There are comprehensive materials in mind when we talk about tons in a yard in terms of construction.
To evaluate tons in a yard for every material, you are required to know its density in pound per cubic feet, convert it into pound per cubic yard and divide it with the lbs. or pounds that comes in one US or Metric Ton.
Here we will be discussing the fundamental steps, in brief, taking some examples to get a clear idea. But, here is a table that shows you the density in both lb/ft3 and kg/m3, US ton, and Metric tons of various materials.
What Is The Density Of Materials?
The density of any material is the mass of the unit volume. It is expressed in a different unit of measurement, especially kilograms per cubic meter. You can further convert it into other units as required, such as pound per cubic feet or pound per cubic yard.
D = Mass/Volume
To determine the density, you need to have the mass and volume of the particular material.
| Materials | Density In kg/m3 | Density In lb/ft3 | US Tons | Metric Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Asphalt | 721 | 45 | 0.61 | 0.55 |
| Liquid Asphalt | 1041.2 | 65 | 0.88 | 0.8 |
| Water | 1000 | 62.43 | 0.843 | 0.77 |
| Crushed Limestone | 1361.6 to 1521.8 | 85 to 95 | 1.15 to 1.28 | 1.04 to 1.65 |
| Low Density Limestone | 1762.03 to 2162.5 | 110 to 135 | 1.49 to 1.82 | 1.35 to 1.65 |
| High Density Limestone | 2563 | 160 | 2.16 | 1.96 |
| Lime | 640 | 39.9 | 0.54 | 0.49 |
| Lime Mortar | 1760 | 109.8 | 1.48 | 1.35 |
| Cement | 1440 | 89.8 | 1.21 | 1.10 |
| Cement Mortar | 2080 | 129.8 | 1.75 | 1.59 |
| Portland Cement | 1361.57 to 1521.75 | 85 to 95 | 1.15 to 1.28 | 1.04 to 1.16 |
| Concrete | 2242.58 to 2402.77 | 140 to 150 | 1.89 to 2.03 | 1.72 to 1.84 |
| Loose And Dry Gravel | 1201.38 to 1521.75 | 75 to 95 | 1.01 to 1.28 | 0.92 to 1.16 |
| Dry Gravel (¼ to 2 inches) | 1682 | 105 | 1.42 | 1.29 |
| Gravel With Sand | 1922.22 | 120 | 1.62 | 1.47 |
| Wet Gravel (1.4 to 2 inches) | 2002.31 | 125 | 1.69 | 1.53 |
| Bricks | 1500 to 1800 | 93.64 to 112.3 | 1.26 to 1.52 | 1.15 to 1.38 |
| Dirt | 1041.2 to 1281.48 | 65 to 80 | 0.88 to 1.08 | 0.8 to 0.98 |
| Dry Sand | 1281.48 to 1601.85 | 80 to 100 | 1.08 to 1.35 | 0.98 to 1.22 |
| Damp To Wet Sand | 1601.85 to 1922.22 | 100 to 120 | 1.35 to 1.62 | 1.22 to 1.47 |
| Bark Mulch | 240.277 to 320.37 | 15 to 20 | 0.2 to 0.27 | 0.18 to 0.24 |
| Woodchip Mulch | 400.46 to 480.55 | 25 to 30 | 0.34 to 0.41 | 0.31 to 0.37 |
| Topsoil | 1201.38 to 1601.85 | 75 to 100 | 1.01 to 1.35 | 0.92 to 1.22 |
| Sandy Soil | 1800 | 112.3 | 1.52 | 1.38 |
| Clay Soil | 1900 | 118.6 | 1.60 | 1.45 |
| Gravel Soil | 2000 | 124.8 | 1.68 | 1.53 |
| Sandstone | 2000 | 124.8 | 1.68 | 1.53 |
| Steel | 7850 | 490 | 6.61 | 6.01 |
| Stainless Steel | 7480 to 8000 | 466.9 to 499.4 | 6.30 to 6.74 | 5.73 to 6.13 |
| Aluminum | 2739 | 170.9 | 2.31 | 2.09 |
| Glass | 2580 | 161 | 2.17 | 1.97 |
How To Calculate Tons In A Yard?
Evaluating tons in a yard firstly needs determining the density in terms of kg/m3 or lb/ft3. Besides, you can calculate tons in a yard with four simple steps as below –
Step 1: Estimate The Density In kg/m3 or lb/ft3
Determining the density is the foremost step in the calculations of tons in a yard. Before everything, there are some things to keep in mind –
- 1 kg/cubic meter = 0.0624 lb./cubic feet
- 1 US Ton = 2000 lbs.
- 1 Metric/UK Ton = 2200 lbs.
Step 2: Convert The Density (kg/m3) Into lb/ft3
If you have the density already in lb/ft3, then skip this step. But if it is in kg/m3 , convert it into lb/cubic feet by multiplying it with 0.0624.
Density in lb/ft3= Density in kg/m3 * 0.0624
Step 3: Convert The Density lb/ft3 Into lb/yd3
Now when you have the density in lb/ft3, you can directly convert it into lb/yd3 by multiplying it with 27.
Density in lb/yd3= Density in lb/ft3 * 27
Step 4: Calculate The Tons In A Yard
The last step is to divide the density in lb/yd3 by the tons in US and metric or UK terms. If you want the US tons, you have to divide the density in lb/yd3 with 2000 and for the UK, divide it with 2200.
US Ton In A Yard For Any type of Material = density in lb per yd3 /2000
The UK Or Metric Ton In A Yard For Any type of Material = density in lb per yd3 /2200
The following are some simple steps while converting yards to tons for any material. Let us try out some examples to check with gravel, concrete, and sand materials.
How Many Tons Of Gravel, Concrete, And Sand Are In A Yard?
Trying to find out tons in a yard by following the above steps one by one –
Step 1: Determine Density in kg/m3
The densities of Gravel, concrete, and sand is as follows –
- Dry Gravel: 1201.38 to 1521.75 kg/m3
- Concrete: 2243 to 2403 kg/m3
- Dry Sand: 1281.48 to 1601.85 kg/m3
Step 2: Convert Density in kg/m3 To lb/ft3
Multiplying the value obtained in step 1 by 0.0624,
- Dry Gravel: 1201.38 * 0.0624 to 1521.75 * 0.0624 = 75 to 95 lb/ft3
- Concrete: 2243 * 0.0624 to 2403 * 0.0624 = 140 to 150 lb/ft3
- Dry Sand: 1281.48 * 0.0624 to 1601.85 * 0.0624 = 80 to 100 lb/ft3
Step 3: Converting Density In lb/ft3 To lb/yd3
Multiplying values obtained in step 2 by 27,
- Dry Gravel: 75 * 27 to 95 * 27 = 2025 to 2565 lb/yd3
- Concrete: 140 * 27 to 150 * 27 = 3780 to 4050 lb/yd3
- Dry Sand: 80 * 27 to 100 * 27 = 2160 to 2700 lb/yd3
Step 4: Calculating US And UK/Metric Tons
Dividing by 2000 or 2200 for US or UK Metric tons respectively,
- Dry Gravel: 2025/2000 to 2565/2000 = 1.01 to 1.28 US tons And 2025/2200 to 2565/2200 = 0.92 to 1.16 UK Metric tons
- Concrete: 3780/2000 to 4050/2000 = 1.89 to 2.025 US tons And 3780/2200 to 4050/2200 = 1.71 to 1.84 UK Metric tons
- Dry Sand: 2160/2000 to 2700/2000 = 1.08 to 1.35 US tons And 2160/2200 to 2700/2200 = 0.98 to 1.23 UK Metric tons
Converting yards to tons is evident with these examples. However, its vice versa is also fairly easy to calculate.
How Many Yards In A Ton?
Converting tons into yards has the same method but with different formulas. If you have values in tons, you need to multiply 2000 or 2200 with the value. Let us check out some examples we solved above.
So, we are having the US and UK tons of Dry Gravel, Concrete, and dry sand –
- Dry Gravel: 1.01 to 1.28 US tons and 0.92 to 1.16 UK Metric tons
- Concrete: 1.89 to 2.025 US tons and 1.71 to 1.84 UK Metric tons
- Dry Sand: 1.08 to 1.35 US tons and 0.98 to 1.23 UK Metric tons
Converting tons into yards by multiplying 2000 or 2200 with the values above listed –
- Dry Gravel: 2000 * 1.0125 to 2000 * 1.2825 = 2025 to 2565 lb/yd3
- Concrete: 2000 * 1.89 to 2000* 2.025 = 3780 to 4050 lb/yd3
- Dry Sand: 2000 * 1.08 to 2000 * 1.35 = 2160 to 2700 lb/yd3
And that’s it.
