling a supplier. The conversion depends on which material you are buying, because weight per cubic yard (bulk density) varies significantly by stone type, angularity, and moisture.
Density Reference Table
| Material | ton/yd³ | lb/yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (3/8") | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Crushed stone #57 (3/4") | 1.40 | 2,800 |
| River rock (1–3") | 1.30 | 2,600 |
| Paver base / crushed concrete | 1.40 | 2,800 |
| Crusher run / dense-grade | 1.40 | 2,800 |
Sources: USGS construction sand & gravel data, GravelShop, Inch Calculator, Dirt Connections. Confirm exact density with your supplier — wet material weighs 10–15% more.
Project Dimensions
How the math works
Step 1 — volume in cubic yards
cu yd = (length_ft × width_ft × depth_in) ÷ 324 324 = 27 cu ft/yd × 12 in/ft. A canonical landscaping shortcut: multiply area by depth (in inches) and divide by 324.
Step 2 — apply waste / compaction allowance
cu yd (with waste) = cu yd × (1 + waste % ÷ 100) The waste allowance inflates both tonnage and bag count — you buy the waste-inclusive amount.
Step 3 — tons
tons = cu yd × density (ton/yd³) Material densities (US short tons per cubic yard): pea gravel 1.35, #57 stone 1.40, paver base 1.40, river rock 1.30, crusher run 1.40. Confirm exact weight with your supplier — density varies with moisture and stone source.
Step 4 — retail bags
bags = ⌈ cu yd × 54 ⌉ A standard 50 lb bag holds 0.5 cu ft. One cubic yard = 27 cu ft ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the material: pea gravel is 1.35 ton/yd³; #57 crushed stone is 1.40 ton/yd³; paver base and crusher run are 1.40 ton/yd³; river rock is 1.30 ton/yd³. Multiply cubic yards by the material density to get tons. Wet gravel weighs 10–15% more.
Tons = cubic yards × density (ton/yd³). For pea gravel: cubic yards × 1.35. For #57 stone: cubic yards × 1.40. For paver base or crusher run: cubic yards × 1.40. For river rock: cubic yards × 1.30. Always confirm density with your supplier.
Bulk gravel is almost always sold and delivered by the ton — weight is easier to measure accurately at a quarry or yard than volume. Small quantities at home-improvement stores are sold by the bag (50 lb) or cubic foot. When ordering bulk, convert your cubic-yard estimate to tons using the material density.
Divide 1 ton by the density: pea gravel = 1 ÷ 1.35 = 0.74 yd³; paver base = 1 ÷ 1.40 = 0.71 yd³; river rock = 1 ÷ 1.30 = 0.77 yd³. One ton covers a smaller area with denser material because there is more mass per cubic yard.
US gravel suppliers sell by the US short ton = 2,000 lb. A metric tonne = 2,204.6 lb ≈ 10% heavier. This calculator uses US short tons throughout. If your supplier quotes metric tonnes, multiply tonnes × 1.10 to get short tons, or multiply short tons × 0.907 to get metric tonnes.