How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Weigh?
Weight by material
| Material | lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run / quarry process | 3,000 | 1.50 |
| Crushed stone #57 (3/4 in) | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Decomposed granite | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| River rock | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Bedding sand | 2,600 | 1.30 |
These are typical dry figures — the same table the gravel calculator uses. Two things move them in the real world. Moisture adds weight without adding coverage: rained-on stone can carry an extra 100 to 300 lb per yard. And gradation matters: a material with fines that pack the voids, like crusher run, is heavier per yard than a uniform open-graded stone like #57, which is exactly why crusher run compacts into a firmer base.
Why the weight matters more than the volume
Gravel is estimated by volume but usually sold by the ton, so every order involves this conversion in one direction or the other:
tons = cubic yards × tons per yard and cubic yards = tons ÷ tons per yard
A ton of #57 crushed stone is 1 ÷ 1.40 = about 0.71 cubic yards — call it two-thirds of a yard. Quotes are easy to misread in both directions: "5 yards" of stone is about 7 tons on the truck, and "5 tons" is only about 3.5 yards on the ground.
What that yard covers
| Depth | Coverage per cu yd | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | Top-up over an existing drive |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | Paths, decorative beds |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | New driveway lift, patio base |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | Base over soft subgrade |
Combine the two tables and a modest project gets heavy fast: a 40 × 10 ft driveway topped with 4 in of #57 is about 5 cubic yards before compaction allowance — roughly 7 tons of stone, which matches the worked example on the calculator page.
Can a pickup carry a yard of gravel?
Usually not. Payload — not bed volume — is the limit. A typical half-ton pickup is rated to carry roughly 1,500 lb of cargo, and a single yard of crushed stone is nearly double that. The bed would hold the volume easily; the axles and tires would not hold the weight.
- Half-ton pickup: about half a yard per trip — a heaped wheelbarrow row across the bed.
- Three-quarter-ton: around three-quarters of a yard to a yard, depending on the rating.
- Anything over 2 to 3 yards: have it delivered. Delivery fees are usually less than the fuel and time of four or five overloaded round trips, and dump trucks place the pile where you want it.
Ordering without getting burned
Measure the area, pick a depth, and convert to volume before you call — then let the supplier convert to tons using the density of their material, because pit weights vary. If the quote is in tons, divide by the tons-per-yard figure to sanity-check the coverage against the table above. When a load arrives short, it is almost always this conversion, not the scale ticket.
Gravel is quoted by the ton but measured by volume. Enter the area and depth to get both — plus a compaction allowance, because crusher run settles and the loose volume you order is not the compacted depth you end up with.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.7 cubic yards for typical crushed stone at 1.4 tons per yard. Lighter decorative stone runs closer to 0.75 yards per ton, and heavy crusher run about 0.67.
Can a half-ton pickup carry a yard of gravel?
No. A yard of crushed stone weighs around 2,800 pounds and a typical half-ton truck is rated for roughly 1,500 pounds of payload. Carry half a yard per trip or have the load delivered.
Does wet gravel weigh more?
Yes. Stone that has been rained on can hold an extra 100 to 300 pounds of water per cubic yard. If you buy by the ton right after heavy rain, some of what you pay for is water — buying by the yard avoids that.
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