How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons, for standard #57 crushed stone.
The range across common aggregates is narrower than people expect: pea gravel is lighter at about 2,590 lb per cubic yard (1.30 tons), and dense-graded base course is heavier at roughly 2,890 lb (1.45 tons). Moisture moves all of them — wet stone can run 5-10% heavier on the scale ticket.
This matters because bulk aggregate is priced by the ton and measured by the cubic yard. Ordering "six yards" and being billed for eight tons is the normal outcome, not a mistake.
| Material | lb per ft³ | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (cured, normal weight) | 150 | 4,050 | 2.03 |
| Concrete (wet mix, as ordered) | 148 | 4,000 | 2.00 |
| Crushed stone, #57 / ¾" | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Pea gravel | 96 | 2,590 | 1.30 |
| Crushed stone base (CA6 / #411) | 107 | 2,890 | 1.45 |
| Sand, dry loose | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Sand, damp / compacted | 110 | 2,970 | 1.49 |
| Topsoil, screened dry | 76 | 2,050 | 1.03 |
| Topsoil, moist | 85 | 2,300 | 1.15 |
| Compost | 30 | 800 | 0.40 |
| Mulch, shredded hardwood | 19 | 500 | 0.25 |
| Mulch, bark / pine | 15 | 400 | 0.20 |
| Hot-mix asphalt (compacted) | 145 | 3,915 | 1.96 |
| Asphalt millings (compacted) | 127 | 3,430 | 1.72 |
How to use these numbers
Work out your volume in cubic yards, then multiply by the tons-per-yard figure. Twelve cubic yards of #57 crushed stone at 1.35 tons per yard is 16.2 tons, and that is what the scale ticket will say.
Going the other way: divide tons by the density. A 20 ton tri-axle load of dense-graded base at 1.45 tons per yard is 13.8 cubic yards.
Why these figures are ranges in practice
Every number in that chart is a typical planning figure, and three things move it:
- Moisture. The single biggest factor. Wet sand is 10% heavier than dry sand; wet mulch can be double its dry weight. Rain before a delivery changes the scale ticket.
- Compaction. Loose aggregate and the same aggregate rolled into a base course differ by 20-25% in volume for the same weight.
- Source rock. Crushed limestone, granite and trap rock all have different specific gravities. Quarries publish their own figures.
For estimating and ordering these are close enough. For anything structural, or a large enough order that a few percent is real money, ask your supplier for theirs.
Truck and trailer capacities
Weight, not volume, is usually what limits a load — which catches people out with dense material in a small vehicle:
| Vehicle | Payload | Gravel | Mulch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-ton pickup | ~1,000-1,500 lb | 0.5 yd³ | 2-3 yd³ |
| Three-quarter-ton pickup | ~2,500-3,000 lb | 1 yd³ | 3-4 yd³ |
| Single-axle dump | ~5-6 tons | 4 yd³ | — |
| Tandem dump | ~12-15 tons | 9-11 yd³ | — |
| Tri-axle dump | ~18-22 tons | 13-16 yd³ | — |
A half-ton pickup is at its rated payload with about half a cubic yard of gravel. Yards routinely load more than that if you ask them to; your suspension and your brakes are the ones taking the risk.
Common questions
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons, for #57 crushed stone. Dense-graded base runs heavier at around 2,890 lb, and pea gravel slightly lighter at 2,590 lb.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?
About 4,050 lb, or just over two tons, for normal-weight cured concrete at 150 lb per cubic foot.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Around 2,050 lb (about one ton) screened and dry, rising to 2,300 lb or more when wet.
How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?
About 500 lb for dry shredded hardwood and 400 lb for bark mulch — but soaking wet it can be double, which is why mulch is sold by volume and not by weight.