A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 US tons, or 2,800 pounds, as a planning value. Quarries sell gravel by the ton and landscape yards sell it by the yard, so it helps to know both numbers.
The quick answer
Plan on 1.4 tons per cubic yard of gravel. Going the other way, one ton of gravel fills about 0.71 cubic yards, or about 19 cubic feet.
Wet gravel, fine gravel, and gravel with a lot of dust can weigh more. Large clean stone with gaps between the pieces can weigh a little less.
Gravel type changes the weight
Pea gravel is about 2,800 pounds per cubic yard in our planning table. Crushed stone is about 2,700. Road base, which includes fine particles, packs tighter and is about 2,900. Riprap is about 3,000.
The differences look small, but on a 20 yard order they add up to a ton or more.
Converting your order
If you calculated 12 cubic yards for a driveway, multiply by 1.4 to get 16.8 tons. If the quarry quotes 15 tons, divide by 1.4 to get about 10.7 cubic yards.
Always round up. Running short means a second delivery fee.
Check your truck limits
A single axle truck usually cannot carry as much gravel by weight as it can by volume. A load that looks small in the bed can already be several tons.
Gravel tons by cubic yards
| Cubic yards | US tons | Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.40 | 2,800 |
| 2 | 2.80 | 5,600 |
| 3 | 4.20 | 8,400 |
| 5 | 7.00 | 14,000 |
| 8 | 11.20 | 22,400 |
| 10 | 14.00 | 28,000 |
| 15 | 21.00 | 42,000 |
| 20 | 28.00 | 56,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many tons is 1 cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 US tons.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards.
How many tons of gravel for a driveway?
Find the volume in cubic yards and multiply by 1.4. A 12 by 50 foot driveway at 4 inches needs about 7.4 cubic yards, which is about 10.4 tons.
Is gravel heavier than topsoil?
Yes. Gravel is about 2,800 pounds per yard and topsoil about 2,200.