# How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Weigh? Tons per cubic yard for crushed aggregate, loose versus compacted, and how to convert a volume into an order by weight. Guide page: (published 2026-10-05, updated 2026-10-05). This Markdown version has the guide's key points, outline, FAQs and sources; the full article, with its worked examples and diagrams, is on the page. ## Key takeaways - There is no single weight for a yard of gravel: it depends on the stone, its grading, its moisture, and whether it is loose or compacted. - Wisconsin DOT research measured compacted road aggregates at 1.50 to 1.98 US tons per cubic yard. - The same material takes up 27% to 60% more room loose than compacted, so a loose yard weighs less than a compacted yard. - Tons = cubic yards × the supplier's tons per yard; cubic yards = tons ÷ tons per yard. Ask whether their figure is loose or compacted. - Buying by weight with a compacted density covers compaction automatically; buying loose yards means adding the expansion. ## In this guide 1. [Why there is no single number](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#why-there-is-no-single-number) 2. [What measured densities show](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#what-measured-densities-show) 3. [Loose versus compacted](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#loose-versus-compacted) 4. [Converting yards and tons](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#converting-yards-and-tons) 5. [Worked example: a 40 × 10 ft driveway pad](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#worked-example) 6. [Hauling it yourself](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#hauling-it-yourself) 7. [What to ask your supplier](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yard-of-gravel-weigh/#what-to-ask-your-supplier) ## Frequently asked questions ### How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel? It depends on the product. Wisconsin DOT research measured compacted road aggregates at 1.50 to 1.98 US tons per cubic yard, and loose material weighs less than that. Use the figure your supplier gives for the exact product you are buying. ### Does a loose yard weigh the same as a compacted yard? No. Compacting packs more stone into each cubic yard. The Wisconsin study found aggregates take up 27% to 60% more volume loose than compacted, so a loose yard of the same stone weighs correspondingly less. ### How do I convert tons of gravel to cubic yards? Divide the tons by the supplier's tons per cubic yard. At 1.80 tons per compacted yard, 9 tons fills 5 compacted cubic yards. Check whether the density is for loose or compacted material before you divide. ### Why does the gravel calculator ask for a density? Because no single density is correct for every stone. The calculator works out the volume from your measurements, then multiplies by the density you enter, so the weight matches the product your supplier actually sells. ### How much gravel can my truck carry? Divide the payload printed by your vehicle maker by the weight of one cubic yard of the product you are hauling. Wet stone weighs more than dry stone, so leave a margin and never exceed the payload or the tire ratings. ## Related calculators and guides ### Calculators - [Gravel Calculator](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/gravel-calculator/) — Gravel, crushed rock, or landscape rock volume in cubic yards and meters, with an optional weight from your supplier's density. ### Guides - [Gravel driveway layers: base, depth, and stone types](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/gravel-driveway-layers/) — Layer thickness, stone choice, crown, ditches, and ordering for a gravel driveway, from road agency manuals. - [What Is a Cubic Yard?](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/cubic-yards-explained/) — What a cubic yard is, how to convert area × depth into yards, and how much ground one yard covers. - [How to Plan a Bulk Material Delivery](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/planning-material-delivery/) — Rounding to supplier increments, questions to ask, and a checklist before bulk material arrives. - [Bagged vs. Bulk Materials: Which Should You Buy?](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/bagged-vs-bulk-materials/) — How to compare bags and bulk delivery using bags per cubic yard and your own local prices. ## Sources - [Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates of Wisconsin (WHRP G22-05 final report, December 2023)](https://wisconsindot.gov/documents2/research/0092-22-05-final-report.pdf) — Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wisconsin Highway Research Program). Used for: Compacted 1.50–1.98 tons/yd³; compacted→loose expansion 27–60%. Table E2: Dense Graded Base ¾ in 1.80–1.86 (36–47%); 1¼ in 1.79–1.98 (34–52%); 3 in 1.78–1.87 (34–45%); Breaker Run 1.82–1.87 (27–30%); Select Crushed Material 1.77–1.81 (27–29%); Backfill Structure 1.50–1.72 (35–48%); Backfill Granular 1.62–1.66 (38–52%). Checked 2026-10-05. - [Gravel Roads Manual (2021)](https://lhtac.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gravel-Roads-Manual-Final_Web-2021.pdf) — Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (Idaho). Used for: Crown ≈ ½ in per foot (4%), not above 6% or below 2%; loose loads lose 25–30% of volume when spread and compacted. Checked 2026-10-05. - [NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: Units of Mass](https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2025/12/30/appc-26-HB44-20251222.pdf) — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 ton (short ton) = 2,000 lb; 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg = 2,204.623 lb. Checked 2026-10-05. - [NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement](https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2025/12/30/appc-26-HB44-20251222.pdf) — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³; 1 US gal = 231 in³. Checked 2026-10-03. **Estimate only.** Results are planning estimates computed from the numbers you enter. They are not engineering, structural, or code advice. Confirm quantities, product yields, and installation requirements with your supplier, the product label, and your local building authority before you order or build.