Cubic Yard Weight Chart

This is the cubic yard weight chart — a single reference for how much a cubic yard of every common construction and landscaping material weighs. All weights are typical US mid-range values, compacted where applicable, last reviewed August 2026.

Quick reference: weight per cubic yard

| Material | lb / yd³ | tons / yd³ | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Mulch (bark, wood chips) | 800 | 0.4 | Loose, dry. Wet mulch weighs more. | | Compost | 1,000 | 0.5 | Aged, screened. | | Fill dirt | 2,000 | 1.0 | Subsoil, no organics. Compacts hard. | | Topsoil (screened) | 2,160 | 1.08 | The standard for lawn and bed prep. | | Sand (mason or fill) | 2,700 | 1.35 | Wet sand can weigh 3,000 lb/yd³. | | Limestone (#53 crushed) | 2,700 | 1.35 | Compacts hard for driveways and bases. | | Decorative stone (river rock) | 2,700 | 1.35 | Doesn't compact. | | Pea gravel | 2,800 | 1.4 | Rounded, doesn't compact. | | Gravel (crushed #57) | 2,835 | 1.42 | The default for driveways and base. | | Crushed #57 stone (1″-down) | 2,900 | 1.45 | Slightly heavier than #57 "gravel". | | Rip rap (erosion stone) | 2,900 | 1.45 | Large boulders, no compaction. | | Asphalt (compacted) | 3,240 | 1.62 | Hot-mix, post-roller. Loose asphalt weighs less. | | Concrete (cured) | 4,050 | 2.025 | Standard 4,000 psi mix. |

Compacted vs loose weights

The numbers above are compacted weights for materials that compact (gravel, fill dirt, asphalt), and loose weights for materials that don't (mulch, decorative stone, pea gravel). When you order a yard of #57 gravel from a quarry, the truck pulls onto a scale full and pulls off empty; the difference is what you paid for, and that's the compacted weight you'll actually get delivered.

Sand and topsoil are somewhere in between — they compact modestly under their own weight (5–10%) and don't need a mechanical compactor for most residential uses.

Why the numbers vary

Material weights vary by source, moisture, gradation, and compaction. The numbers in the chart are typical US mid-range values — your local supplier's material may be 5–10% off either way. For practical purposes (calculating truck loads, ordering, structural load), the chart is accurate enough.

If you need precise weights (e.g., for an engineered structural fill or a specific trucking weight limit), get the data from your supplier. Quarries and asphalt plants publish spec sheets with exact densities for their material.

Converting cubic yards to other units

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, 0.765 cubic meters, 765 liters, or 202 US gallons. To convert cubic yards to tons for a specific material, multiply by the lb/yd³ number and divide by 2,000:

$$\text{tons} = \text{yd}^3 \times \frac{\text{lb/yd}^3}{2000}$$

For example, 5 cubic yards of gravel = 5 × 2,835 / 2,000 = 7.09 tons. See the cubic yards to tons converter for the chart by material.

Common mistakes

• Confusing loose and compacted weights: a yard of gravel "delivered" is the compacted weight, but a yard of mulch or river rock is the loose weight. Don't apply a compaction factor to materials that don't compact.
• Forgetting moisture: wet sand, wet topsoil, and wet mulch all weigh more than the chart values. The plant-scale weight is what you actually pay for, but the volume you're getting is less.
• Using the wrong material: 1 yd³ of decorative stone weighs 2,700 lb; 1 yd³ of rip rap weighs 2,900 lb. If your truck's payload limit is 2,000 lb, you can't haul a full yard of either without overloading.