How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh? (Plus Concrete, Dirt and Mulch)
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,800 lb, or 1.4 tons. Crushed stone and sand are close to that, concrete is much heavier at about 4,000 lb, and mulch is light at around 700 lb. Moisture can add 10 to 20% to any of them. To turn a project into yards and tons, use the gravel calculator.
Weight of a cubic yard by material
Typical figures for dry or slightly damp material. The last column is how much fits within a 1,500 lb payload, which is about what a half-ton pickup can safely carry.
| Material | Per cubic yard | Tons | In 1,500 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 2,800 lb | 1.4 | 0.54 yd |
| Crushed stone | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 0.56 yd |
| Pea gravel | 2,600 lb | 1.3 | 0.58 yd |
| River rock | 2,600 lb | 1.3 | 0.58 yd |
| Sand | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 0.56 yd |
| Wet ready-mix concrete | 4,050 lb | 2.03 | 0.37 yd |
| Topsoil / dirt | 2,000 lb | 1 | 0.75 yd |
| Compost | 1,000 lb | 0.5 | 1.5 yd |
| Mulch | 700 lb | 0.35 | 2.14 yd |
A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. Suppliers sell by the yard (volume) or by the ton (weight); to convert, multiply cubic yards by the tons per yard above. Your supplier's figure for their own stone always wins.
Can my truck carry a yard of gravel?
Usually not. A yard of gravel is about 2,800 lb, which is more than most half-ton pickups are rated to carry. Check the payload on the sticker inside the driver's door. As a rule of thumb, a half-ton truck takes about half a yard of stone, a three-quarter-ton truck about a yard, and most pickup beds hold about 1.5 to 2 yards of mulch by volume. For more than that, delivery is often cheaper than several trips.
How far does a cubic yard spread?
sq ft covered = 324 ÷ depth in inches
| Depth | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
Typical depths: 2 to 3 inches of pea gravel for a path, 3 inches of mulch on beds, 4 inches of concrete for a patio slab, and 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel for a driveway layer.
Why the numbers vary
- Moisture: wet sand and topsoil can be 20% heavier than dry.
- Stone size and shape: rounded stones like pea gravel and river rock leave more air gaps, so they weigh a little less than angular crushed stone.
- Compaction: compacted gravel holds more stone per yard than a loose pile, which is why you order about 15% extra for a base.
For bags instead of bulk, see how many bags of concrete and bulk vs bagged mulch.