Weight of one cubic yard
Loose, the way a truck brings it. One ton is 2,000 lb. Wet or packed, it weighs more.
| Material | Tons | Pounds | kg per m³ | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone | ||||
| #57 crushed stone | 1.01 to 1.30 | 2,020 to 2,600 | 1,198 to 1,543 | Alabama DOT: 78 crushed limestone sources, loose |
| Crusher run (road base) | 1.40 to 1.60 | 2,800 to 3,200 | 1,661 to 1,898 | Our estimate, loose. It gets heavier when packed |
| Gravel, 1/4 to 2 in (general) | 1.28 to 1.70 | 2,560 to 3,400 | 1,519 to 2,017 | Caterpillar: 2,850 lb a cubic yard when dry, 2,550 to 3,400 lb from dry to wet |
| Pea gravel | 1.30 to 1.50 | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1,543 to 1,780 | Our estimate: no chart lists this stone |
| River rock | 1.26 to 1.40 | 2,520 to 2,800 | 1,495 to 1,661 | Alabama DOT: 48 gravel pits, loose; stone yards post up to 1.4 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.30 to 1.60 | 2,600 to 3,200 | 1,543 to 1,898 | Our estimate: no chart lists this stone |
| Crushed landscape rock | 1.19 to 1.40 | 2,380 to 2,800 | 1,412 to 1,661 | Alabama DOT median; stone yards post up to 1.4 |
| Marble or beach pebbles | 1.20 to 1.40 | 2,400 to 2,800 | 1,424 to 1,661 | Our estimate, from what two stone yards post |
| Lava rock | 0.50 | 1,000 | 593 | Our estimate, from the one stone yard that gives a figure |
| Sand | ||||
| Sand | 1.20 to 1.55 | 2,400 to 3,100 | 1,424 to 1,839 | Caterpillar: dry, damp and wet |
| Soil | ||||
| Topsoil | 0.80 | 1,600 | 949 | Caterpillar, loose (“Top soil”). Packed in the ground: 2,300 lb |
| Garden soil (loam) | 1.05 | 2,100 | 1,246 | Caterpillar, loose (“Earth, loam”). Packed in the ground: 2,600 lb |
| Fill dirt | 1.28 | 2,550 | 1,513 | Caterpillar, loose (“Earth, dry packed”). Packed in the ground: 3,200 lb |
| Mulch | ||||
| Wood mulch | 0.12 to 0.24 | 240 to 470 | 144 to 281 | US EPA, wood chips: dry to fresh |
When a range is shown, the calculators use a typical figure inside it. Rows that say "Our estimate" have no chart we could find.
Tons from cubic yards
Multiply the cubic yards by the tons in one yard.
For 3 cubic yards of gravel: 3 × 1.43 = 4.3 tons.
To go back, divide. 4.3 tons ÷ 1.43 = 3 cubic yards.
Not sure how many yards you need? The cubic yard calculator works it out from your size and depth.
Why the same stuff can weigh more
Water. Wet sand weighs about 29% more than dry sand. Rain on a pile adds weight.
Packing. Dirt packed in the ground is heavier than loose dirt. Topsoil goes from 1,600 lb loose to 2,300 lb packed.
Kind of rock. Stone from one quarry can weigh more than stone from the next. Ask your yard what their stone weighs.
Questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
About 1.4 tons, or 2,860 lb, when dry. That is for gravel from 1/4 to 2 inches, from Caterpillar's chart. Wet gravel weighs more.
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
Loose topsoil is about 1,600 lb, or 0.8 tons. Fill dirt is heavier, about 2,550 lb. Wet dirt weighs more.
How much does a yard of sand weigh?
About 1.43 tons when damp. Dry sand is 1.2 tons, and wet sand is 1.55 tons.
How much does a yard of mulch weigh?
Wood chips weigh 243 lb a yard when dry and 473 lb when fresh, the EPA says. That is a lot less than stone or soil.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.70 cubic yards. Divide 1 by the tons in a yard. For #57 stone it is about 0.84 yards.
Sources
- Caterpillar earthwork tablesJan 2025Gravel, sand and soil, loose and packed
- Alabama DOT, list I-1 of stone sourcesOct 2026Loose weight of crushed stone and gravel
- US EPA, volume-to-weight factorsApr 2016Wood chips, dry and fresh