Tons to cubic yards
The tons to cubic yards conversion multiplies your tonnage by 2000 and divides by the material's density in lb per cubic yard. You need the tonnage and the material, because density changes the answer. This tons to cubic yards calculator, also a tons to yards calculator, works for gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, crushed stone, and fill dirt.
Tons to cubic yards
Tap or click the yellow figure to edit it; the button beside it swaps the units.
Material choice matters because density varies. A ton of mulch takes far more space than a ton of gravel because gravel is the denser material. In US units, 2000 lb equal one short ton, a weight separate from a UK long ton or a metric tonne. The calculation multiplies your tons by 2000 to get pounds, then divides by the material's density in pounds per cubic yard. The divisor tells you how many pounds fill one cubic yard of that material, and the count changes with the material. Those density figures are dry-weight averages as of Aug 2026. A wet load weighs more than the dry average, so a wet order can come up short of the estimated volume.
This page and US suppliers use tons and cubic yards, both US customary units.
Why does the material change the ton-to-yard answer?
Each material has its own density, so the same weight fills a different volume. As of Aug 2026, the dry-weight averages are 2835 lb per cubic yard for gravel, 2700 for sand, 2025 for topsoil, 675 for mulch, 2700 for crushed stone, and 2160 for fill dirt. A ton of mulch takes up far more room than a ton of gravel.
What happens if the material is wet?
Moisture adds weight, so a wet cubic yard weighs more than the dry average shown. If you order by the ton, a wet load can give you less volume than the estimate, because the extra water weight pushes the ton count up before the material is full.
Why do suppliers quote some materials in tons and others in yards?
It comes down to how the material is handled and sold. Suppliers quote certain materials by the ton and others by the cubic yard. The converter bridges the two, so a ton-to-yard value depends on the material's density.