How to convert cubic feet to tons
A US ton equals 2,000 pounds. To convert cubic feet to tons, multiply by the material's density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. Density varies enormously by material — 18 lb/ft³ for mulch versus 165 lb/ft³ for limestone.
Worked examples
Example 1: 1 cubic yard (27 ft³) of gravel
27 × 105 ÷ 2,000 ≈ 1.42 tons.
Example 2: 50 ft³ of dry sand
50 × 100 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 tons.
Example 3: 100 ft³ of compacted topsoil
100 × 100 ÷ 2,000 = 5 tons.
| Cubic feet per ton (by material) | Conversion factor | Worked example |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel (~105 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 105 | ≈ 19 ft³ per ton |
| Pea gravel (~100 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 100 | 20 ft³ per ton |
| Sand, dry (~100 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 100 | 20 ft³ per ton |
| Sand, wet (~130 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 130 | ≈ 15.4 ft³ per ton |
| Topsoil, loose (~75 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 75 | ≈ 26.7 ft³ per ton |
| Concrete (~150 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 150 | ≈ 13.3 ft³ per ton |
| Limestone (~165 lb/ft³) | 2,000 ÷ 165 | ≈ 12.1 ft³ per ton |
Common uses
- Ordering bulk gravel, sand, or aggregate by the ton
- Sizing dump-truck deliveries (most haul 10–20 tons)
- Estimating recycled-concrete crush quantities
- Comparing per-yard versus per-ton supplier pricing
Where this conversion comes up
Tons is the standard ordering unit for bulk gravel, sand, and stone. Suppliers quote tons because their trucks scale that way; you measure cubic feet because your project does.
- Gravel driveways — measure cubic feet from area and depth, convert to tons for ordering.
- Bulk sand for paver bases, fill, or sandbox refill.
- Decorative rock and crushed stone.
- Dirt and excavation hauling, where dump-truck capacity is rated in tons.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing short tons and metric tons. 1 short ton = 2,000 lb. 1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lb. US suppliers usually mean short tons; international ones usually mean metric.
- Forgetting to specify density. Just like cubic feet to pounds, cubic feet to tons depends on density. Confirm material before converting.
- Using nominal vs delivered weight. Loose-loaded gravel weighs less per ton than the same gravel after compaction. Order based on compacted volume.
Expert tips
- Multiply cubic feet × density ÷ 2,000 for short tons. Or ÷ 2,204.62 for metric tons. The density depends on material — see the cubic-feet-to-pounds page for typical values.
- For gravel and crushed stone, the rule of thumb is 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Or about 0.052 tons per cubic foot. Use this for quick sanity checks. See the gravel calculator.
- For dump-truck capacity, weight is the limit, not volume. A standard 10-wheeler hauls about 13–15 tons. Divide by the material's tons-per-yard to find load size. See the dirt and fill calculator.
- For sand, gravel, and rock, the supplier always quotes tons.Plan in cubic feet for your project, then convert to tons for the order.
- Always confirm short ton vs metric ton with your supplier. A 10% pricing difference can hide in the unit you assumed.
Frequently asked questions
Related calculators
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