Landscape material calculators

A cubic yard of landscape material weighs from about 500 lb (mulch) to 3,960 lb (asphalt, compacted), so one ton is 0.51 to 4 cubic yards depending on the material. The calculators below give cubic yards, tons and bags for any area and depth.

Cubic yard and ton calculators

Cubic yard calculatorA 10 by 10 ft area 3 inches deep is 0.93 cubic yards (25 cubic feet). Cubic yards for a rectangle, circle or triangle, with tons for a chosen material.
Gravel driveway calculatorA 20 by 10 ft gravel driveway with 4 in over 12 in of compacted gravel takes about 15.8 tons (layers from Maine DEP's gravel road manual).
Paver sand calculatorA 20 by 10 ft paver patio with 1 in of sand over 6 in of compacted crusher run takes about 7.84 tons. Layer thicknesses from a paver manufacturer guide.
Square feet to cubic yards100 sq ft at 3 inches deep is 0.93 cubic yards; one cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at that depth. Coverage at 1 to 12 inches.
Tons to cubic yardsOne ton of gravel at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard is 0.78 cubic yards. Tons to cubic yards and back by the published weight of each landscape material.

Gravel and stone

Soil and dirt

Mulch and compost

Mulch calculator

Asphalt

Asphalt calculator

Weight and yards in a ton by material

Printable weight chart

Material weight chartOne ton is 0.51 to 4 cubic yards depending on the material. Pounds per cubic yard of gravel, soil, mulch and asphalt, and the area a ton covers.

Quick answers on bags and coverage

How much does a cubic yard weigh by material?

Published weight of a cubic yard of each material, its condition in the document (loose, compacted or not stated) and the cubic yards in one short ton (2,000 lb), heaviest first; weights in different conditions are not comparable
Material	Condition	Pounds per cubic yard	Cubic yards per ton
Asphalt	compacted	3,960	0.51
Crusher run	compacted	3,770	0.53
Pea gravel	not stated	2,840	0.7
Sand	loose	2,795	0.72
River rock	not stated	2,650	0.75
Rock	loose	2,570	0.78
Gravel	loose	2,565	0.78
Dirt	dry, compaction not stated	2,025	0.99
Soil	dry, compaction not stated	2,025	0.99
Topsoil	not stated	1,600	1.25
Mulch	not stated	500	4

Weight of a cubic yard by material.

Each weight is the published value the calculators use. The weight page of each material lists every published value with its document, condition (loose, compacted, dry) and date of checking.