Use them to turn a volume into tons, check a delivery ticket or see whether a load fits your truck. The gravel calculator and the soil calculator do the conversion for your own measurements.
Loose materials, as delivered
A delivered load is loose: it has not been rolled or tamped. These figures come from the EPA's standard volume-to-weight conversion table, a Missouri transportation department estimate factor and an extension guide on compost.
| Material | Published figure | About lb per cu yd | About tons per cu yd | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, loose | 2,565 lb per cu yd | 2,565 | 1.28 | EPA conversion table |
| Gravel or crushed stone, loose (road surfacing estimate) | 1.40 tons per cu yd | 2,800 | 1.40 | Missouri DOT |
| Sand, loose | 2,441 lb per cu yd | 2,441 | 1.22 | EPA conversion table |
| Soil or sandy loam, loose | 2,392 lb per cu yd | 2,392 | 1.20 | EPA conversion table |
| Wood chips, shredded | 500 lb per cu yd | 500 | 0.25 | EPA conversion table |
| Compost, loose | 463 lb per cu yd | 463 | 0.23 | EPA conversion table |
| Compost, screened, about half water by weight | about 1,000 lb per cu yd | 1,000 | 0.50 | Oregon State Extension |
| Compost, as-is (depends on moisture, particle size, compaction) | 800 to more than 1,600 lb per cu yd | 800 to 1,600+ | 0.40 to 0.80+ | Oregon State Extension |
The two right-hand columns are our arithmetic from the published figure; a short ton is 2,000 lb.
Loose versus compacted
Compacting squeezes out air, so the same stone weighs much more per cubic yard once it is rolled or tamped into place. Wisconsin's transportation department measured both states for road base aggregates and recycled materials in a recent study.
| Material | Loose, lb per cu ft | Compacted, lb per cu ft | Loose, about lb per cu yd | Compacted, about lb per cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base aggregate, 3/4 inch | 92 to 101 | 124 to 131 | 2,484 to 2,727 | 3,348 to 3,537 |
| Base aggregate, 1 1/4 inch | 90 to 104 | 129 to 148 | 2,430 to 2,808 | 3,483 to 3,996 |
| Select crushed material | 103 to 104 | 139 to 144 | 2,781 to 2,808 | 3,753 to 3,888 |
| Breaker run (large crushed stone) | 106 to 107 | 140 to 154 | 2,862 to 2,889 | 3,780 to 4,158 |
| Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) | 84 to 92 | 120 to 133 | 2,268 to 2,484 | 3,240 to 3,591 |
| Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) | 81 to 89 | 119 to 123 | 2,187 to 2,403 | 3,213 to 3,321 |
Ranges span the samples Wisconsin tested for each material. The values are dry unit weights, corrected for moisture, so damp stone weighs more. The per-cubic-yard columns are our arithmetic from the published figures.
Concrete
Concrete is a solid mass, so it weighs more than loose stone of the same volume. Design guides use a slightly higher figure once reinforcing steel is cast in. For a slab or column of your own size, the concrete weight calculator does the arithmetic.
| Concrete | Published figure | About lb per cu yd | About tons per cu yd | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged concrete mix, placed | about 140 lb per cu ft | 3,780 | 1.89 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Normal-weight concrete, plain (design value) | 150 lb per cu ft | 4,050 | 2.03 | Washington DOT |
| Normal-weight concrete with reinforcement (design value) | 155 lb per cu ft | 4,185 | 2.09 | Washington DOT |
Design values are what engineers use to size structures, not a measurement of a particular pour. The per-cubic-yard columns are our arithmetic.
Why one material has several weights
- Moisture. Wet sand and soil weigh noticeably more than dry, and compost swings the most because it holds so much water.
- Compaction. A loose pile holds a lot of air; the same stone tamped into a base is far denser.
- Rock type and grading. Denser rock weighs more, and a mix of particle sizes packs tighter than stones of one size.
- Organic content. Mulch and compost are light, and their weight varies with what they are made from.
Turning cubic yards into tons
Multiply the cubic yards by the weight per cubic yard, then divide by the pounds in a short ton, 2,000 lb. Use the figure that matches how the material will arrive, which for a delivery is loose.
For a pickup or trailer, compare the total with the payload printed on the vehicle's door sticker, not with how much the bed holds. Stone and sand reach a payload limit long before they fill the bed. For lighter loads, the mulch calculator and the compost calculator give the volume to order.
Common questions
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A state transportation department estimates loose gravel or crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, and the EPA table lists loose gravel a little lower. Compacted crushed stone weighs considerably more; the second table shows how much.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
The EPA table puts loose soil or sandy loam close to loose sand, a little over a ton per cubic yard. Wet soil weighs more, so a load after rain can come in heavier.
How much does a yard of mulch or compost weigh?
Far less than stone or soil. Shredded wood chips and loose compost are a small fraction of the weight of gravel per cubic yard, but wet compost can weigh several times as much as dry, as the first table shows.
Why is my supplier's figure different?
Suppliers weigh their own material at its own moisture and particle size. When a supplier quotes a conversion for the product you are buying, use it for ordering.
Using these figures
You are welcome to cite the tables on this page. Please link to this page as the source, and check the maker's current data sheet before you rely on a single figure.