Buying Gravel by the Ton vs by the Yard: New York Guide 2026
Empire Driveway & Gravel places tonnage orders on New York driveways every week, so we know what 28 tons of #57 actually looks like at your curb. Here’s the ton-vs-yard math in plain numbers what a ton covers, what a yard weighs, and which unit saves you money in New York.
Is it better to buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
A ton is weight 2,000 pounds. A cubic yard is volume 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard of crushed stone weighs 1.35 to 1.5 tons, which means a yard always holds more material than a ton. Neither unit is “better.” The right one is the unit your supplier actually charges in, converted honestly.
Quick facts
| 1 ton | 2,000 lb ≈ 0.7 cu yd of crushed stone |
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cu ft ≈ 1.35–1.5 tons |
| 1 cubic yard at 2″ deep | covers about 162 sq ft |
| Delivered, New York (2026) | $40–$95 per ton, by material |
Why gravel sells by the ton and mulch by the yard
The unit a supplier quotes tells you something about the material. Dense things gravel, crushed stone, river rock, decomposed granite price by weight, because weight is what the truck, the scale, and the road limit. Light, fluffy things mulch, topsoil, compost price by volume, because a truck can be physically full of mulch while still barely weighing anything.
Trucks are rated by payload. A bed full of mulch might weigh a couple of tons. The same bed “full” of stone hits its weight limit before it looks full the opposite of how most people picture a full load.
So quarries and aggregate yards built their business around the ton: the stone gets weighed on a certified scale, the ticket prints, and that number is what you pay. Garden centers, which sell the same stone out of yard bins next to the mulch, often price it by the cubic yard instead one pricing structure across every material on the lot.
We work in tons, and every load we order comes back with a scale ticket, and we read it. If the ticket says 11.4 tons and the drop reads like 10, the conversation happens before the next load, not at the invoice.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
For most crushed stone and gravel, one ton fills about 0.7 cubic yards between 0.67 and 0.75, depending on the stone. The exact number is the stone’s density, and there is no single conversion because there is no single stone.
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| #57 crushed granite | ~2,700 lb | ~1.35 | ~0.74 |
| #67 stone | ~2,700 lb | ~1.35 | ~0.74 |
| Crusher run / Class 5 | ~2,700–2,800 lb | ~1.4 | ~0.71 |
| Pea gravel (3/8″) | ~2,500–2,800 lb | ~1.25–1.4 | ~0.75–0.8 |
| River rock | ~2,800–3,000 lb | ~1.4–1.5 | ~0.67–0.71 |
| Limestone #57 / #67 | ~2,800–3,200 lb | ~1.4–1.6 | ~0.63–0.71 |
| Sand | ~2,900–3,000 lb | ~1.45–1.5 | ~0.67–0.7 |
| Bark mulch (the contrast) | ~700–1,000 lb | ~0.35–0.5 | ~2–2.9 |
That last row is the whole point: a ton of mulch is three cubic yards, and a ton of stone is less than one. Same unit, wildly different material which is why “tons to yards” is a stone question, not a math trivia question.
Quick conversions, crushed stone at ~1.4 tons per yard:
| Tons | Cubic yards | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~0.7 | 1 | ~1.4 |
| 5 | ~3.3–3.75 | 5 | ~7 |
| 6 | ~4–4.5 | 10 | ~14 |
| 10 | ~6.7–7.5 | 20 | ~28 |
| 20 | ~13.3–15 | 25 | ~35 |
1.4 is the planning number we use on every ticket. Confirm the supplier’s own density figure for large orders on 30+ tons, half a decimal point is a hundred pounds of argument.
How many tons or yards of gravel does a dump truck hold?
A standard 10-yard dump truck carries 10–12 tons of dense stone, because the payload limit hits before the bed looks full. The bed holds 10 cubic yards by volume, but 10 cubic yards of stone would weigh 13–15 tons over most residential-truck limits. So the truck shows up with roughly 7–9 cubic yards of actual stone in it.
| Truck | Bed volume | What actually ships (stone) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 10-yard | 10 cu yd | 10–12 tons (≈7–9 cu yd of stone) |
| 20-yard / 28-foot | 20 cu yd | 18–22 tons |
| Full-size rig | 25+ cu yd | 20–25 tons |
Two practical edges. Most yards set a minimum load around 5 tons under that, you’re usually paying for a full truck’s run and taking what fits, or picking up yourself. And if you’re self-hauling in a half-ton pickup, budget about a ton of stone per trip, not two: the bed volume lies the same way the dump truck’s does.
Which should you buy in: ton or yard?
Match the unit to the supplier, then convert before you compare.
| Buy by the ton when | Buy by the yard when |
|---|---|
| The order is a truckload or more | The order is small (under ~5 tons / 2–3 cu yd) |
| The supplier is a quarry or aggregate yard scales are built in | The supplier is a garden center yard-bin pricing |
| You’ll get a scale ticket: you pay for rock | You want a fixed volume, settled before delivery |
| Driveway bases, long runs, repeat orders | Paths, beds, decorative stone, top dressing |
The comparison formula is one multiplication: per-ton price × 1.4 ≈ per-cubic-yard equivalent.
- Supplier A: $40/ton → $40 × 1.4 = $56 per-yard equivalent
- Supplier B: $55/cu yd
- Nearly identical. At $45/ton, though, A becomes $63 and B’s yard quote is now the cheaper rock.
Then the moisture trap, which is why “why pay for water weight” is a real argument. Most bulk stone sits in outdoor bins. After rain, it absorbs water and gets heavier wet stone can run up to 10–15% more per yard than the same dry stone. Buy by the ton on a wet day and part of what you’re weighing is the last storm. That’s the entire case for the yard in one sentence: pay for the rock, not the rain.
How much does gravel cost in New York per ton and per cubic yard?
Delivered crushed stone in New York runs $55–$95 a ton in 2026, and the per-yard column is the same price divided by about 1.4 which is exactly the comparison this page exists to make.
| Material | Delivered per ton, NY | Per cubic yard, equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #57 crushed stone (granite) | $55–$95 | $39–$68 |
| #67 stone | $55–$90 | $39–$64 |
| Crusher run / Class 5 fines | $40–$65 | $29–$46 |
| Limestone #57 / #67 | $45–$75 | $32–$54 |
| Recycled crushed concrete | $30–$55 | $21–$39 |
| Pea gravel (3/8″) | $50–$80 | $36–$57 |
| Bluestone #57 | $70–$110 | $50–$79 |
Run the example through both units: five cubic yards of #57 ≈ 7–7.5 tons ≈ $300–$700 delivered. Same rock, same truck, two meters if two quotes in different units don’t reconcile to within a few dollars with the 1.4× rule, one of them is hiding something.
The state table next shows the spread across the country; the table above is what it costs delivered once you’re on a real job site.
Gravel cost by state: per ton and per cubic yard (2026)
Prices vary more by state than by unit. The spread below is delivered pricing for standard crushed stone quarry-dense states run 40–60% under states that import their stone, and the same #57 can double across a state line. Read your row, then convert both columns into whichever unit your supplier quotes in.
| State | Delivered per ton | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $35–$60 | $25–$43 |
| Alabama | $13–$25 | $9–$18 |
| Arizona | $16–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Arkansas | $13–$25 | $9–$18 |
| California | $25–$50 | $18–$36 |
| Colorado | $16–$32 | $11–$23 |
| Connecticut | $24–$44 | $17–$31 |
| Delaware | $20–$36 | $14–$26 |
| Florida | $14–$28 | $10–$20 |
| Georgia | $14–$26 | $10–$19 |
| Hawaii | $40–$70 | $29–$50 |
| Idaho | $16–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Illinois | $16–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Indiana | $15–$29 | $11–$21 |
| Iowa | $13–$26 | $9–$19 |
| Kansas | $13–$25 | $9–$18 |
| Kentucky | $14–$26 | $10–$19 |
| Louisiana | $14–$26 | $10–$19 |
| Maine | $20–$38 | $14–$27 |
| Maryland | $18–$34 | $13–$24 |
| Massachusetts | $24–$45 | $17–$32 |
| Michigan | $15–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Minnesota | $15–$28 | $11–$20 |
| Mississippi | $13–$25 | $9–$18 |
| Missouri | $13–$26 | $9–$19 |
| Montana | $15–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Nebraska | $14–$26 | $10–$19 |
| Nevada | $18–$34 | $13–$24 |
| New Hampshire | $22–$40 | $16–$29 |
| New Jersey | $20–$38 | $14–$27 |
| New Mexico | $16–$30 | $11–$21 |
| New York | $22–$42 | $16–$30 |
| North Carolina | $15–$28 | $11–$20 |
| North Dakota | $14–$27 | $10–$19 |
| Ohio | $15–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Oklahoma | $12–$24 | $9–$17 |
| Oregon | $22–$42 | $16–$30 |
| Pennsylvania | $18–$35 | $13–$25 |
| Rhode Island | $24–$44 | $17–$31 |
| South Carolina | $15–$27 | $11–$19 |
| South Dakota | $14–$27 | $10–$19 |
| Tennessee | $14–$26 | $10–$19 |
| Texas | $12–$25 | $9–$18 |
| Utah | $15–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Vermont | $22–$40 | $16–$29 |
| Virginia | $18–$33 | $13–$24 |
| Washington | $22–$45 | $16–$32 |
| West Virginia | $14–$28 | $10–$20 |
| Wisconsin | $15–$30 | $11–$21 |
| Wyoming | $14–$28 | $10–$20 |
(Per-cubic-yard figures are the per-ton price divided by about 1.4, rounded.)
How much gravel do you need for a 100 ft driveway?
About 22 cubic yards roughly 28–32 tons, and 32–35 tons once you add buffer. Here’s the math, in the order you do it:
- Measure the area. 100 ft long × 12 ft wide = 1,200 sq ft. (Twelve feet is the standard width; 10 saves 20%, 16 adds 33%.)
- Convert depth to feet. 4″ base + 2″ top = 6″ = 0.5 ft.
- Cubic yards. 1,200 × 0.5 ÷ 27 ≈ 22 cu yd.
- Tons. 22 × 1.35–1.45 ≈ 28–32 tons. Add 10–15% for settling, compaction, and the corners that always run short → order about 32–35 tons or tell the yard 25 cubic yards and let their scale do the arguing.
Two things we do on drives this size that keep the math honest. We order the base in two drops, not one a load down, compact, then the balance because a 35-ton drop on a residential street is a street problem, not a driveway one. And we write the ticket like a contract: stone name and size (#57, 3/4″), tonnage, delivered price, scale ticket attached. If a quote arrives without the word “delivered” in it, it’s a yard price the truck is a separate line.
Gravel tonnage calculator for New York
The calculator above takes length, width, depth, and stone type, and returns cubic yards and tons no email, no gate. The conversion it’s doing in the background is one number: one ton of crushed stone is about 20 cubic feet, roughly 0.7 cubic yards. Master that one number and you can check any supplier’s math on a napkin.
Common mistakes when buying gravel by the ton or the yard
- Using one density for every stone. 1.4 is a planning number, not a constant. Pea gravel at 1.3 and dense river rock at 1.5 are different materials on a 30-ton order, that difference is a full half-ton either way.
- Ordering the exact number. Loose gravel settles. A compacted driveway base can lose 20–30% of its loose volume; a dry-laid path, 5–10%. The exact number is the number you end up short with.
- Comparing $/ton to $/cu yd without converting. The 1.4× rule takes five seconds. Quotes that “look cheaper” in the other unit usually stop being cheaper the moment you do the math.
- Ordering bed size instead of payload. “10 yards” of stone doesn’t fit a 10-yard truck’s weight limit. Order tons from a yard that weighs you, and the truck question solves itself.
- Trusting a dry-day number on a wet day. Outdoor bins soak up rain; wet stone runs up to 10–15% heavier. Same bin, different Tuesday.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards is 1 ton of gravel?
For most crushed stone and gravel, one ton fills about 0.7 cubic yards 0.67 to 0.75 depending on the stone. Pea gravel runs lighter, so a ton covers a little more; dense crushed granite a little less. Order by the ton and the yard is weighing you, not measuring you.
How many yards is 5 tons of gravel?
About 3.3 to 3.75 cubic yards for standard crushed stone at 1.33–1.5 tons per yard. Round to 3.5 yards for planning. The same five tons of pea gravel fills a touch more volume; five tons of dense river rock fills a touch less. The stone picks the number.
How many tons of gravel are in a dump truck?
A standard 10-yard dump truck carries about 10–12 tons of dense stone the payload limit hits before the bed looks full. Larger 20-yard trucks take 18–22 tons, and full-size rigs run 20–25. Most yards set a minimum load around 5 tons, so small orders rarely see a truck at all.
How many yards of gravel are in a dump truck?
Bed volume and payload are different numbers. A 10-yard truck’s bed holds 10 cubic yards, but stone at 1.3–1.5 tons per yard means it’s weight-limited to about 10–12 tons roughly 7–9 cubic yards of actual stone. Order the tonnage, not the bed size.
Is gravel cheaper by the ton or by the cubic yard?
Neither unit is inherently cheaper it’s the same rock on a different meter. Convert both quotes to one unit: multiply the per-ton price by about 1.4 to get its cubic-yard equivalent, then compare. A $40/ton quote and a $55/cubic-yard quote are nearly identical once converted.
How much does 5 cubic yards of gravel cost?
In New York, five cubic yards of delivered #57 crushed stone runs about $300–$700 that’s roughly 7–7.5 tons at 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard. Crusher run costs less, bluestone more. The per-yard and per-ton columns are the same rock check both before you pick a supplier.
Get the right order: we’ll do the math for you
Send us length, width, depth, and the stone you want we’ll reply with the exact tonnage or cubic yards to order, the buffer included, and the current delivered price for your address. No account, no spreadsheet, no “call the yard and ask.”
Building the full driveway instead of just buying the stone? Installed prices excavation, base, top course, compaction, drainage live on our gravel driveway cost guide for New York.
Empire Driveway & Gravel serves Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam, the Hudson Valley, and upstate to the Catskills and Finger Lakes. If your town’s on the list, the math is the first free step.