Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator — Bulk Material Weight
Convert a volume in cubic yards to weight in US short tons or metric tonnes. Choose from common bulk materials — gravel, sand, concrete, topsoil, mulch, asphalt — or enter a custom bulk density.
yd³
Material
Cubic yards × bulk density (US short tons/yd³)
- 1
Bulk density
1.35Mass per unit volume of the selected material (US short tons per cubic yard) - 2
Weight = volume × density
10 × 1.35 = 13.500
How does this calculator work?
Weight (US short tons) = Cubic yards × Bulk density (tons/yd³). Bulk density varies by material: concrete ≈ 2.03, gravel ≈ 1.35, sand ≈ 1.35–1.62, topsoil ≈ 1.08, mulch ≈ 0.27 US tons/yd³. These are 2025 typical values — confirm with your supplier for accurate ordering.
Formula
How this is calculated
Volume and weight are different things: a cubic yard of feather-light mulch weighs far less than a cubic yard of wet sand or concrete. The link between volume and weight is bulk density — the mass per unit volume of the material in its loose or compacted state. Multiplying the volume in cubic yards by the bulk density in US short tons per cubic yard gives the weight in US short tons.
The density values in this calculator are typical industry averages (as of 2025) and are editable estimates — actual values vary with moisture content, particle size, grading and compaction. For ordering purposes, always confirm with your supplier. Common reference points: gravel ≈ 1.35 t/yd³ (dry loose), concrete ≈ 2.03 t/yd³, dry topsoil ≈ 1.08 t/yd³, wood mulch ≈ 0.27 t/yd³.
US short tons are converted to metric tonnes by multiplying by 0.907185. Pounds = short tons × 2,000. If your density is given in kg/m³, divide by 1,187.74 to convert to US tons/yd³, or use the custom-density field.
Frequently asked questions
Dry loose gravel weighs approximately 1.35 US short tons per cubic yard. So 10 yd³ ≈ 13.5 short tons. Wet gravel or crushed stone can be 1.5–1.7 t/yd³. Always confirm density with your supplier.
The primary output is US short tons (1 short ton = 2,000 lb). The calculator also displays metric tonnes (1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg ≈ 1.102 short tons) for reference.
Ask your supplier for the material's bulk density in pounds per cubic foot, then multiply by 0.0135 to get US tons per cubic yard. Or use the "Custom density" option and enter the value directly.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator — Bulk Material Weight [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cubic-yards-to-tons-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator — Bulk Material Weight." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cubic-yards-to-tons-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator — Bulk Material Weight," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cubic-yards-to-tons-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_cubic_yards_to_tons_calculator, title = {Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator — Bulk Material Weight}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cubic-yards-to-tons-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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