YardBatch field guide
Convert gravel cubic yards to tons using supplier density
One universal conversion factor cannot describe every stone product.
YardBatch · Published September 25, 2026
Cubic yards describe space. Tons describe weight. To move between the two, you need the weight per cubic yard for the material you are ordering. Ask the supplier for the density of the exact product and confirm which kind of ton is being used.
Start with a stated unit
A US short ton equals 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne equals 1,000 kilograms, approximately 2,204.62 pounds. YardBatch’s optional gravel density field uses US short tons per cubic yard. Do not put a value quoted in metric tonnes into that field without converting it first.
Multiply volume by density
Required cubic yards × US short tons per cubic yard = estimated US short tons
If a supplier states that a particular product weighs 1.4 short tons per cubic yard, a 2.5-cubic-yard quantity would weigh 3.5 short tons. The 1.4 value is illustrative, not a default for all gravel.
If density is supplied in pounds per cubic foot, multiply that density by 27 and divide by 2,000 to get short tons per cubic yard. For example, an illustrative 100 pounds per cubic foot becomes 1.35 short tons per cubic yard.
Distinguish required volume from order volume
A project can need 1.12 cubic yards while the supplier requires a 1.25-yard order. Those quantities produce different weights. YardBatch’s optional weight result uses the unrounded material estimate. To estimate the rounded order’s weight, multiply the displayed bulk order by the same density yourself.
A per-ton quote needs one more step
The calculator’s bulk price field is per cubic yard. For a supplier quote per ton, you can multiply the price per short ton by the supplier’s short tons per cubic yard to obtain an equivalent price per yard. Confirm whether the supplier actually bills by scale weight and how minimums work; the resulting price comparison remains an estimate.
Keep project design separate
Loose and compacted quantities are not automatically interchangeable. Obtain the required material specification and quantity basis for structural work from the relevant project professional or supplier. A volume calculator does not determine compaction, drainage, or load-bearing suitability.
For pickup planning, confirm the actual ordered weight and your vehicle’s limits separately. A calculated yardage is not a hauling authorization.
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