If you’re planning a project, you’ll usually measure rock in cubic yards (volume), but bulk suppliers sell by the ton (weight).
The important thing: there is no single perfect conversion because different materials have different densities, moisture, and gradation.
Start with volume (yards), then convert to tons
If you know your dimensions, you can always get volume first:
1) Cubic feet = length(ft) × width(ft) × depth(ft)
2) Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Then convert yards to tons using a reasonable estimate for your material.
A practical rule of thumb
For many common aggregates, a rough starting point is:
- 1 cubic yard ≈ 1.3–1.6 tons
Heavier, tighter-graded, or wetter materials tend to weigh more. Cleaner, more open materials can weigh less.
Why the conversion changes (in plain English)
Two loads can be the same volume and still weigh differently because:
- Moisture adds weight (wet material is heavier).
- Fines fill voids (materials “with fines” typically pack tighter and weigh more per yard).
- Rounded vs angular affects how it packs.
- Material type matters (different rock types have different densities).
What changes the tons ↔ yards conversion?
- Material type (river rock vs crushed base vs sand)
- Gradation (clean vs with fines)
- Moisture content
- Void space (how much air is between particles)
A safe way to order when you’re unsure
If you only have a yard estimate and you’re not sure what conversion to use:
- Use the middle of the range (often ~1.5 tons/yard) as a starting point.
- Round up slightly—running short is the most common (and most expensive) mistake.
- For large jobs, request a quote and we’ll help sanity-check quantities.
How to estimate for ordering (simple approach)
- Estimate your project volume in cubic yards.
- Multiply by a reasonable tons-per-yard estimate for your material.
- Round up slightly—being short is the most common (and most expensive) mistake.
If you’re unsure, send us the project dimensions and depth and we’ll help sanity-check the tonnage.
Quick examples
Example: 30 ft × 10 ft bed at 3 inches
Depth = 3/12 = 0.25 ft
Cubic feet = 30 × 10 × 0.25 = 75 cu ft
Cubic yards = 75/27 ≈ 2.8 yd³
Tons (using 1.5) ≈ 4.2 tons
Note: bulk delivery has a 12-ton minimum per product, so smaller installs are often best handled with local bagged material or by increasing coverage.
Example: 100 ft × 12 ft base at 4 inches
Depth = 4/12 ≈ 0.333 ft
Cubic feet ≈ 100 × 12 × 0.333 ≈ 400 cu ft
Cubic yards ≈ 400/27 ≈ 14.8 yd³
Tons (using 1.5) ≈ 22.2 tons
Bulk delivery notes (important)
- Minimum order is 12 tons per product
- One product per truckload (no mixed loads)
- Large projects ship as multiple loads—commercial quantities may qualify for project pricing
Get pricing by ZIP
Once you know what to order, enter your ZIP code on a product page to see delivered pricing.