How to Convert Tons to Cubic Yards

Why Understanding Tons vs. Cubic Yards Matters in Landscaping Projects in Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties

When it comes to ordering landscape materials like gravel, mulch, topsoil, or decomposed granite in places like Santa Rosa, Napa, Vallejo, Novato, Fairfield, or Mill Valley, many customers run into a common challenge: trying to understand the difference between ordering by the ton versus the cubic yard.

While it might seem like a small technicality, confusing these two units can lead to over-ordering or under-ordering. At North Bay Materials, we help customers across the North Bay get what they need—so let’s break down the difference in a way that’s easy to understand and applies to real-life projects around Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano.

Stay with us as we walk you through what each unit actually measures, how materials differ by weight and volume, and how to avoid costly miscalculations when planning your delivery. Lets learn to convert tons to cubic yards:

What is a Ton? (Weight-Based Measurement)

A ton is a unit of weight, not volume. In the U.S., one ton equals 2,000 pounds. This measurement is commonly used when ordering heavier materials like crushed rock, gravel, sand, DG-decomposed granite, or base rock, especially for construction and driveway projects in Napa, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Fairfield, San Rafael, and surrounding North Bay cities.

Why Tons Matter:

Some materials are compact and heavy—like road base or crushed granite—so it makes more sense to sell them by weight instead of how much space they take up. For example:

• A ton of crushed rock takes up far less space than a ton of mulch.

• Weight ensures you’re paying for the actual material and not just the air between pieces.

Use Cases for Tons:

• Driveway base rock in Vacaville

• Drainage gravel in Santa Rosa

• PG&E sand for trenching in Vallejo

• 3/4 inch crushed rock for walkways in Novato

Ordering by ton is more accurate when compaction and strength are priorities. If you need to meet a specific weight for structural reasons—like under pavers or for erosion control—tons are the way to go.

What is a Cubic Yard? (Volume-Based Measurement)

A cubic yard is a unit of volume, not weight. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, which is about the size of a standard home refrigerator. This measurement is commonly used for lighter, bulkier materials like mulch, bark, woodchips, topsoil, and compost—materials you might use to cover large garden beds, fill raised planters, or refresh landscape areas across Petaluma, Benicia, Walnut Creek, Napa, or San Rafael.

Why Cubic Yards Matter:

Not all materials are dense or heavy. Some, like bark nuggets, mulch or topsoil, take up a lot of space but don’t weigh much. That’s why landscapers and homeowners often order these by the yard—it helps them estimate coverage area, not weight.

Use Cases for Cubic Yards:

• Mulching flower beds in Sonoma

• Filling raised garden boxes in Concord

• Refreshing landscape mulch in Novato

• Adding compost to soil in Vallejo

Ordering by cubic yard is ideal when the depth and surface area coverage of the material is more important than how much it weighs. It’s especially helpful for decorative or soil-based materials that need to spread evenly.

Why the Same Material Can Have Different Ton-to-Yard Ratios

One of the most common questions we get from local customers:

“How many tons are in a cubic yard?”

The truth is—it depends entirely on the type of material you’re ordering.

⚖️ Different Materials, Different Densities

Each material has its own density, which determines how much one cubic yard weighs. For example:

• 1 cubic yard of crushed rock (like ¾ inch base rock) can weigh 2,400 to 2,800 pounds (or 1.2 to 1.4 tons).

• 1 cubic yard of compost or bark mulch might weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds (or just 0.25 to 0.5 tons).

  
  

Even the moisture level of a material can make a big difference. Freshly watered topsoil is heavier than dry topsoil. This is especially important in humid coastal areas like San Rafael or foggy mornings in Sonoma County, where dampness can skew the weight.

🔄 Why It Matters for Delivery & Cost

Understanding this ratio is essential when:

• Planning truckload capacity (our small dump trucks can only haul a certain tonnage, not just volume).

• Budgeting material costs, since some suppliers price by ton and others by yard.

• Calculating coverage, especially if you’re switching between vendors or materials.

We always recommend checking with our team if you’re unsure—especially if your project is in hilly areas like St. Helena, Calistoga, Lake Berryessa or Mill Valley, where truckloads and terrain may affect what and how much we can deliver.

Quick Reference Table – Common Materials by Ton and Yard

To help customers throughout Napa, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Martinez, and Novato quickly estimate their needs, here’s a handy reference guide comparing how much a cubic yard of common landscape materials typically weighs in tons.

Note: These are approximate weights. Moisture, compaction, and local quarry source can all affect weight:

Material	~ Weight Per Cubic Yard	~ Tons Per Cubic Yard
Gravel, Crushed Rock, Pebble Stones, River-cobbles, DG, Sand	2,300 - 2,900 lbs.	1.37 tons
Soil, Compost, Dirt	1,000 - 2,200 lbs.	0.75 tons
Mulch, Woodchips, Bark	500 - 800 lbs.	0.32 tons

This guide is especially useful when you’re trying to plan full or partial truckloads. For example:

In Benicia, where our dump trucks deliver up to 5 tons, you could order about 3.5 cubic yards of crushed rock, or up to 10+ yards of mulch in one trip.

Whether you’re landscaping a front yard in San Rafael, building a new patio in Fairfield, or mulching a vineyard in Napa, knowing the difference between a ton and a cubic yard can save you time, money, and frustration.

• Use tons when weight matters—like for gravel, sand, DG, and base rock.

• Use cubic yards when space coverage matters—like for mulch, soil, bark, and compost.

At North Bay Materials, we’re here to help you figure out exactly how much material you need, no matter your project size or city. Our small dump truck deliveries service Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, and Solano counties, and we’re happy to answer any questions about material volume, weight, and truckload limits.

Use our Material Density Calculator to convert bulk materials from ton to cubic yards or vice versa

Still unsure?

📞 Call us or 📩 request a quote online, and we’ll help calculate the right amount for your specific project.