Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator
Use this cubic yards to tons calculator to convert gravel, stone, sand, soil, compost, and mulch from bulk-yard takeoffs into U.S. short-ton supplier quotes without guessing at density.
Use this page for a fast bridge number or sanity check, then continue into the related calculators or guides below when the decision needs more than a raw conversion.
Use the supplier's closest stock material. Stone with fines and wet loads can bill heavier than loose, decorative rock.
Need bag counts instead of tons?
Jump from bulk-yard math into 50-lb stone bags, 1-cu-ft soil bags, and 2-cu-ft mulch bags when the store format matters more than the truck quote.
Still need the project takeoff?
Use a full material calculator when you still need to turn area, depth, and waste into the cubic-yard starting point before comparing supplier quote formats.
Next material-ordering steps
Bags to Cubic Yards Converter
Move the same job from store bag counts into bulk-yard planning when bagged material stops making sense.
Convert →Gravel Calculator
Turn driveway, path, and drainage measurements into cubic yards, bags, and ton-ready gravel orders.
Calculate →Stone Calculator
Price out crusher run, #57 stone, decorative rock, and other aggregate using real bulk ordering formats.
Calculate →Sand Calculator
Bridge from sand area-and-depth takeoffs into bag counts, cubic yards, and supplier-facing order quantities.
Calculate →Quick Reference: Common Bulk Materials
The same volume can bill very differently depending on the material. Use this table when you want a fast check before calling a landscape yard, quarry, or trucking supplier.
| Material | Tons per cu yd | 5 cu yd order | Usually quoted as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Gravel (Angular) | 1.35 | 6.75 tons | Often quoted by ton or by cubic yard |
| Crushed Limestone (#57) | 1.28 | 6.40 tons | Frequently sold by the ton for drainage and aggregate yards |
| Crusher Run (#411 / DGA / QP) | 1.69 | 8.45 tons | Usually ton-priced because the fines make it dense |
| Paver Leveling Sand | 1.35 | 6.75 tons | Often ton-priced at landscape and masonry yards |
| Screened Topsoil | 1.01 | 5.05 tons | Usually yard-priced, but truck and trailer limits still care about weight |
| Shredded Hardwood | 0.34 | 1.70 tons | Mostly yard- or bag-priced; weight matters for hauling and bulk-bag limits |
Worked Ordering Examples
Driveway base quote check
6 cu yd of crusher run = 10.14 short tons
If your takeoff came from a driveway or shed-pad plan in cubic yards but the quarry quotes #411 / DGA / QP by the ton, this is the bridge number you need.
Drainage stone comparison
3 cu yd of #57 stone = 3.84 short tons
That lets you compare a per-ton yard quote against a per-yard quote from a bulk landscape supplier without guessing at the density.
Mulch truck sanity check
8 cu yd of hardwood mulch = 2.72 short tons
Mulch is usually bought by the yard or by bags, but the ton view helps you check trailer limits and decide whether a delivery is still a light-load job.
Use this page when the quote is weight-priced
Stone, crusher run, sand, and some gravel suppliers price by the short ton even when your project takeoff started in cubic yards.
Switch to bags when retail packaging matters
Garden-center purchases and tight-access jobs usually care more about 50-lb bags or 2-cu-ft bags than about truck tonnage. Use the bags-to-cubic-yards converter for that side of the decision.
Confirm density before locking the order
Wet sand, fines-heavy base stone, and compacted aggregate can bill heavier than the loose averages shown here. Ask which stock material the quote is based on if the tonnage feels tight.