Cubic Yards to Tons Calculator
Convert cubic yards (yd³) to US tons instantly. Pick a material preset such as topsoil, gravel, sand, mulch or concrete — or enter a custom density — and get the weight in US tons, pounds, kilograms and metric tonnes. Also converts the other way: tons back to cubic yards. Use it as a cubic yard weight calculator for landscaping estimates, construction material orders and dumpster weight planning.
Quick chart: US tons per cubic yard
How many tons in a cubic yard depends on the material. This tons-per-cubic-yard chart shows typical weights at a glance.
| Material | 1 yd³ | 5 yd³ | 10 yd³ | 20 yd³ |
|---|
Densities are typical averages from standard material conversion tables. Actual weight varies with compaction, moisture and source.
Dumpster weight guide
- 10 yd³ of dry fill dirt = 21,600 lb = 10.8 US tons (9.7976 metric tons)
- 20 yd³ of concrete debris = 81,000 lb = 40.5 US tons (36.7410 metric tons)
- 30 yd³ of mulch = 21,000 lb = 10.5 US tons (9.5254 metric tons)
Topsoil and gravel delivery context
A tandem dump truck typically hauls about 10–15 cubic yards per load. So 15 cubic yards of dry topsoil — 30,000 lb, or 15 US tons (13.6078 metric tons / 13,607.77 kg) — is roughly one full truckload. For a garden bed, 5 cubic yards of dry sand weighs 13,500 lb (6.75 US tons), and one cubic yard of dry gravel weighs 2,565 lb (1.2825 US tons, about 1.28 tons).
Cubic yards to tons conversion reference
If you searched for yd3 to tons or cubic yard to tons, the short answer is that there is no single conversion factor: a cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 1 US ton, while a cubic yard of concrete weighs 2.025 US tons. Every cubic yard to ton conversion goes through weight: cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 = cubic yards to US tons.
The most-searched material conversions:
- Gravel cubic yards to tons: 1 yd³ of dry gravel ≈ 1.28 US tons (2,565 lb)
- Sand cubic yards to tons: 1 yd³ of dry sand = 1.35 US tons (2,700 lb)
- Mulch yards to tons: 1 yd³ of shredded bark mulch = 0.35 US tons (700 lb)
- Topsoil yards to tons: 1 yd³ of dry topsoil = 1 US ton (2,000 lb)
- Dirt cubic yards to tons: 1 yd³ of dry fill dirt = 1.08 US tons (2,160 lb)
- Concrete cubic yards to tons: 1 yd³ of solid concrete = 2.025 US tons (4,050 lb)
- Cubic yards of stone to tons: 1 yd³ of crushed stone = 1.35 US tons (2,700 lb)
How many cubic yards in a ton? Flip the math with the Tons → yd³ tab above: our tons to cubic yards converter handles any material. Prefer metric? Cubic yards to metric tons and yd3 to tonnes are shown in every result as “metric tons”.
How much does a yard of dirt weigh? One cubic yard of dry fill dirt weighs 2,160 lb. Yard of mulch weight is far lighter: one cubic yard of shredded bark mulch weighs 700 lb, or 0.35 tons. How many tons of topsoil come in a delivery? A typical tandem truckload of 10–15 cubic yards of dry topsoil weighs 10–15 US tons.
How many tons can a 20 yard dumpster hold? By volume math: 20 cubic yards of dirt weighs 21.6 US tons, 20 cubic yards of mulch weighs 7 US tons, and 20 cubic yards of concrete weighs 40.5 US tons. The tons per cubic yard chart above makes these comparisons instant. Beyond weight, this tool doubles as a cubic yards to pounds (yd3 to lbs) converter, a landscape material weight estimator and an aggregate weight calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
How many tons is 10 cubic yards of topsoil?
10 cubic yards of dry topsoil weighs 20,000 lb, which is exactly 10 US tons (9.0718 metric tons or 9,071.85 kg). Wet topsoil is heavier: the same 10 cubic yards weighs 27,000 lb, or 13.5 US tons (12.2470 metric tons).
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh in tons?
One cubic yard of dry 3/4-inch gravel weighs about 2,565 lb, which is 1.2825 US tons (roughly 1.28 tons). Wet gravel is denser: one cubic yard weighs 3,240 lb, or 1.62 US tons.
How many tons is 5 cubic yards of mulch?
5 cubic yards of shredded bark mulch weighs about 3,500 lb, which is 1.75 US tons (1.5876 metric tons).
How many tons is 20 cubic yards of concrete?
20 cubic yards of solid concrete weighs 81,000 lb, which is 40.5 US tons (36.7410 metric tons or 36,740.98 kg). A 20-yard dumpster full of concrete would weigh over 40 tons, far above any hauler weight allowance.
What is the formula to convert cubic yards to tons?
US tons = cubic yards x (pounds per cubic yard) / 2,000. Example: 5 cubic yards of dry sand at 2,700 lb/yd3: 5 x 2,700 / 2,000 = 6.75 US tons.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of sand?
One US ton of dry sand (2,700 lb/yd3) occupies 2,000 / 2,700 = 0.7407 cubic yards, roughly three-quarters of a cubic yard. Use the Tons to yd3 tab above for any material.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
One US ton of dry gravel (2,565 lb/yd3) occupies 2,000 / 2,565 = 0.7797 cubic yards, a little over three-quarters of a cubic yard.
How many tons will a 10-yard dumpster of dirt weigh?
A 10-yard dumpster holds about 10 cubic yards. Filled with dry fill dirt (2,160 lb/yd3), that is 21,600 lb, or 10.8 US tons (9.7976 metric tons) - far above the roughly 2 tons many haulers include with a 10-yard rental, so overage fees would apply. Always check your hauler's included weight.
How many tons is a 30-yard dumpster of mulch?
30 cubic yards of shredded bark mulch (700 lb/yd3) weighs 21,000 lb, or 10.5 US tons (9.5254 metric tons). Mulch is light: a full 30-yard dumpster of mulch weighs about the same as a 10-yard dumpster of dirt.
How many tons is 15 cubic yards of topsoil?
15 cubic yards of dry topsoil weighs 30,000 lb, which is 15 US tons (13.6078 metric tons or 13,607.77 kg) - roughly one full tandem dump truck load.
What is the difference between US tons and metric tons?
A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb; a metric ton (tonne) is 1,000 kg (2,204.62 lb). So 1 US ton = 0.90718474 metric tons. Example: 10 US tons of topsoil = 9.0718 metric tons. This calculator shows US tons, pounds, kilograms and metric tons together.
Can I use a custom material density?
Yes. Choose Custom density and enter any figure in pounds per cubic yard, or switch the unit toggle to US tons per cubic yard - for example, 1.35 tons/yd3 for dry sand equals 2,700 lb/yd3. The conversion then uses your exact figure instead of a preset.
Does wet material weigh more tons than dry material?
Yes. Compare 10 cubic yards of topsoil: dry (2,000 lb/yd3) is 10 US tons, while wet (2,700 lb/yd3) is 13.5 US tons - 35% more. Always use the wet density after rain or for saturated material.
Is this calculator for cubic yards or cubic meters?
This tool converts imperial cubic yards (yd3) to US tons. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If you work in metric, use our cubic-meters-to-tons-calculator (cubic meters to metric tonnes) instead - that is the metric counterpart of this imperial tool.
How accurate are the material weights?
Densities are typical averages from standard material conversion tables; real material varies with compaction, moisture and source. For ordering or dumpster weight limits, confirm the density with your supplier or hauler - treat results as estimates, not certified weights.
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