How Many Yards Are in a Ton of Gravel? A Comprehensive Guide

If you are looking to find out how many cubic yards a ton of gravel can fill, then this article is exactly for you.

If you are looking for a quick answer, then here it is,

But this value is a standard one, assuming the aggregate has a standard density of 2800 pounds per cubic yard.

This value changes according to the density of the aggregate. Let’s discuss the changes and the calculations in detail.

Understanding the units

Before getting into the calculation, let’s learn some of the basic things about the units we are going to use so that we can get a better understanding.

What is a yard?

The term “yard” is an imperial unit of measurement. It is a unit of length or distance. It is most widely used in the United States, the United Kingdom along with some other countries. In countries like the USA, it coexists with the metric system.

• Name: Yard
• Unit: Length
• Symbol: yd
• Conversions:
  • 1 yard is equal to 3 feet (Imperial units)
  • 1 yard is equal to 36 inches (Imperial units)
  • 1 yard is equal to 0.9144 meters (SI units)

Yards also have been used as a measure of area (square yards) and volume (cubic yards). This unit is often used in construction, landscaping, and everyday measurements.

What is a ton?

A ton is a unit used to measure weight or mass in both the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement. There are three different types of ton,

1. Short Ton (U.S. Ton) – It is commonly used in the United States and some other countries like Canada.

• Symbol: tn
• 1 Short Ton = 2000 pounds (lb) or 907.18474 kg

2. Long Ton (Imperial Ton) – It is commonly used in the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries.

• Symbol: LT
• 1 Long Ton = 2,240 lb (1016.04 kg)

3. Tonne (Metric Ton) – It is defined in the International System of Units (SI) and used worldwide.

• Symbol: t
• 1 Metric Ton = 1000 kg (about 2,204.62 lb)

In the United States, when people mention a “ton” without specifying, they are often referring to the short ton of 2,000 pounds.

Why need to convert between tons and yards?

The gravel is a versatile and most used material in construction and landscaping.

Whether planning to create a driveway, fill your garden, or lay your foundation, using gravel is vital and can be a good choice. The quantity of gravel depends upon the project space and requirements.

While gravel can be measured using both yards and tons, if it is ordered in huge quantities, most businesses deliver gravel only in tons. They offer a variety of delivery options like 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton, etc.

Understanding how to convert tons to yards becomes crucial in these scenarios. It allows the individuals to determine the volume of gravel needed for a project.

The Role of Density

While it may seem straightforward to convert weight to volume, the reality is more complex. We can’t directly convert weight to volume or vice versa because they are relatively different measurements.

We need an additional parameter that helps us to relate weight and volume. That parameter is called the Density.

Density gives us the context of how much mass is packed into a specific volume. It is often described as the ratio of mass or weight to the volume.

Density = Mass or Weight / Volume

In our case, density signifies how much mass (in tons) is packed into a specific volume (in cubic yards). So our formula comes down to,

Density of gravel = Weight of gravel / Volume of gravel

Gravel is a versatile material and comes in various forms, from coarse to fine, each with its unique density. So, it is always a best practice to ask the supplier about the density of aggregates they are delivering. They usually determine it with the help of lab tests and it gives much more accurate estimations.

Normally, the density of gravel lies in the range of 2300 to 2800 lbs per cubic yard. The value of 2800 lbs per cubic yard is taken as the density of aggregates in general.

How many yards in a ton of gravel?

Now, let’s back to our question. Since we know the role of the density of aggregates in the conversion, it is now very simple to calculate.

Given Data:

• Weight = 1 Ton = 2000 lbs (pounds is abbreviated as lbs)
• Density of aggregates = 2800 lbs per cubic yard

Calculation:

Density = Weight/Volume

Volume = Weight/Density

Volume = 2000 / 2800 = 0.714 cubic yards.

i.e., One ton of gravel with a density of 2800 lbs per cubic yard is enough to fill a volume of 0.714 cubic yards.

Assuming the same above standard data, the conversion table for various tons is given below.

Example calculations:

Let’s go through some example calculations, so that you may get a better idea.

Calculation 1

Given data:

• Weight of gravel = 1.5 tons
• Density of aggregates = 2500 lbs per cubic yard
• How much is it in yards?

Calculation:

First, we need to convert the weight of gravel into pounds. We know that,

1 Ton = 2000 lbs

Hence, the weight of gravel = 1.5 x 2000 = 3000 lbs.

Volume = Weight/Density

Volume = 3000 / 2500 = 1.2 cubic yards.

So, with a weight of 1.5 tons of gravel and a density of 2500 lbs per cubic yard, the volume of the gravel is approximately 1.2 cubic yards.

Calculation 2

Let’s calculate the amount of gravel needed to fill a space for a garden with given dimensions.

Given data:

• Length of the garden = 10 feet
• Width of the garden = 6 feet
• Height of the fill = 0.5 feet
• Take the density of gravel as standard (2800 lbs per cubic yard)

How many yards of gravel are needed?

Calculation:

i) Calculate the volume of the fill

Volume = Length x width x height = 10 x 6 x 0.5 = 30 cubic feet

ii) Convert the volume to cubic yards (since gravel is sold mostly by yard or ton)

Volume in cubic yards = Volume in cubic feet / 27

Volume in cubic yards = 30/27 = 1.11 cubic yards.

iii) Calculate the weight of the gravel

Weight = Volume x Density

Weight = 1.11 cubic yards x 2800 lbs per cubic yard = 3108 lbs.

Weight in tons = Weight in pounds/2000 = 3108/2000 = 1.55 tons.

Summary:

Always add an additional 10% to cater for a reduction in volume after compaction and allow for any wastage.

In our case, it is wise to order 1.25 cubic yards of gravel (or) equivalently 1.75 tons of gravel.

Online calculator

If you need help with any other values presented here, please make use of the following calculator.

Hope you understand everything you need to know about the question “How many yards are in a ton of gravel?”. If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comment section.

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