Gravel appears in almost every construction job at some stage: as a base under a driveway, a drainage layer behind a retaining wall, or a bed for a shed or fence line. Builders and homeowners choose it for its cost, durability, and free-draining behavior, but ordering it correctly demands a conversion between two different units. Suppliers sell by the ton, while most site calculations work in cubic yards. Mix those up and you either pay for stone you do not need or stall a project waiting on a top-up delivery. The conversion is simple arithmetic once you know the density of the material.
The relationship between volume and weight is not a constant, because gravel density changes with stone type, particle size, and moisture. This article walks through the standard conversion, the coverage math you need on site, and the ordering habits that keep projects on schedule. If the job also includes a fence line, the same gravel handling questions come up when you set posts, and it pays to know how to fit gravel boards for stronger, longer-lasting fencing before you place an order.
How Many Yards Are in a Ton of Gravel?
In the United States, a ton is a short ton of 2,000 pounds. A typical gravel has a density of about 2,600 to 2,800 pounds per cubic yard. Dividing the weight of the ton by the density gives the volume: 2,000 pounds divided by 2,800 pounds per cubic yard equals about 0.714 cubic yards. In practical terms, one ton of gravel is roughly seven-tenths of a cubic yard, so plan on needing about one and a half tons for every cubic yard of stone you want in place.
That figure moves with the material. At a density of 2,600 pounds per cubic yard, a ton works out to about 0.77 cubic yards, a difference of nearly 8 percent that becomes meaningful on larger orders. Always confirm the density with the supplier before you commit to a quantity. For a shed base, the choice of material changes the volume you need, so compare gravel vs concrete shed foundation options first and you will know exactly how many yards the pad requires.
Why the Answer Depends on Density
Density is the weight of a given volume of material, and gravel densities vary for three reasons. Angular crushed stone locks together with fewer voids, so a cubic yard of crushed stone usually weighs more than a cubic yard of rounded pea gravel. Moisture adds weight to the stone itself. And the range of particle sizes determines how tightly the pieces pack, because a well-graded mix with fines fills its voids and settles more than a single-size product.
Reading a Supplier’s Density Spec
Most suppliers publish the weight per cubic yard for each product, either on the product page or the delivery ticket. If the number is missing, ask directly. Two figures matter: the loose density, which is what the truck delivers, and the compacted density, which is what the stone reaches after rolling. Order with the loose figure and budget extra volume for compaction.
Gravel Density and the Conversion Factor
The conversion factor between tons and yards comes straight from density. In the US, one ton equals 2,000 pounds, and most gravels weigh between 2,600 and 2,800 pounds per cubic yard. That spread means one ton converts to somewhere between 0.71 and 0.77 cubic yards. You can cross-check your own figures against a similar yard-per-ton calculation on Dream Civil, which walks through the same density math from the ordering side.
The Conversion Factor
Run the numbers in both directions. To find the cubic yards in a ton, divide 2,000 by the density in pounds per cubic yard. To find the tons in a yard, divide the density by 2,000. A material at 2,700 pounds per yard gives 0.74 yards per ton, and one cubic yard of that material weighs 1.35 tons. Keep both figures on the job sheet, because you need the first when ordering and the second when checking truck capacity.
Short Tons vs. Metric Tonnes
The 2,000-pound short ton is standard in US construction, but Canadian and international suppliers often quote metric tonnes of 2,204.6 pounds, and a UK long ton is 2,240 pounds. A metric tonne of gravel at 2,800 pounds per yard converts to about 0.79 cubic yards instead of 0.71. Confirm which unit the quote uses before you compare prices.
| Gravel Type | Typical Density (lb per cu yd) | Cubic Yards per Ton |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone, 3/4 in | 2,700 to 2,800 | 0.71 to 0.74 |
| Pea gravel | 2,650 to 2,750 | 0.73 to 0.75 |
| River rock | 2,700 to 2,900 | 0.69 to 0.74 |
| Dense grade aggregate (DGA) | 2,700 to 2,800 | 0.71 to 0.74 |
| Crushed limestone | 2,500 to 2,700 | 0.74 to 0.80 |
Use the table as a starting point, then confirm the specific product’s density with the supplier, because regional stone varies.
How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Cover?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so the area it covers depends entirely on the depth of the layer. Spread 3 inches thick, a yard covers about 108 square feet. At 2 inches, coverage rises to 162 square feet; at 4 inches, it drops to 81; and at 6 inches, to 54. Most driveways run 4 to 6 inches of gravel, while walkways and drainage beds work at 2 to 3 inches.
Calculating Material Step by Step
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet and multiply them to get the square footage.
- Choose the finished depth in inches and convert it to feet by dividing by 12.
- Multiply the area by the depth in feet to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 to convert the volume to cubic yards.
- Multiply the cubic yards by the material’s pounds-per-yard weight, then divide by 2,000 for tons.
A 20 by 10 foot driveway at 4 inches deep comes out to 200 square feet times 0.333 feet, which is 66.7 cubic feet, or about 2.5 cubic yards. At 2,700 pounds per yard that is roughly 3.4 tons, so a 3.5-ton order covers the pad with a little to spare.
Coverage by Depth
| Layer Depth (in) | Square Feet per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 2 | 162 |
| 3 | 108 |
| 4 | 81 |
| 5 | 65 |
| 6 | 54 |
Large earthworks use the same arithmetic at a different scale. The sand and gravel foundation treatment methods used in dam construction depend on engineered layer depths and compaction targets, the same principle applied to a driveway with tighter tolerances.
How Many Tons Per Yard of Gravel?
Working in the other direction, a cubic yard of gravel weighs between 2,600 and 2,800 pounds, which converts to 1.3 to 1.4 tons per yard. Suppliers and drivers use this figure constantly: a 10-yard load weighs about 13 to 14 tons, and a pickup truck rated for 1.5 tons can carry only about one cubic yard of stone.
Weight by Gravel Type
Crushed stone is the standard base material, angular enough to lock together under compaction. Pea gravel is round and small, which makes it easy to walk on but loose under vehicle loads. River rock is heavier per yard and works best as a decorative top layer. Dense grade aggregate, also called DGA or quarry process, blends crushed stone with stone dust so it compacts into a nearly solid base.
Why Compaction Changes the Numbers
Freshly dumped gravel sits loose, and rolling or traffic settles it by 10 to 20 percent depending on the product. Order 10 to 15 percent more than the bare calculation to keep the finished grade where you want it. For the full installation sequence, from subgrade prep through rolling, see how to build a gravel driveway from material selection to final compaction.
Sizing Your Order: Tons, Yards, and Truckloads
Delivery trucks come in sizes, and knowing the capacity helps you match the order to the vehicle. A small dump truck carries about 5 tons, or roughly 3.5 to 4 cubic yards. A medium truck hauls 8 to 10 tons, around 6 to 7 yards. A large tri-axle dump truck can take 14 to 15 tons, close to 10 to 11 yards. Order more than a truck can carry and you pay for split loads and extra delivery fees.
Common Order Quantities
- 3 tons of gravel equals about 2.1 cubic yards, enough for a small path or about 170 square feet at 4 inches.
- 5 tons equals about 3.6 cubic yards, a typical small driveway or pad.
- 10 cubic yards equals roughly 13 to 14 tons, the most common full truckload for residential jobs.
- A 3/4-inch crushed stone at 2,800 pounds per yard gives about 0.71 yards per ton, so a 5-ton order delivers about 3.6 yards of compactible base.
What a Ton of Gravel Costs
Bulk crushed stone typically runs $25 to $60 per ton before delivery, depending on region and quarry distance, while decorative products like river rock cost more and bagged gravel costs the most per yard. Delivery fees are quoted separately, so ask for a delivered price per ton and compare that, not the pit price. Matching the material to the use matters as much as the price, and the guide to selecting the right gravel for driveways compares options by drainage, compaction, and traffic load.
Ordering the Right Amount for Your Project
Every gravel order should start with three numbers: the area in square feet, the depth in inches, and the density in pounds per cubic yard. Run the conversion, add the compaction allowance, and round up to the nearest delivery increment. Ordering one extra ton costs less than paying a second delivery fee for the ton you underestimated.
A Pre-Order Checklist
- Confirm the loose density of the specific product with the supplier.
- Measure in feet, decide the depth, and run the area and volume math.
- Add 10 to 15 percent for compaction and settlement.
- Check truck access and dump location before delivery day.
- Order by the ton but track the job in cubic yards.
Still deciding between a stone pad and a slab? The comparison of gravel vs concrete shed foundations covers drainage, load capacity, and long-term cost, so you can pick the base that fits the site. Write the density on the delivery ticket when the truck arrives and verify the load against what you ordered before it dumps.