What is the Weight of a Cubic Yard of Gravel? (Tonnage & Truck Limits)

💡 Engineer’s Summary & Quick Answer: A standard cubic yard of washed gravel (like #57 stone) weighs approximately 2,700 to 2,800 pounds (1.35 to 1.4 US short tons). Denser gravel aggregates that contain rock dust (like Crusher Run or Class-5 aggregate) pack together tighter, weighing up to 2,900 to 3,000 pounds (1.45 to 1.5 tons) per cubic yard. Never attempt to haul a full cubic yard of gravel in a standard half-ton pickup truck (like an F-150), as it exceeds the safe payload capacity by nearly 1,000 pounds.

Need to calculate exactly how many tons you need for your driveway? Use our Free Gravel Calculator.

When planning a new driveway, a French drain installation, or a backyard patio base, calculating the total volume of your project in cubic yards is only half the battle. If you are picking up the materials yourself or trying to determine how many commercial dump trucks you need to order, understanding the exact weight of a cubic yard of gravel is critical for safe transport and accurate budgeting.

Rock is remarkably heavy, and miscalculating aggregate weight can lead to blown vehicle suspensions, destroyed tires, and severe highway accidents. This comprehensive geotechnical guide breaks down the exact weights of different gravel types, provides a cubic-yard-to-ton conversion matrix, and details the safe payload limits for various consumer and commercial vehicles.

1. Why Gravel Weights Vary (The Physics of Aggregates)

Not all gravel is created equal. While most quarried rock (limestone, granite, basalt) shares a relatively similar specific gravity (the density of the solid rock itself), the weight of a cubic yard is heavily influenced by the void ratio—the amount of empty air space between the stones.

Factor 1: Fines and Stone Dust (Gradation)

Aggregates are categorized into two primary types: “Clean” (washed) and “Dense Graded” (crusher run).

Clean Washed Stone (e.g., #57 Stone): This rock has been mechanically washed at the quarry to remove all sand and rock dust. Because the rocks are all relatively uniform in size, they cannot pack perfectly tightly together. The resulting empty air voids mean a cubic yard of washed stone is lighter (approx. 2,700 lbs).
Dense Graded Aggregate (e.g., Crusher Run): This material contains jagged rocks mixed with a high percentage of fine stone powder. When dumped into a pile, the fine powder fills in all the microscopic air gaps between the larger rocks. This drastically increases the bulk density, pushing the weight up to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard.

Factor 2: Moisture Content

While rock itself does not absorb much water, the stone dust within dense graded aggregates acts like a sponge. If you are purchasing Crusher Run after three days of heavy rain, the retained water weight can add an additional 5% to 8% (up to 200 lbs) per cubic yard.

2. Weight of a Cubic Yard of Gravel by Material Type

Use this geotechnical reference table to determine the exact weight of various common landscaping aggregates per cubic yard.

Material Type / Aggregate	Void Ratio	Weight per Cubic Yard (lbs)	Weight per Cubic Yard (US Tons)	Metric Equivalent (kg/m³)
Pea Gravel (3/8“ smooth)	High	2,600 – 2,750 lbs	1.30 – 1.37 Tons	~1,570 kg/m³
#57 Washed Crushed Stone (3/4“)	High	2,700 – 2,800 lbs	1.35 – 1.40 Tons	~1,630 kg/m³
#3 Heavy Ballast Stone (2“)	Very High	2,500 – 2,650 lbs	1.25 – 1.32 Tons	~1,510 kg/m³
Crusher Run / 21A (With dust)	Very Low	2,900 – 3,050 lbs	1.45 – 1.52 Tons	~1,750 kg/m³
Recycled Crushed Concrete	Low	2,400 – 2,600 lbs	1.20 – 1.30 Tons	~1,480 kg/m³
Mason / Paver Sand (Wet)	None	2,700 – 2,900 lbs	1.35 – 1.45 Tons	~1,660 kg/m³

(Note: 1 US Short Ton = 2,000 lbs. 1 Metric Tonne = 2,204.6 lbs. All weights are estimated commercial averages based on standard limestone/granite geology.)

3. The Mathematics of Tonnage Conversion

If your project plans specify a volume in cubic yards, but your local quarry only sells material by the ton (which is the industry standard, as trucks are weighed on massive industrial scales), you must apply a conversion multiplier. Since the standard weight of a cubic yard of gravel is roughly 1.4 tons, we can use a simple formula.

The Universal Gravel Conversion Formula: Total Cubic Yards × 1.4 = Total US Tons Required

Example Calculation: A 100-foot Driveway Assume you need a 2-inch top layer of #57 stone for a driveway that is 100 feet long and 10 feet wide.

Calculate Cubic Feet: 100 ft × 10 ft × 0.166 ft (2 inches) = 166 cubic feet.
Convert to Cubic Yards: 166 ÷ 27 = 6.14 cubic yards.
Convert to Tons: 6.14 cubic yards × 1.40 multiplier = 8.59 Tons. Result: You must order 9 tons of #57 stone from the quarry.

(To skip the manual math, use our Driveway Gravel Calculator.)

4. Pickup Truck Payload Limits: Can You Haul It Yourself?

A standard 6.5-foot pickup truck bed visually holds about 2.0 to 2.5 cubic yards of material. However, filling a truck bed to the brim with gravel is a catastrophic and illegal mistake.

Gravel is exponentially heavier than mulch or topsoil. You must evaluate your vehicle’s exact payload capacity (the maximum weight of cargo and passengers the suspension and brakes are legally rated to handle).

1. Mid-Size Pickups (Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger)

Average Payload Capacity: 1,200 – 1,500 lbs
Maximum Safe Gravel Volume: 0.40 Cubic Yards (approx. 1,120 lbs)
Verdict: Barely enough to fill a few potholes. It is rarely worth the fuel to haul gravel in a mid-size truck.

2. Half-Ton Pickups (Ford F-150, Chevy 1500, Ram 1500)

Average Payload Capacity: 1,700 – 2,100 lbs
Maximum Safe Gravel Volume: 0.60 to 0.70 Cubic Yards (approx. 1,680 to 1,960 lbs)
Verdict: You cannot safely haul a full cubic yard of gravel in a standard half-ton truck. Attempting to do so will bottom out the rear leaf springs and lift the front steering tires off the pavement, resulting in total loss of vehicular control.

3. Three-Quarter-Ton Heavy Duty (Ford F-250, Chevy 2500, Ram 2500)

Average Payload Capacity: 3,100 – 3,800 lbs
Maximum Safe Gravel Volume: 1.0 to 1.25 Cubic Yards (approx. 2,800 to 3,500 lbs)
Verdict: Safely hauls exactly one bucket (one cubic yard) from a standard quarry front-end loader.

4. One-Ton Dually (Ford F-350 DRW, Ram 3500 DRW)

Average Payload Capacity: 5,500 – 7,000+ lbs
Maximum Safe Gravel Volume: 2.0 to 2.5 Cubic Yards (approx. 5,600 to 7,000 lbs)

5. Dump Truck Capacities (Bulk Delivery)

If your project requires more than 2 cubic yards, you should absolutely hire a professional delivery service. Commercial delivery trucks fall into three main categories based on their axle configuration and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).

Single-Axle Dump Truck (The “City” Truck):
- These highly maneuverable trucks are ideal for tight residential driveways.
- Maximum Capacity: 5 to 6 Cubic Yards (7 to 8.5 Tons).
Tandem-Axle Dump Truck (The Standard):
- The workhorse of the aggregate industry, featuring two heavy drive axles in the rear.
- Maximum Capacity: 10 to 12 Cubic Yards (14 to 17 Tons).
Tri-Axle / Quad-Axle Dump Truck (The Heavy Hauler):
- Used for major road construction or massive driveway overhauls. These trucks are extremely heavy and can crack thin residential concrete aprons.
- Maximum Capacity: 14 to 18 Cubic Yards (20 to 25 Tons).

Frequently Asked Questions (AEO & NLP Optimized)

How much does a 5-gallon bucket of gravel weigh?

A standard 5-gallon plastic bucket (which holds approximately 0.66 cubic feet of volume) filled to the brim with #57 crushed stone weighs between 65 and 75 pounds. It is incredibly dense, so lift with your legs!

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

If you are purchasing retail bags of gravel from a hardware store, it will take approximately 54 bags (at 50 lbs each) to equal the 2,700-pound weight of one cubic yard. At $5.00 per bag, a cubic yard of bagged gravel costs $270.00. Buying that same cubic yard in bulk from a quarry costs just $35.00. Always buy in bulk for projects larger than a few square feet.

Does wet gravel weigh significantly more than dry gravel?

Unlike topsoil or organic compost (which act like massive sponges), clean washed gravel (#57 stone) does not absorb much water. Water simply coats the surface of the stones and drains away rapidly. However, dense crusher run (which contains rock dust) will hold moisture, increasing the weight of a cubic yard by approximately 150 to 200 pounds after a heavy rain.

What is the difference between specific gravity and bulk density in gravel?

Specific gravity refers to the density of the solid rock particle itself (e.g., solid granite is incredibly heavy). Bulk density refers to the weight of the rock including the empty air spaces between the stones when piled up. Because of the air voids, a cubic yard of crushed gravel weighs significantly less than a solid cubic yard block of unbroken granite.

Next Steps for Your Project:

Calculate the precise tonnage needed for your driveway layers using our Driveway Gravel Calculator.
Undecided on which stone to use? Read our comprehensive comparison on Pea Gravel vs. #57 Crushed Stone.