Tons to Yards Calculator
Use the converter on the right to change tons to cubic yards or yards to tons. Enter the weight per yard for your material first.
Last updated November 13, 2026
How many yards are in a ton?
Cubic yards = tons ÷ weight per cubic yard. At a planning figure of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is 0.71 cubic yards and one cubic yard is 1.4 tons.
Tons to cubic yards
| Tons | At 1.2 tons/yd³ | At 1.4 tons/yd³ | At 1.6 tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.83 yd³ | 0.71 yd³ | 0.62 yd³ |
| 2 | 1.67 yd³ | 1.43 yd³ | 1.25 yd³ |
| 5 | 4.17 yd³ | 3.57 yd³ | 3.12 yd³ |
| 10 | 8.33 yd³ | 7.14 yd³ | 6.25 yd³ |
| 15 | 12.50 yd³ | 10.71 yd³ | 9.38 yd³ |
| 20 | 16.67 yd³ | 14.29 yd³ | 12.50 yd³ |
Cubic yards to tons
| Cubic yards | At 1.2 tons/yd³ | At 1.4 tons/yd³ | At 1.6 tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.2 tons | 1.4 tons | 1.6 tons |
| 2 | 2.4 tons | 2.8 tons | 3.2 tons |
| 5 | 6.0 tons | 7.0 tons | 8.0 tons |
| 10 | 12.0 tons | 14.0 tons | 16.0 tons |
| 15 | 18.0 tons | 21.0 tons | 24.0 tons |
| 20 | 24.0 tons | 28.0 tons | 32.0 tons |
Which column should I use?
Use the weight per yard from your supplier. If you do not have it yet, the middle column is a reasonable starting point for many gravels, and the outer columns show how far the answer can move. The difference between 1.2 and 1.6 is a third, which is why it is worth one phone call.
Tons to CY: the formula both ways
CY is the abbreviation for cubic yards on quotes and delivery tickets. To convert tons to CY, divide the tons by the material’s tons per cubic yard. To convert CY to tons, multiply. Five tons of gravel at 1.4 tons per yard is 5 ÷ 1.4 = 3.57 cubic yards. Three cubic yards at 1.4 is 3 × 1.4 = 4.2 tons. There is no single answer for every material, because a yard is a volume and a ton is a weight. Always ask the supplier for their conversion figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
It depends on the gravel. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is 0.71 cubic yards. Lighter material gives more yards per ton and heavier material gives fewer.
How do I convert tons to cubic yards?
Divide the tons by the weight of one cubic yard. 5 tons ÷ 1.4 = 3.57 cubic yards.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply the cubic yards by the weight of one cubic yard. 5 yards × 1.4 = 7 tons.
Why is there no single conversion?
A ton is a weight and a cubic yard is a volume. The link between them is the density of the material, which is different for every product.