Cubic Yards to Tons Converter
Convert cubic yards to US tons for 14 materials including gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, and concrete. Includes dump truck load estimator, weight comparison, and density table.
Cubic Meter to Ton Converter
Convert cubic meters to metric tons for 16 materials including concrete, sand, gravel, and soil. Includes density reference, weight comparison bars, and US/imperial ton outputs.
Quick Volumes (m³)
Metric Tons (t)⧉
12.00
1 t = 1,000 kg
Kilograms (kg)⧉
12,000.00
Density: 2400 kg/m³
Pounds (lb)⧉
26,455.44
1 kg = 2.205 lb
US Short Tons⧉
13.23
1 short ton = 2,000 lb
Imperial Long Tons⧉
11.81
1 long ton = 2,240 lb
Cubic Meters⧉
5.00
Volume
Cubic Yards⧉
6.54
1 m³ = 1.308 yd³
Cubic Feet⧉
176.57
1 m³ = 35.31 ft³
Material Weight for 5 m³
water
5.00 t
concrete
12.00 t
asphalt
11.50 t
sand
8.00 t
sand
9.60 t
gravel
8.40 t
soil
6.00 t
soil
8.00 t
clay
9.50 t
limestone
13.50 t
granite
13.75 t
wood
3.75 t
wood
2.40 t
topsoil
6.00 t
mulch
2.00 t
Material Density Reference
| Material | kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | Weight of 1 m³ (t) | Weight of 1 yd³ (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 1,000.00 | 62.40 | 1 | 0.76 |
| Concrete | 2,400.00 | 149.80 | 2.4 | 1.83 |
| Asphalt | 2,300.00 | 143.60 | 2.3 | 1.76 |
| Sand, dry | 1,600.00 | 99.90 | 1.6 | 1.22 |
| Sand, wet | 1,920.00 | 119.90 | 1.92 | 1.47 |
| Gravel | 1,680.00 | 104.90 | 1.68 | 1.28 |
| Soil, dry | 1,200.00 | 74.90 | 1.2 | 0.92 |
| Soil, wet | 1,600.00 | 99.90 | 1.6 | 1.22 |
| Clay | 1,900.00 | 118.60 | 1.9 | 1.45 |
| Limestone | 2,700.00 | 168.60 | 2.7 | 2.06 |
| Granite | 2,750.00 | 171.70 | 2.75 | 2.1 |
| Steel | 7,850.00 | 490.10 | 7.85 | 6 |
| Oak | 750.00 | 46.80 | 0.75 | 0.57 |
| Pine | 480.00 | 30.00 | 0.48 | 0.37 |
| Topsoil | 1,200.00 | 74.90 | 1.2 | 0.92 |
| Mulch | 400.00 | 25.00 | 0.4 | 0.31 |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Cubic Meter to Ton Converter
Converting cubic meters to metric tons requires material density — the weight per unit volume. Water has a density of exactly 1,000 kg/m³, meaning 1 m³ of water weighs exactly 1 metric ton. Concrete is 2.4 times denser at 2,400 kg/m³, so 1 m³ of concrete weighs 2.4 tonnes.
This converter includes 16 pre-loaded materials commonly used in construction, landscaping, and engineering. Select the material, enter the volume in cubic meters (or the weight in metric tons for the reverse direction), and review the result in metric tons, kilograms, pounds, US short tons, and imperial long tons.
The page is useful for construction project managers ordering materials in metric units, mining engineers calculating ore volumes, and logistics planners determining payload weights for trucks and ships. The visual comparison bars show at a glance how different materials compare in weight for the same volume. It also helps estimate transport loads and prevent overweight dispatch plans before booking equipment.
When This Page Helps
Material density varies enormously — mulch at 400 kg/m³ is six times lighter than concrete at 2,400 kg/m³. Keeping density, weight, and the different ton standards together helps prevent ordering and transport mistakes when teams need to compare metric tonnes, US short tons, and imperial long tons on the same job.
How to Use the Inputs
- Choose volume → weight or weight → volume.
- Select a material (16 options plus custom).
- Enter custom density in kg/m³ if needed.
- Enter the value or tap a preset.
- Read weight in metric tons, kg, lbs, and both US/imperial tons.
- Compare material weights visually using the bar chart.
- Reference the density table for detailed data.
Formula used
Weight (kg) = Volume (m³) × Density (kg/m³)
Metric Tons = kg ÷ 1,000
1 metric ton = 1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lbExample Calculation
Result: 16 metric tons
10 m³ × 1,600 kg/m³ = 16,000 kg = 16 metric tons = 17.6 US short tons. This is roughly a full dump truck load of dry sand.
Tips & Best Practices
- 1 m³ of water = exactly 1 metric ton (1,000 kg). Use this as your mental anchor.
- Concrete: 2.4 t/m³. A typical mixer truck carries 7-8 m³ = 17-19 tonnes.
- Wet materials are 15-30% heavier than dry. Always specify moisture content when ordering.
- Metric ton ≠ US ton. 1 metric ton = 2,204.6 lb; 1 US ton = 2,000 lb; 1 imperial ton = 2,240 lb.
- Bulk materials settle during transport. Order 10-15% extra for compaction/settling.
- Limestone and granite are among the heaviest common construction materials at 2,700+ kg/m³.
Density Basics for Construction Materials
Density links volume and weight. In the metric system, water at 4°C defines the baseline: 1 m³ = 1,000 kg = 1 metric ton. All other materials are compared to this. Materials denser than water (most rocks, metals, concrete) have densities above 1,000 kg/m³; lighter materials (wood, mulch) are below.
Trucking and Payload Planning
Knowing the density lets you calculate whether a truck will "cube out" (run out of volume) or "weigh out" (hit the weight limit) first. A dump truck with 10 m³ capacity carrying gravel (1,680 kg/m³) would hold 16.8 tonnes — likely within its gross vehicle weight rating. The same truck carrying steel scrap at 7,850 kg/m³ would be severely overweight long before filling the bed.
Regional Density Variations
Natural materials like sand, gravel, and soil vary in density by region due to mineral composition, grain size, and moisture content. Published densities are averages. For accuracy in critical applications, weigh a known volume of the specific material from your local supplier.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
About 2.4 metric tonnes. Standard concrete density is 2,400 kg/m³. Actual ready-mix values can vary slightly with aggregate and moisture content.
About 0.625 m³ for dry sand (1,600 kg/m³) or 0.52 m³ for wet sand (1,920 kg/m³).
A metric ton (tonne) = 1,000 kg = 2,204.6 lb. A US short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.2 kg. The metric ton is ~10% heavier.
About 1,680 kg (1.68 metric tons). This varies by gravel size and moisture.
No. Volume and weight are related by density, which differs for every material. You must specify the substance.
Dry soil: ~1,200 kg (1.2 t). Wet soil: ~1,600 kg (1.6 t). Highly variable depending on composition.
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