Stone calculator
Stone Tonnage Calculator
Quarries sell by the ton but you measure in feet. This converts the two, using the density of the material you actually ordered.
Your project
Density is what turns volume into tons. Confirm it with your quarry when ordering.
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Stone needed
6.3
US tons
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 4.67 cubic yards
- Metric tonnes
- 5.72
- Tons per cubic yard
- 1.35
- Tandem loads (15 ton)
- 1
One US ton is 2,000 lb. A metric tonne is 2,204.6 lb — a 10% difference that shows up on imported quotes.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
Tonnage is volume times density
There is no single conversion between cubic yards and tons, because a yard of lava rock and a yard of crusher run differ by a factor of nearly three. Volume comes from your measurements; weight comes from the material's density.
Typical values: clean crushed stone 100 lb/ft³ (1.35 tons per yard), dense-graded base 135 lb/ft³ (1.82 tons per yard), pea gravel 96 lb/ft³ (1.30 tons per yard), solid granite 165 lb/ft³ (2.23 tons per yard).
Moisture moves the number
Quarry stockpiles sit outside. Aggregate delivered after two days of rain can carry 3-6% free moisture by weight, so you pay for water and receive slightly less rock than the ticket suggests. It is not worth arguing over, but it is worth ordering the waste allowance.
Tons per cubic yard by material
| Material | lb / cu ft | Tons / cu yd |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone, 3/4" clean | 100 | 1.35 |
| Dense-graded base / crusher run | 135 | 1.82 |
| Pea gravel | 96 | 1.3 |
| River rock, 1-3" | 100 | 1.35 |
| Decomposed granite, compacted | 110 | 1.49 |
| Screened topsoil | 90 | 1.22 |
| Lava rock | 50 | 0.68 |
| Solid granite / flagstone | 165 | 2.23 |
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of stone are in a cubic yard?
Between 1.3 and 1.8 tons for most landscape and construction aggregate. Clean crushed stone is about 1.35, dense-graded base about 1.8. Light materials like lava rock are under 0.7.
+How do I convert tons of stone to square feet?
Divide 2,000 by the density to get cubic feet per ton, then divide by the depth in feet. A ton of 100 lb/ft³ stone is 20 cubic feet, which covers 120 sq ft at 2 inches deep.
+Should I order in tons or yards?
Order in whatever unit your supplier prices in, and give them your area and depth as a cross-check. Most US quarries price by the ton; landscape yards often price mulch and topsoil by the cubic yard.
+How much stone fits on a truck?
A tandem dump truck carries about 15 tons, a tri-axle about 22 tons, and a pickup should not exceed roughly half a ton — about a third of a cubic yard of stone.