A Yard of Gravel Usually Weighs 2,500 to 3,000 Pounds

One cubic yard of ordinary dry, loose gravel usually weighs about 2,500 to 3,000 pounds, or 1.25 to 1.5 US tons. For a quick estimate of common crushed stone, use 2,700 pounds per cubic yard.

That is a planning number, not a hauling limit or a supplier conversion for every product. Wet gravel, pit-run material and dense graded products can be heavier.

Gravel weight by type

These loose-material estimates come from Caterpillar’s earthwork reference table:

Material	Approximate weight per cubic yard	US tons per cubic yard
Dry gravel	2,550 lb	1.28 tons
Dry gravel, 1/4–2 in.	2,850 lb	1.43 tons
Wet gravel, 1/4–2 in.	3,400 lb	1.70 tons
Pit-run gravel	3,250 lb	1.63 tons
Crushed stone	2,700 lb	1.35 tons

These are estimates for loose material, not scale-ticket weights. Caterpillar says moisture, grain size and compaction affect material weight. It also distinguishes loose cubic yards from material in its natural bank or compacted state (Caterpillar).

A “yard” in an aggregate order means a cubic yard, equal to 27 cubic feet. At 2,700 pounds per cubic yard, the average is 100 pounds per cubic foot.

Why gravel weight changes

A cubic yard measures the space occupied by the stone and the voids between particles. Its weight changes with:

• Moisture: Water adds weight. Caterpillar’s table puts 1/4–2-inch gravel at 2,850 pounds per loose yard when dry and 3,400 pounds when wet—a difference of 550 pounds.
• Gradation: Fines can occupy spaces between larger particles, changing how much solid material fits into a yard.
• Rock type: Limestone, granite, recycled aggregate and lightweight aggregate do not have identical particle densities.
• Placement: Loose, bank and compacted volumes are not interchangeable. Compaction reduces void space without removing stone, so a compacted cubic yard contains more material than the same nominal volume measured loose.

Use the quarry’s current tons-per-yard conversion for the named product when order accuracy or truck loading matters.

Convert yards to pounds and tons

Use the supplier’s product density when available:

Weight (lb) = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard

Weight (US tons) = weight in pounds ÷ 2,000

For example, five cubic yards of crushed stone estimated at 2,700 pounds per yard would weigh:

• 5 × 2,700 = 13,500 pounds
• 13,500 ÷ 2,000 = 6.75 tons

If the same five yards were wet gravel at 3,400 pounds per yard, the estimate would rise to 17,000 pounds, or 8.5 tons.

To estimate volume from site dimensions:

Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in.) ÷ 324

One cubic yard theoretically covers:

• 108 square feet at 3 inches deep
• 81 square feet at 4 inches deep
• 54 square feet at 6 inches deep

Those are uncompacted geometric quantities. Allowance for compaction, uneven grade and waste should follow the product supplier or project specification. For a pad application, see how depth and support layout affect a gravel shed base.

Check payload before pickup

Do not assume a truck can carry “one yard” just because the material fits in the bed. Compare the estimated gravel weight with the specific vehicle’s remaining payload after accounting for passengers, tools, accessories and trailer tongue weight.

Ford defines payload as the combined weight of cargo and passengers. It directs owners to the Tire and Loading label on the B-pillar or driver’s-door edge for the vehicle-specific maximum, and notes that added equipment and trailer tongue weight reduce available payload (Ford).

If that label shows 1,800 pounds of maximum occupant-and-cargo capacity, a 2,700-pound yard of crushed stone is already too heavy before adding a driver or tools. Use a smaller quantity, a properly rated trailer or aggregate delivery. Also confirm axle, tire, hitch and trailer ratings where applicable; payload is not the only limit.

For ordering, use the quarry’s conversion for the named product. For hauling, use the scale weight and the ratings of the actual truck or trailer.