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.
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.
Common Volumes (yd³)
US Short Tons⧉
7.00
1 ton = 2,000 lb
Metric Tonnes⧉
6.35
1 t = 2,204.6 lb
Pounds (lb)⧉
14,000.00
1.4 tons/yd³ × 2,000
Kilograms (kg)⧉
6,350.30
1 lb = 0.4536 kg
Cubic Yards⧉
5.00
Volume
Cubic Feet⧉
135.00
1 yd³ = 27 ft³
Cubic Meters⧉
3.82
1 yd³ = 0.765 m³
Dump Truck Loads (≈10 yd³)⧉
0.50
Single-axle dump truck
Delivery Estimate
#1
≈ 1 truck load (10 yd³ single-axle dump truck)
Weight of 5 yd³ by Material
gravel
7.00 tons
sand
6.75 tons
sand
8.10 tons
topsoil
5.40 tons
mulch
1.70 tons
concrete
10.15 tons
asphalt
9.80 tons
crushed
6.75 tons
clay
8.50 tons
dirt
5.75 tons
compost
2.70 tons
woodchips
1.35 tons
riprap
8.25 tons
limestone
9.10 tons
Material Density Reference
| Material | Tons/yd³ | 1 yd³ (lb) | 5 yd³ (tons) | 10 yd³ (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.4 | 2,800.00 | 7 | 14 |
| Sand, dry | 1.35 | 2,700.00 | 6.75 | 13.5 |
| Sand, wet | 1.62 | 3,240.00 | 8.1 | 16.2 |
| Topsoil | 1.08 | 2,160.00 | 5.4 | 10.8 |
| Mulch | 0.34 | 680.00 | 1.7 | 3.4 |
| Concrete | 2.03 | 4,060.00 | 10.15 | 20.3 |
| Asphalt | 1.96 | 3,920.00 | 9.8 | 19.6 |
| Crushed stone | 1.35 | 2,700.00 | 6.75 | 13.5 |
| Clay | 1.7 | 3,400.00 | 8.5 | 17 |
| Fill dirt | 1.15 | 2,300.00 | 5.75 | 11.5 |
| Compost | 0.54 | 1,080.00 | 2.7 | 5.4 |
| Wood chips | 0.27 | 540.00 | 1.35 | 2.7 |
| Riprap | 1.65 | 3,300.00 | 8.25 | 16.5 |
| Limestone | 1.82 | 3,640.00 | 9.1 | 18.2 |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Cubic Yards to Tons Converter
Cubic yards and tons are the two dominant units in landscaping and construction material ordering. You measure the space to fill in cubic yards and the supplier charges by the ton. The conversion factor varies by material: gravel is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, dry sand is 1.35 tons, and mulch is a light 0.34 tons.
This converter includes 14 pre-loaded materials with accurate tons-per-yard factors, a custom option, and output in US short tons, metric tonnes, pounds, kilograms, cubic feet, and cubic meters. Preset buttons let you quickly check common volumes from half a yard to 20 yards.
The dump truck load estimator shows how many single-axle dump truck loads (~10 yd³) you'll need for your project. The weight comparison bars let you visually compare how the same volume of different materials translates to different weights, which is critical for transport and structural planning. It helps estimators, contractors, and homeowners plan realistic order quantities before placing supplier calls.
When This Page Helps
Landscaping and construction suppliers price by the ton while you measure your job in cubic yards. Keeping the yard-based volume, tonnage, and truck-load estimate together makes delivery planning and supplier communication more reliable, especially when several materials are being priced at once.
How to Use the Inputs
- Select cubic yards → tons or tons → cubic yards.
- Choose a material (14 options or custom).
- Enter custom density in tons/yd³ if needed.
- Enter the volume or weight.
- View weight in US tons, metric tonnes, lbs, and kg.
- Check the delivery estimate with truck load visualization.
- Compare material weights and review the density table.
Formula used
Weight (US tons) = Volume (yd³) × Material Factor (tons/yd³)
1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.7646 m³
1 US short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.185 kgExample Calculation
Result: 14 US tons
10 yd³ × 1.4 tons/yd³ = 14 US short tons = 28,000 lb. This is a full single-axle dump truck load of gravel, typical for a medium driveway project.
Tips & Best Practices
- Gravel: ~1.4 tons/yd³. A typical driveway needs 5-10 cubic yards.
- Mulch is lightweight at 0.34 tons/yd³. A single-axle dump truck can carry a full 10 yd³ load.
- Wet materials add 15-25% more weight. Ask your supplier if the quote is wet or dry weight.
- A standard single-axle dump truck holds about 10 yd³. Tandem axle holds 14-18 yd³.
- For topsoil, order 10% extra for settling and compaction.
- Concrete at 2.03 tons/yd³ is one of the heaviest common materials — a 10-yd³ pour weighs over 20 tons.
Ordering Landscaping Materials
Most landscaping supply yards price per ton for bulk materials. Step 1: measure your area and desired depth to calculate cubic yards (L × W × D ÷ 27). Step 2: multiply by the material density (tons/yd³) from this calculator. Step 3: add 10-15% for waste and settling. Step 4: divide by the truck size to estimate delivery trips.
Common Project Estimating
A 2-inch mulch layer over 500 sq ft: 500 × (2/12) ÷ 27 = 3.1 yd³ = ~1.05 tons. A 4-inch gravel driveway, 12 × 50 ft: 600 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 7.4 yd³ = ~10.4 tons. A 4-inch concrete patio, 15 × 20 ft: 300 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 3.7 yd³ = ~7.5 tons.
Dump Truck Selection
When planning deliveries, consider both volume and weight limits. A single-axle dump truck holding 10 yd³ of mulch (3.4 tons) is well within weight limits, but 10 yd³ of concrete (20.3 tons) may exceed the GVWR. For heavy materials, you may need a tandem or tri-axle truck even if the volume fits a single-axle bed.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
About 1.4 US short tons (2,800 lb). This ranges from 1.3-1.5 depending on gravel size and moisture.
About 0.93 yd³. Topsoil averages 1.08 tons per cubic yard. Moisture and organic content can shift this number in practice.
Single-axle: ~10 yd³. Tandem-axle: 14-18 yd³. Tri-axle: 16-20 yd³. Payload limits may reduce the usable volume for heavier materials.
Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Depth is often in inches, so convert first (inches ÷ 12).
No. US short ton = 2,000 lb. Metric tonne = 2,204.6 lb. The tonne is about 10% heavier.
About 0.34 tons (680 lb). Mulch is one of the lightest landscaping materials.
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