Gravel calculator: cubic yards to tons (and back)
How many cubic yards and tons of gravel, stone, sand, soil or fill an area takes, from its length, width and depth, and how many truckloads that is.
Your numbers
The areaMaterial and truckTons to cubic yards See your resultResult
Tons 8.30 tonsat 1.40 tons per cubic yard Cubic yards 5.93 yd³480 sq ft at 4.0 in deep Truckloads 10.59 loads of 14 tons 20.0 tons in cubic yards 14.29 yd³tons ÷ tons per cubic yard Stop working this out by handFleetZap Dispatch plans each delivery with its truck, driver, route and ETA, and sends the customer a link to follow it.
See FleetZap Maintenance · Try the demoThe formula
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27 · Tons = Cubic yards × Tons per cubic yard · Cubic yards = Tons ÷ Tons per cubic yard
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and depth in inches is divided by 12 first. With the example: 40 × 12 ft at 4 inches is 5.93 cubic yards, about 8.3 tons at 1.4 tons a yard, so one 14-ton load. The weight of a yard differs by material, grading and moisture, so use your supplier’s figure, and order a little extra for compaction and waste.
Using the numberWhat to do with it
- Check the truck’s legal payload as well as its box size: a full box of wet material can be over weight.
- Round loads up, and plan the delivery order so trucks aren’t waiting on site.
- Compacted material settles: order a bit more than the flat volume for base layers.
Guides behind this calculator
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Good to know
How do you convert cubic yards to tons?Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight in tons per cubic yard. 5.93 cubic yards at 1.4 tons a yard is about 8.3 tons.
How do you convert tons to cubic yards?Divide the tons by the material's weight in tons per cubic yard. 20 tons at 1.4 tons a yard is about 14.3 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards do I need?Length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Convert depth in inches to feet by dividing by 12.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?It varies by stone size, grading and moisture. Ask the supplier for the figure for the exact material you're buying.
How much gravel do I need?Multiply length × width in feet by depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) and divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the gravel's tons per cubic yard from your supplier.
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