Convert cubic yards to US tons, or tons back to cubic yards, for 18 common bulk materials, or enter your own density. To convert, multiply cubic yards by the material's density (lb/yd³) and divide by 2,000.
| Same 10 yd³ in… | Tons |
|---|---|
| Gravel | 14 |
| Crushed stone | 13.5 |
| Sand (dry) | 13.5 |
| Topsoil | 10 |
| Coal (bituminous) | 7.5 |
| Wood chips | 2.8 |
Weight
14tons
Pounds
28,000lb
Metric tonnes
12.7t
Formula: tons = cubic yards × density (lb/yd³) ÷ 2,000. Densities are loose, uncompacted values. Moisture and gradation change them.
tons = cubic yards × density (lb/yd³) ÷ 2,000
Going the other way: cubic yards = tons × 2,000 ÷ density. The only variable that matters is density, and it's a property of the material as it sits: loose, uncompacted, at its current moisture content.
Loose densities and typical angles of repose for the materials in the converter. Values are planning figures. Moisture and gradation move them, sometimes by 20% or more. For the full reference in all three unit systems, see the bulk material density chart.
| Material | lb/yd³ (loose) | tons/yd³ | Angle of repose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 2,800 | 1.40 | ~34° |
| Pea gravel | 2,600 | 1.30 | ~30° |
| Crushed stone | 2,700 | 1.35 | ~37° |
| Limestone (crushed) | 2,600 | 1.30 | ~38° |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 1.35 | ~34° |
| Sand (wet) | 3,200 | 1.60 | ~25° |
| Topsoil | 2,000 | 1.00 | ~35° |
| Fill dirt | 2,200 | 1.10 | ~35° |
| Asphalt millings | 2,400 | 1.20 | ~35° |
| Concrete (crushed) | 2,400 | 1.20 | ~37° |
| Road salt | 2,000 | 1.00 | ~32° |
| Coal (bituminous) | 1,500 | 0.75 | ~35° |
| Corn (shelled) | 1,215 | 0.61 | ~23° |
| Wheat | 1,300 | 0.65 | ~27° |
| Soybeans | 1,250 | 0.63 | ~26° |
| Wood chips | 550 | 0.28 | ~45° |
| Mulch | 700 | 0.35 | ~40° |
| Compost | 1,000 | 0.50 | ~40° |
Converting because you're estimating a pile? The stockpile volume calculator handles the geometry and the density in one step.
Multiply cubic yards by the material's loose density in pounds per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000. Example: 10 yd³ of gravel at 2,800 lb/yd³ is 28,000 lb, or 14 tons.
It depends entirely on the material: about 1.4 tons for gravel or crushed stone, 1.0 ton for topsoil, 0.6 tons for shelled corn, and only about 0.28 tons for wood chips. There is no universal conversion. Density is the whole answer.
Loose bulk density changes with moisture, compaction, and gradation. Wet sand weighs ~20% more than dry. Suppliers weigh trucks; the yards-to-tons conversion they quote uses their material's density on that day. If precise inventory matters, measure weight and volume rather than converting between them.
Rebulk measures the actual volume of your piles, bays, and silos, continuously with fixed sensors or on demand with a phone scan, so inventory is a number you look up, not a conversion you defend.
