You call a gravel yard to order material. They ask if you want it priced by the ton or by the cubic yard. The contractor at your house quoted "8 yards" but you're getting invoiced in tons. The online calculator gave you a number in cubic yards but you have no idea how that translates to what gets delivered.

It's simple math once you know the conversion. Here's the full breakdown so you don't have to guess again.

The Quick Version

For most aggregate materials in East Tennessee:

1 cubic yard ≈ 1.3 to 1.5 tons
1 ton ≈ 0.7 cubic yards

Multiply cubic yards by 1.4 to get a reasonable ton estimate for most gravels. Divide tons by 1.4 to go the other way. That covers casual conversions. For exact numbers, density of the specific material matters.

Why There Are Two Units

The split comes from two different ways of measuring the same pile of stuff:

Cubic yards measure volume - how much space the material takes up. One cubic yard is a 3' x 3' x 3' cube.
Tons measure weight - how heavy the material is. One ton is 2,000 pounds.

Different materials have different densities - meaning a cubic yard of one material weighs more than a cubic yard of another. A cubic yard of sand is heavier than a cubic yard of pea gravel because the sand particles pack tighter and have less air space.

When you're ordering or budgeting, both units describe the same physical pile - just from different angles.

Why Yards Sell by the Ton (Mostly)

At SMSG we price by the ton. Most gravel yards do. A few reasons:

Trucks weigh the load. A dump truck has a maximum legal weight, so the limiting factor on what gets delivered is tonnage, not volume.
Scales are accurate. Every load gets weighed on a certified scale. Volume measurements are more approximate.
Fair across materials. A ton of RCA and a ton of sand are the same weight, even though they take up different amounts of space. Customers pay per pound, which is consistent.

Some smaller yards (especially landscape supply) sell by the cubic yard. Both units are valid - different conventions.

The Density of Common Aggregates

Rough density chart for the materials we carry and ones you'll commonly see in East Tennessee:

| Material | Tons per Cubic Yard | Pounds per Cubic Yard | |---|---|---| | RCA / Crushed concrete | 1.3 - 1.5 | 2,600 - 3,000 | | Crusher run (limestone) | 1.4 - 1.5 | 2,800 - 3,000 | | #57 stone | 1.3 | 2,600 | | #411 stone | 1.4 | 2,800 | | Pea gravel | 1.3 | 2,600 | | Mason sand | 1.4 | 2,800 | | Concrete sand | 1.5 | 3,000 | | Topsoil | 1.0 - 1.3 | 2,000 - 2,600 | | River rock | 1.3 | 2,600 |

Density varies a bit depending on moisture content, exact size mix, and how tightly the material is packed. For ordering purposes, "around 1.4" works as a default for most coarse aggregates.

How to Calculate Aggregate for Your Project

The full math, in three steps.

Step 1: Get Your Volume in Cubic Feet

Length x width x depth, all in feet.

Example: You're putting 4 inches of RCA on a 12' x 60' driveway.

Length: 60 ft
Width: 12 ft
Depth: 4 inches = 0.33 ft (divide inches by 12)
Volume: 60 x 12 x 0.33 = 237.6 cubic feet

Step 2: Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards

There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard (3 x 3 x 3 = 27).

237.6 / 27 = 8.8 cubic yards

Step 3: Convert Cubic Yards to Tons

Multiply by the material's density. For RCA, use ~1.4:

8.8 x 1.4 = ~12.3 tons

So a 12 x 60 driveway at 4" deep needs about 12.3 tons of RCA. Round up to 13 for ordering - better to have a little extra than come up short.

Shortcuts and Rules of Thumb

If you don't want to do the math:

Driveway, 4" deep: Square feet x 0.018 = tons (for RCA / crusher run)
Patio base, 6" deep: Square feet x 0.028 = tons
Driveway, 6" deep: Square feet x 0.028 = tons
Building pad, 8" deep: Square feet x 0.037 = tons

Or just use our aggregate calculator. Type in your dimensions and depth, and it does the math for you in seconds.

A Few Project-Sized Examples

How the math plays out for common East Tennessee projects.

Small Residential Driveway (10' x 50', 4" deep)

Volume: 10 x 50 x 0.33 = 165 cubic feet
Cubic yards: 165 / 27 = 6.1 yards
Tons (RCA): 6.1 x 1.4 = ~8.5 tons

That's one small dump truck delivery. Run the cost in our calculator.

Standard Driveway (12' x 100', 4" deep)

Volume: 12 x 100 x 0.33 = 396 cubic feet
Cubic yards: 396 / 27 = 14.7 yards
Tons (RCA): 14.7 x 1.4 = ~20.5 tons

One tri-axle or two tandem deliveries.

Building Pad (30' x 40', 8" deep)

Volume: 30 x 40 x 0.67 = 800 cubic feet
Cubic yards: 800 / 27 = 29.6 yards
Tons (crusher run): 29.6 x 1.5 = ~44 tons

Two to three tri-axle deliveries, or one belly dump.

French Drain (1' wide x 50' long x 2' deep)

Volume: 1 x 50 x 2 = 100 cubic feet
Cubic yards: 100 / 27 = 3.7 yards
Tons (#57 stone): 3.7 x 1.3 = ~4.8 tons

For drainage specifics, see our best aggregate for French drains guide.

Common Calculation Mistakes

Three traps that catch people:

1. Forgetting to Convert Inches to Feet

If depth is in inches and the rest is in feet, the math is off. Always convert: depth in inches ÷ 12 = depth in feet.

2. Not Accounting for Compaction

Loose-poured gravel compacts down ~15-20% when you tamp it. Spread 5 inches of loose RCA and compact it, you end up with about 4 inches of finished surface. Order a little extra to cover this.

3. Wrong Density for the Material

Don't use the same conversion factor for sand and crushed stone. Sand is heavier per cubic yard than coarse stone. Use 1.3 when you should be using 1.5 and you'll under-order by ~15%.

Why This Matters for Your Wallet

Calculation errors translate straight to money. Two ways:

Under-order and you'll need a second delivery - that's another $80-$250 delivery charge on top of the extra material
Over-order significantly and you'll have a pile of leftover gravel in your yard

For one-off projects, getting within 10% of your actual need is usually fine. Over-order slightly so you've got material for top-ups in year 1 (see our driveway lifespan guide for why this matters).

When to Use Cubic Yards Instead

A few situations where talking in cubic yards makes more sense than tons:

Volume-based pricing. Some landscape suppliers price by the yard.
Container or trailer sizing. "It fits 4 yards" is more useful than "it fits 6 tons" when you're trying to figure out if it'll all go in one load.
Visualizing the pile. A cubic yard is about the size of a washing machine. Easier to picture than 2,800 pounds.

For most of our customers ordering material for delivery, tons is the working unit. We'll quote in tons. We'll bill in tons. Bring us your tonnage need and we'll handle the rest.

Connecting It to Pricing

Once you have your tonnage, head to our pricing page for current per-ton rates, then add delivery (see our dump truck cost post for what trucks run by size and distance).

Quick math example. You need 12 tons of crusher run RCA delivered locally:

Material: 12 tons x RCA per-ton rate
Delivery: $80 - $150 for a tandem load to Maryville/Alcoa
Sales tax: 9.75% on top
Total: All-in around $400 - $600 depending on rate

Just Want Us to Do the Math?

Easiest option: tell us the project. Length, width, depth (or surface only), and what it's for. We'll figure the tonnage, suggest the right grade, and quote material + delivery in one shot.

Call: (865) 999-0857 Visit: 245 Brookdale Rd, Maryville (Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-12pm) Online: Use the calculator or hit our contact page

We deliver throughout Blount County, Knox County, and surrounding areas.

The math isn't hard. But you also don't have to do it alone.

Tons vs Cubic Yards: How to Calculate Aggregate for Your Project