Guide · Gravel

How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh — and What Does It Cover?

A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 2,400–2,900 pounds (1.2–1.45 tons) depending on stone type and moisture — 2,800 lbs (1.4 tons) is the standard planning figure. That same yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 at 2 inches, or 81 at 4 inches.

Below: the coverage formula, a depth-by-depth reference table, how weight varies by stone type, bag math, and whether your truck can haul it. For project quantities, our free gravel calculator converts any area and depth to yards, tons, and bags.

The math, step by step

1. Weight. Crushed gravel weighs roughly 2,400–2,900 lbs per cubic yard depending on stone type, size, and moisture. The planning figure most suppliers use is about 2,800 lbs (1.4 tons).
2. Coverage. One yard is 27 cubic feet. Spread 3 inches (0.25 ft) deep: 27 ÷ 0.25 = 108 square feet. The general formula is 324 ÷ depth in inches.
3. Worked example. A 200 ft² patio at 3 inches: 200 ÷ 108 = 1.85 yards → order 2 yards (about 2.8 tons, 5,600 lbs). Bagged: 200 ft² × 0.25 ft = 50 ft³ ÷ 0.5 ft³ per 50-lb bag = 100 bags — which is why bulk wins at this scale.

Coverage per yard, bag, and ton by depth

A 50-lb bag holds about 0.5 ft³; a ton is about 0.714 yd³ at the 1.4 tons-per-yard figure.

Square feet covered. Add 10–15% for compaction and uneven subgrade.

Why the weight varies: stone type and moisture

Not all gravel weighs the same. Dense crushed granite or basalt runs toward 2,800–3,000 lbs per yard; pea gravel and river rock land around 2,600–2,800; lighter materials like decomposed granite or lava rock can be 2,000–2,500. Larger stone has more air between pieces (less weight per yard); fines and dust pack tighter (more). And water adds real weight — a yard of gravel after rain can weigh several hundred pounds more than the same yard dry. Since many suppliers sell by the ton, you’re paying for that water: ask whether their tons-per-yard figure assumes dry material.

Bags vs. bulk: 54 bags make a yard

A 50-lb bag of gravel holds about 0.5 cubic feet, so one cubic yard (27 ft³) equals roughly 54 bags. Bags make sense for post holes, small repairs, and top-ups — anywhere you need a yard or less and don’t want a pile sitting in the driveway. Beyond about a yard, bulk delivery is dramatically cheaper and far less packaging to haul. The crossover is usually obvious once you do the bag math: our 200 ft² patio example needs 100 bags, which no one should carry home one trunk-load at a time.

Can your truck haul it?

This is where the weight number really matters. A cubic yard of gravel at ~2,800 lbs exceeds the payload of most half-ton pickups (typically 1,500–2,000 lbs) and will bottom out the suspension, overheat the brakes, and potentially earn you a ticket. Half a yard (~1,400 lbs) is the practical max for a half-ton truck; a three-quarter-ton can usually handle a full yard. When in doubt, get it delivered — the delivery fee is cheaper than a blown tire or a bent axle. For driveway-scale quantities, see our guide on how much gravel a driveway needs, or run your dimensions through the gravel calculator.

How suppliers measure a yard

A “yard” of gravel is a loose cubic yard as loaded — not compacted in place. A front-loader bucket scoops roughly a half yard per pass, so a single yard is about two heaped bucket-loads into your truck or trailer. When a quarry sells by weight, the loader dumps onto a scale and the weighbridge ticket shows the tonnage; convert back to yards with the supplier’s tons-per-yard figure if you’re comparing quotes. Because a yard is a volume and a ton is a weight, two suppliers can quote the “same” yard at different tonnages if their stone densities differ — always compare quotes in the same unit.

Gravel for common small projects

The yard math scales down nicely for the jobs bags are actually good for. A 3×20-foot walkway at 2 inches deep needs 3 × 20 × (2÷12) = 10 ft³ — about 0.37 yards, or 20 fifty-pound bags. A French drain trench 20 feet long, 12 inches wide, and 18 inches deep around a 4-inch pipe needs roughly (20 × 1 × 1.5) − pipe displacement ≈ 25 ft³ of drain rock, just under a yard. Post-hole footings, paver bases, and shed pads all follow the same length × width × depth formula; our gravel calculator handles any dimensions, and the driveway guide covers large-scale ordering.

How we calculate

Weight uses a 1.4 tons-per-yard (2,800 lb) planning figure for crushed stone; actual weight varies by stone type, gradation, and moisture — confirm your supplier’s figure. Coverage is 27 ft³ per yard divided by depth in feet, equivalently 324 ÷ depth in inches. A 50-lb bag is taken as 0.5 ft³, the volume printed on most US bagged-stone labels. Payload guidance is general — check your truck’s door-jamb payload rating before hauling.

Reviewed September 2026 · TrueMeasure

Frequently asked questions

How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?

About 1.4 tons (2,800 lbs) for crushed stone. The range is roughly 1.2–1.45 tons depending on stone type, size, and moisture — ask your supplier for their figure.

How many 50-lb bags of gravel make a cubic yard?

About 54. A 50-lb bag holds roughly 0.5 ft³, and a yard is 27 ft³.

Can my pickup truck haul a yard of gravel?

Probably not safely in a half-ton: 2,800 lbs exceeds most half-ton payloads (1,500–2,000 lbs). Haul half a yard, use a three-quarter-ton, or get delivery.

Does wet gravel weigh more than dry gravel?

Yes — water in the pile adds hundreds of pounds per yard. Since many suppliers sell by the ton, you pay for that water; ask whether their conversion assumes dry material.

How much does a yard of pea gravel cover?

Same as any gravel by volume: 108 sq ft at 3 inches. Pea gravel weighs slightly less per yard than crushed stone but covers identically.

Should I order gravel by the yard or by the ton?

Match your supplier’s unit — quarries often sell by the ton, landscape yards by the yard. Convert between them at the supplier’s stated tons-per-yard.

You’ll also need

Gravel calculatorLandscape rock calculatorDriveway gravel guide