Every reference number on this site — densities, bag yields, rebar weights, conversion factors — is rendered on this page live from the same shared calculation library the calculators use. The tables below can never drift out of sync with the calculators, because they read the same data.
Last updated October 2026
In short: densities are typical published loose bulk ranges (lbs ÷ 2,000 = tons); bag counts follow manufacturer published yields; conversions are the exact factors the calculators apply. See also our methodology for how the math works.
Every material and every variant, exactly as the calculators read them. The (default) variant is the one each calculator pre-selects. Tons are derived directly (lbs ÷ 2,000) from the same figures — not a second source.
| Material | Material type | lbs / yd³ | tons / yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Ready-mix concrete (default) | 4,050 | 2.02 |
| Gravel | Crushed stone (typical) (default) | 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel | 2,700 | 1.35 | |
| River rock | 2,900 | 1.45 | |
| Crushed concrete (RCA) | 2,900 | 1.45 | |
| Decomposed granite | 2,650 | 1.32 | |
| Fill dirt | Screened fill (typical) (default) | 2,200 | 1.10 |
| Sandy soil | 2,400 | 1.20 | |
| Clay soil | 2,500 | 1.25 | |
| Topsoil | Screened topsoil (typical) (default) | 2,400 | 1.20 |
| Enriched garden soil | 2,200 | 1.10 | |
| Heavy clay topsoil | 2,600 | 1.30 | |
| Mulch | Bark / hardwood mulch (typical) (default) | 800 | 0.40 |
| Cedar mulch | 600 | 0.30 | |
| Pine bark mulch | 700 | 0.35 | |
| Bulk compost | 1,000 | 0.50 | |
| Sand | Mason / concrete sand (typical) (default) | 2,700 | 1.35 |
| Coarse fill sand | 2,800 | 1.40 | |
| Paver / joint sand | 2,700 | 1.35 | |
| Wet sand | 3,100 | 1.55 | |
| Rock | Mixed landscape rock (typical) (default) | 4,500 | 2.25 |
| River rock | 4,700 | 2.35 | |
| Limestone / flagstone | 4,800 | 2.40 | |
| Lava rock (lightweight) | 1,500 | 0.75 | |
| Garden soil | Garden soil (default) | 2,400 | 1.20 |
| Hot-mix asphalt | Hot-mix asphalt (typical) (default) | 3,915 | 1.96 |
| Warm-mix asphalt | 3,800 | 1.90 | |
| Reclaimed asphalt — millings | 3,300 | 1.65 |
Representative ranges for planning. For weight-sensitive decisions (truck load limits, structural loads), use your supplier's product-specific spec sheet.
Bag counts come from manufacturer published yields — the coverage figures printed on the bag — not from our own estimates. The per-bag yield column is derived numerically (27 ft³ ÷ bags per yd³) and matches the published data-sheet figures, e.g. an 80 lb bag of concrete mix yields about 0.6 ft³.
| Material | Bag size | Bags per yd³ | Approx. yield per bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 80 lb bags | 45 | 0.6 ft³ |
| Concrete | 60 lb bags | 60 | 0.45 ft³ |
| Concrete | 50 lb bags | 72 | 0.38 ft³ |
| Concrete | 40 lb bags | 90 | 0.3 ft³ |
| Concrete | 90 lb bags | 40 | 0.68 ft³ |
| Mulch | 2 cu ft bags | 13.5 | 2 ft³ |
| Mulch | 3 cu ft bags | 9 | 3 ft³ |
Concrete basis: published manufacturer yields (Quikrete, Sakrete product data sheets). Mulch basis: 27 ft³ per yd³ ÷ bag size. Real yield varies with mixing, so bag counts are estimates.
The exact factors the calculators apply. Where a factor exists in the shared library, it is imported directly — reverse directions are computed from the same constants, so there is exactly one source of truth.
| From | Equals | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) | 27 cubic feet (ft³) | Definitional — 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft |
| 1 cubic foot (ft³) | 0.037037 cubic yards (yd³) | Derived from 27 ft³ per yd³ |
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) | 0.764554857984 cubic meters (m³) | Site constant YD3_TO_M3 (shared library) |
| 1 cubic meter (m³) | 1.3080 cubic yards (yd³) | Derived from YD3_TO_M3 |
| 1 short ton (2,000 lb) | 0.90718474 metric tonnes (t) | Site constant TONS_TO_TONNES (shared library) |
| 1 square yard (yd²) | 0.836127 square meters (m²) | Site constant SQYD_TO_SQM (shared library) |
| 1 square meter (m²) | 1.1960 square yards (yd²) | Derived from SQYD_TO_SQM |
27 ft³ per yd³ is definitional. Metric factors are the exact constants used across every calculator on the site.
Nominal weights in pounds per linear foot, the industry sizing basis for reinforcing bar — the same figures the rebar calculator uses.
| Bar size | lbs per linear ft | lbs per 10 ft |
|---|---|---|
| #3 | 0.376 | 3.8 |
| #4 | 0.668 | 6.7 |
| #5 | 1.043 | 10.4 |
| #6 | 1.502 | 15.0 |
| #8 | 2.670 | 26.7 |
Nominal bar weights per the ASTM A615 basis used by the calculators.
We name our source classes honestly. These are the kinds of published references behind the figures — typical published ranges, not lab precision:
Because calculators and reference tables read the same data, a correction in the shared library appears everywhere at once. The full verification process is documented in our methodology.
Try the numbers yourself: the gravel-to-tons converter and the tons-to-cubic-yards converter apply the same density figures shown in the table above.
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
They are typical published loose bulk densities — ASTM C33 aggregate spec ranges and industry supplier spec-sheet figures for aggregates, USDA/NRCS soil references for soils — representative ranges, not lab precision. Real density varies with moisture, compaction, and the specific product, so confirm weight-sensitive numbers (like truck load limits) with your supplier.
Yes — the bags-per-cubic-yard figures follow manufacturer published yields on Quikrete and Sakrete product data sheets (for example, an 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet). Real yield varies with mixing method and conditions, so treat bag counts as estimates.
It means these are representative defaults chosen to give realistic planning estimates, not values measured for any one product. A lab-tested or supplier-specified value for a particular material will legitimately differ. Use this page to estimate and compare, then confirm with your supplier's spec sheet before ordering weight-sensitive quantities.
Because tons are derived directly from the same density figures (lbs ÷ 2,000), so the tables and the weight converters can never disagree. Run the same numbers through the gravel-to-tons or tons-to-cubic-yards converters and you'll get identical results.