How to use this calculator
- Enter the tonnage. Type how many tons of material you have or have been quoted.
- Pick a density preset. Or enter a custom lb/yd³ density. Pea gravel, crushed stone, sand, topsoil, and mulch are pre-loaded.
- Read your cubic yards. The primary result is yd³. Use it to compare to a truckload (10–15 yd³) and to size your job.
Formula
Cubic Yards = (Tons × 2,000) ÷ Density (lb/yd³)
Worked example
5 tons of crushed stone at 2,700 lb/yd³ density: (5 × 2,000) ÷ 2,700 = 3.7 cubic yards. A small dump truck (5–6 yd³ capacity) covers it; a tandem (12+ yd³) is overkill.
Tips for accurate results
- Density varies significantly: pea gravel is denser than mulch by a factor of 3.5×. Picking the wrong preset gives you a wildly wrong volume.
- Suppliers often quote by the ton because trucks are weighed at a scale — but they deliver a volumetric load. Know both.
- Wet gravel weighs 5–10% more than dry — your "tons" can fluctuate after rain.
- For mixed loads (e.g. recycled concrete), ask the supplier for their specific density rather than guessing.