Convert cubic yards (yd³) to metric tonnes (t) using the density of the material you are estimating. Because cubic yards measure volume and tonnes measure mass, there is no single universal conversion factor. Enter the density in kg/m³, t/m³ or lb/yd³ and calculate the result without relying on a fake one-size-fits-all number.
All numeric fields are blank. The faded zero is only a placeholder, so typing 2.5 gives 2.5 — not 02.5.
Enter a volume and density, then press Convert Cubic Yards To Tonnes.
Volume must first be converted to cubic metres, then multiplied by material density to obtain mass.
Cubic yards measure space. Tonnes measure mass. Density is the bridge between them.
Cubic yards describe three-dimensional space.
Density describes mass per unit volume.
Metric tonnes describe mass, not volume.
1 yd³ converts to 0.764554857984 m³.
m³ × kg/m³ gives kilograms.
Divide kilograms by 1000 for metric tonnes.
To convert cubic yards to tonnes, you must know the density of the material. Cubic yards are a volume unit and metric tonnes are a mass unit. Unlike yards to feet or cubic feet to litres, this conversion cannot be completed from the volume alone.
Cubic Metres = Cubic Yards × 0.764554857984One cubic yard equals exactly 0.764554857984 cubic metres. This converts the volume into the same metric volume basis commonly used with density values in kg/m³ or t/m³.
Mass (kg) = Volume (m³) × Density (kg/m³)If the density is entered in kilograms per cubic metre, multiplying it by cubic metres gives kilograms.
Metric Tonnes = Kilograms ÷ 1000Tonnes = Cubic Yards × 0.764554857984 × Density (kg/m³) ÷ 1000A cubic yard of a light material can weigh much less than a cubic yard of a dense material. Even the same general material category can vary because of particle grading, moisture, compaction, air voids and composition. For that reason, this calculator intentionally requires a density input instead of displaying a misleading fixed conversion.
If density is already given in t/m³, the formula becomes even simpler because cubic metres multiplied by tonnes per cubic metre gives tonnes directly.
Tonnes = Cubic Yards × 0.764554857984 × Density (t/m³)If a material density is given directly in pounds per cubic yard, multiply the cubic-yard volume by that density to get pounds, then convert pounds to kilograms and tonnes. The calculator handles this mode automatically.
Suppose the project volume is 4 yd³ and the material density is 2,000 kg/m³. First convert 4 yd³ to approximately 3.0582 m³. Multiply by 2,000 kg/m³ to get about 6,116.4 kg. Divide by 1,000 to get approximately 6.12 metric tonnes.
| Volume | Density | Approx. Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³ | 1,000 kg/m³ | 0.765 t |
| 1 yd³ | 1,500 kg/m³ | 1.147 t |
| 1 yd³ | 2,000 kg/m³ | 1.529 t |
| 2 yd³ | 1,500 kg/m³ | 2.294 t |
| 5 yd³ | 2,000 kg/m³ | 7.646 t |
| 10 yd³ | 1,800 kg/m³ | 13.762 t |
The table demonstrates how the formula responds to different density inputs. It does not claim that any particular material has one of those densities. Always use the density relevant to the exact material and condition you are estimating.
You can use this calculator for concrete if you have a density appropriate to the concrete mix or product. Concrete density can vary with aggregate type, mix design and air content, so avoid treating one generic value as universally correct.
Gravel bulk density can vary with grading, particle shape, moisture and compaction. Use supplier data or project-specific information for the actual product rather than an unrelated internet average.
Sand can change bulk density with moisture and compaction. A loose dry condition may not match a damp or compacted condition. Select a density appropriate to the condition used in your estimate.
Soil is highly variable because composition, moisture and compaction can change mass significantly. Use site-specific or supplier data where possible.
Water adds mass. If a bulk material contains more moisture, the same cubic-yard volume may weigh more. The calculator does not make a moisture correction by itself; instead, enter a density that already reflects the relevant moisture condition.
Compaction reduces air voids and can place more solid material into the same bulk volume. This can increase bulk density. Loose-delivered material and compacted in-place material may therefore require different density assumptions.
Every numeric input is actually blank. The light zero is only a placeholder. Entering 2.5 stores 2.5 rather than 02.5. Reset clears the fields and shows the faded placeholder again.
Volume-to-mass conversion appears frequently in construction, landscaping, hauling and materials estimating. A project may be measured geometrically in cubic yards while suppliers, weighbridges or transport limits are expressed in tonnes. Density connects those two measurement systems.
Bulk materials can occupy different volumes before and after compaction. If 10 yd³ is measured as a loose delivery volume, a density representing compacted in-place material may not be appropriate. Match both the volume condition and density condition.
Earthwork estimates sometimes distinguish material in its natural state, excavated loose state and compacted state. The same mass can occupy different volumes in each condition. A cubic-yard-to-tonne calculation should use a density corresponding to the state represented by the cubic-yard quantity.
A laboratory particle density may not be the same as bulk density used for a stockpile or truckload. For converting a bulk cubic-yard quantity, use the type of density that matches the bulk volume being measured.
A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms. A U.S. short ton is 2,000 pounds. They are different units. This page reports metric tonnes, shown with the symbol t.
Truck payload is a mass limit, while truck body capacity may be a volume limit. A material can reach the weight limit before the body is full if it is dense. Conversely, a light material can fill the body before reaching the payload limit. Use current vehicle and legal load information when planning transport.
Some suppliers price by cubic yard while others price by tonne. Density lets you compare the two pricing bases, but delivery fees, minimum quantities, moisture and scale weights can still affect the final invoice.
To convert tonnes back to cubic yards, convert tonnes to kilograms, divide by density to get cubic metres, then divide cubic metres by 0.764554857984.
Cubic Yards = [Tonnes × 1000 ÷ Density (kg/m³)] ÷ 0.764554857984One tonne per cubic metre equals 1,000 kg/m³. If your data is in lb/yd³, keep the unit attached to the number and use the matching calculator mode. Avoid copying a density value without its unit.
| Density Expression | Equivalent Relationship |
|---|---|
| 1.0 t/m³ | 1,000 kg/m³ |
| 1.5 t/m³ | 1,500 kg/m³ |
| 2.0 t/m³ | 2,000 kg/m³ |
| 2.5 t/m³ | 2,500 kg/m³ |
If you do not yet know the cubic-yard volume, calculate the project geometry first. Use the Concrete Yard Calculator for slabs, footings, round pads and post holes. Then bring the cubic-yard result into this density converter.
If your project is measured in cubic feet, divide by 27 to get cubic yards or use the Concrete Cubic Feet Calculator. Once volume is in cubic yards, apply the appropriate density here.
If your project is measured in metres and millimetres, the Concrete Quantity Estimator can calculate cubic metres directly. Cubic metres can then be multiplied by density in kg/m³ and divided by 1000 to get tonnes.
The table below is intentionally based on generic density values rather than named materials. It shows why the same cubic-yard volume can produce very different mass results.
| Density | 1 yd³ | 5 yd³ | 10 yd³ | 20 yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kg/m³ | 0.382 t | 1.911 t | 3.823 t | 7.646 t |
| 1,000 kg/m³ | 0.765 t | 3.823 t | 7.646 t | 15.291 t |
| 1,500 kg/m³ | 1.147 t | 5.734 t | 11.468 t | 22.937 t |
| 2,000 kg/m³ | 1.529 t | 7.646 t | 15.291 t | 30.582 t |
| 2,500 kg/m³ | 1.911 t | 9.557 t | 19.114 t | 38.228 t |
A density example is useful for learning the formula, but real materials can fall above or below generic values. For purchasing, transport or engineering decisions, use a density that is tied to the actual material and condition.
Recalculate if the supplier changes, material grading changes, moisture changes, the project volume changes, or the estimate switches from loose to compacted condition.
Construction and landscape projects often begin with dimensions that produce a cubic-yard volume, while purchasing, hauling or disposal can be measured by mass. A density-based conversion lets you move between those two systems without pretending that every material weighs the same.
Bulk materials can be sold by volume because loader buckets, stockpiles and truck bodies are naturally described by space. A cubic-yard price is therefore easy to apply to a measured or estimated volume. If transport limits or another supplier quote uses tonnes, density is needed for comparison.
A weighbridge measures vehicle mass before and after loading, so the difference is a mass rather than a volume. The recorded tonne value can be more direct for transport or disposal billing, but it does not reveal how many cubic yards the load occupied unless density is also known.
To compare two quotations fairly, convert one basis into the other using a density appropriate to the material. If density changes, the implied price comparison also changes. Delivery, minimum order quantities and taxes or fees can still need separate treatment.
Three cubic yards equal approximately 2.2937 m³. At 1,200 kg/m³, that volume has a calculated mass of approximately 2.7525 tonnes.
The same 3 yd³ volume at 2,200 kg/m³ has a calculated mass of approximately 5.0461 tonnes. This comparison shows why density cannot be omitted.
Eight cubic yards equal approximately 6.1164 m³. Multiplying by 1.6 t/m³ gives approximately 9.7863 tonnes.
If density is supplied in pounds per cubic yard, keep that unit with the value and select the matching calculator mode. The tool converts that density consistently before reporting metric tonnes.
| Cubic Yards | Density kg/m³ | Cubic Metres | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 yd³ | 800 | 1.5291 m³ | 1.2233 t |
| 2 yd³ | 1,600 | 1.5291 m³ | 2.4466 t |
| 4 yd³ | 1,200 | 3.0582 m³ | 3.6699 t |
| 4 yd³ | 2,000 | 3.0582 m³ | 6.1164 t |
| 8 yd³ | 1,600 | 6.1164 m³ | 9.7863 t |
| 12 yd³ | 2,200 | 9.1747 m³ | 20.1842 t |
For bulk materials such as sand, aggregate or soil, the density relevant to a truckload or stockpile is usually a bulk density that includes void spaces. A solid-particle density can be much higher and may produce an unrealistic tonne estimate if applied directly to the bulk cubic-yard volume.
If a material contains significant moisture, wet bulk density can differ from dry bulk density. Match the density to the condition represented by the volume and the purpose of the estimate.
One tonne per cubic metre equals 1,000 kilograms per cubic metre. The calculator provides separate density modes so the numeric value is interpreted correctly instead of silently assuming the wrong unit.
After calculating, multiply cubic yards by 0.764554857984 to check cubic metres. Then multiply cubic metres by the entered kg/m³ density and divide by 1,000. Your manual result should agree with the displayed tonnes apart from rounding.
The reverse mode is useful when you know the delivered or measured tonnes and want an approximate volume. The same density caution applies: if the density is wrong, the cubic-yard result will also be wrong.
A calculated tonne value does not determine whether a vehicle can legally or safely carry the load. Payload, axle limits, road rules, body capacity and material distribution are separate issues. Use current vehicle and regulatory information for actual haul planning.
Use related tools to calculate project volume before converting it to mass.
Common questions about density, concrete, gravel, sand, tonnes and reverse conversion.
You need the material density. Convert cubic yards to cubic metres, multiply by density in kg/m³, then divide kilograms by 1000 to get metric tonnes.
No. Cubic yards measure volume while tonnes measure mass, so the conversion depends on material density.
The same cubic-yard volume can contain different masses depending on how dense the material is.
Yes. The main mode accepts density in kilograms per cubic metre.
Yes. A separate mode accepts density directly in t/m³.
Yes. The calculator can convert lb/yd³ density to metric tonnes for the selected cubic-yard volume.
Yes. Use the reverse mode and enter the material density.
The zero is only a placeholder. Actual numeric inputs are blank, so typing 5 gives 5 rather than 05.
Yes, if you enter the density appropriate to the concrete you are estimating. Do not assume every concrete mix has the same density.
Yes, but use a density appropriate to the actual material and its condition because bulk density can vary.
No. Those factors can affect bulk density. Enter a density that reflects the material condition relevant to your estimate.
Yes. After calculating, you can download a PDF summary generated by ConcreteCreek.com.