A cubic yard of gravel is not a fixed weight — it depends on the material. Angular, dense stone (crusher run, #57, paver base) packs tighter and weighs more per yard than smooth, rounded stone (pea gravel, river rock). The converter below uses the same cited densities as our gravel density by type page.
Densities are practical ordering figures, not exact lab values. Density varies with moisture and stone source — always confirm the exact billing density with your supplier.
How Many Tons Is a Yard of Gravel?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs 1.30–1.40 tons depending on material — convert either direction below, using the same cited densities as our density reference page.
Cubic Yards ↔ Tons Converter
Cubic yards
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Tons
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Density used
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Tons per cubic yard by material
All values are the practical ordering density in US short tons per cubic yard — the same figures used in the converter above and sourced on our gravel density by type page.
| Material | ton/yd³ | 1 yd³ in tons |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (3/8″) | 1.35 | 1.35 tons |
| Crushed stone #57 (3/4″) | 1.40 | 1.40 tons |
| Paver base / crushed concrete | 1.40 | 1.40 tons |
| River rock (1–3″) | 1.30 | 1.30 tons |
| Crusher run / dense-grade | 1.40 | 1.40 tons |
Wet or freshly delivered material may weigh 10–15% more than these dry ordering densities. Confirm the exact billing density with your supplier before a large order.
Sources
- Inch Calculator — Gravel Calculator: density values for pea gravel (1.35 ton/yd³) and river rock (1.30 ton/yd³) used in the reference table.
- Omni Calculator — Gravel Calculator: corroborating bulk aggregate densities and ordering-weight context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons is a yard of gravel?
It depends on material: pea gravel is about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone #57 and paver base/crusher run are about 1.40 tons per cubic yard, and river rock is about 1.30 tons per cubic yard. These are the practical ordering densities used by suppliers — see our gravel density by type page for the full sourced table.
Why isn't there one single tons-per-yard number for all gravel?
Density depends on particle shape, size, and how tightly stones pack. Angular crushed stone (crusher run, paver base) packs with fewer voids and weighs more per yard than smooth, rounded stone (river rock, pea gravel). See our gravel density by type page for why each material differs.
Does wet gravel weigh more per yard?
Yes — wet gravel can weigh 10–15% more than dry values because water fills the void spaces between particles. This is why suppliers disclaim that delivered weight may differ from dry lab values. Confirm the exact billing density with your supplier before a large order.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material density in tons per cubic yard. For example, 5 cubic yards of pea gravel (1.35 ton/yd³) = 5 × 1.35 = 6.75 tons. Use the converter above with your own material and yardage to get an instant result.
Is gravel sold by the short ton or metric tonne?
US gravel is sold by the US short ton = 2,000 lb. A metric tonne = 2,204.6 lb — about 10% heavier. All conversions on this page use US short tons. If your supplier quotes metric tonnes, multiply short tons by 0.907 to get metric tonnes.