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How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh?
Quick answer: A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) for common crushed stone. Pea gravel runs lighter at about 2,600 lb, and wet or river rock heavier at up to 3,000 lb.
Unlike concrete, gravel has no single answer — the weight depends on the stone, the size, and how wet it is. The spread runs from roughly 2,400 lb to 3,000 lb per cubic yard, and that 25% swing is enough to matter when a supplier quotes you by the ton but delivers by the yard.
Gravel weight calculator
Pick a stone and a volume. The result gives pounds, tons and kilograms, plus roughly how much ground that volume covers at a 2-inch depth.
Gravel weight by type
Stone density varies with the rock itself and with how tightly the pieces pack. Angular crushed stone locks together and weighs more per yard than rounded pea gravel of the same rock, because there is less air between the pieces.
| Gravel type | Per cubic yard | Tons | Per cubic foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lava rock / lightweight | 2,400 lb | 1.20 | 89 lb |
| Pea gravel | 2,600 lb | 1.30 | 96 lb |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4 in) | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 100 lb |
| Crusher run / road base | 2,800 lb | 1.40 | 104 lb |
| River rock | 3,000 lb | 1.50 | 111 lb |
| Wet crushed stone | 3,200 lb | 1.60 | 119 lb |
If your supplier publishes a density, use theirs — local stone varies. These are the industry-typical figures our Gravel Calculator uses.
How much do 2, 3, 5 or 10 yards of gravel weigh?
Based on crushed stone at 2,700 lb per cubic yard. The half and quarter yard rows are the ones worth reading before you back a trailer up to the loader.
| Volume | Weight (lb) | Tons | Kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ cubic yard | 675 lb | 0.34 | 306 kg |
| ½ cubic yard | 1,350 lb | 0.68 | 612 kg |
| ¾ cubic yard | 2,025 lb | 1.01 | 919 kg |
| 1 cubic yard | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 1,225 kg |
| 2 cubic yards | 5,400 lb | 2.70 | 2,449 kg |
| 3 cubic yards | 8,100 lb | 4.05 | 3,674 kg |
| 4 cubic yards | 10,800 lb | 5.40 | 4,899 kg |
| 5 cubic yards | 13,500 lb | 6.75 | 6,124 kg |
| 10 cubic yards | 27,000 lb | 13.50 | 12,247 kg |
How much area does a yard of gravel cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so coverage is simply 27 divided by your depth in feet. The depth you choose matters more than most people expect — going from 2 inches to 4 inches halves your coverage and doubles your order.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 40 sq ft |
Converting yards to tons
Suppliers quote gravel both ways, and the two are not interchangeable. To convert, multiply cubic yards by the density in tons per yard:
tons ÷ 1.35 = cubic yards
So a 10-yard delivery of crushed stone is about 13.5 tons, and a 20-ton truckload is about 14.8 cubic yards. The full method for every material is in How to Convert Cubic Yards to Tons, and the Cubic Yard to Ton Calculator does it for you.
Why wet gravel weighs more
Water fills the voids between stones. Crushed stone has roughly 30–40% void space by volume, and saturated gravel can pick up 200–500 lb per cubic yard — up to 20% heavier than the same stone dry.
This matters in two places. If you are buying by the ton after heavy rain, you are paying for water. And if you are hauling, a load that was legal dry may not be legal wet. Yard weights quoted by suppliers are usually for damp-but-drained stone, which is roughly what you get in normal conditions.
What you can actually haul
Gravel is dense enough that volume runs out long after weight does. A pickup bed holds around 2.5 cubic yards level-full — but that would be 6,750 lb of stone, three to six times what the truck is rated to carry.
| Vehicle | Typical payload | Safe gravel load |
|---|---|---|
| Half-ton pickup (F-150, Silverado 1500) | ~1,500–2,000 lb | ½ cubic yard |
| Three-quarter-ton pickup (F-250, 2500) | ~3,000–4,000 lb | 1 to 1½ cubic yards |
| Single-axle utility trailer | ~2,000–3,000 lb | ¾ to 1 cubic yard |
| Tandem-axle dump trailer | ~7,000–10,000 lb | 2½ to 3½ cubic yards |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,700 lb, or 1.35 tons, for common crushed stone. The full range across gravel types is 2,400 lb to 3,000 lb per cubic yard.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
The same thing — a yard of gravel means a cubic yard. Roughly 2,700 lb for crushed stone, 2,600 lb for pea gravel, 3,000 lb for river rock.
How much does half a yard of gravel weigh?
About 1,350 lb, or 0.68 tons. That is at or just under the payload limit of most half-ton pickups.
How much does a yard of pea gravel weigh?
About 2,600 lb (1.3 tons). Pea gravel is rounded, so it packs with more air between stones than angular crushed rock and comes in slightly lighter.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
About 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 square feet at 3 inches, or 60 square feet at 4 inches.
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
162 square feet at 2 inches deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches, or 81 square feet at 4 inches.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.74 cubic yards per ton for crushed stone — the inverse of 1.35 tons per yard.
How much does a cubic foot of gravel weigh?
About 100 lb per cubic foot for crushed stone, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
Does wet gravel weigh more?
Yes, by 200–500 lb per cubic yard. Water fills the 30–40% void space between stones, making saturated gravel up to 20% heavier than dry.
How much does a scoop of gravel weigh?
A supplier’s loader scoop is usually 1 to 1½ cubic yards, so 2,700 to 4,000 lb. Ask before you assume it fits in your trailer.