Sand and Gravel Tonnage Converter
Cubic metres to tonnes by bulk density, with truck loads.
Quick answer
With the default inputs: Volume 10 m³ · Material Medium sand · Payload per truck 30Mass 15.00 t
Edit the inputs below to recalculate.Inputs
Result
Mass
15.00t
| Bulk density | 1.50t/m³ |
| In kilograms | 15000kg |
| Truck loads | 1loads |
| Volume per full load | 20.00m³ |
| Last load | 15.00t |
| Load factor | 50.0% |
| 50 kg bags | 300bags |
Bulk density is the loose state, unlike the apparent density of the stone itself at about 2.7 t/m³ — voids take up some 40% of the volume. That is why 1 m³ of gravel weighs 1.5 t rather than 2.7. Moisture matters: damp sand is 10-15% heavier than dry, which catches people out in the rainy season.
Reverse: known result, work out one input
Enter a target result; the other inputs stay fixed and this one is worked out.
Formula
| Mass | W = volume × bulk density |
| Trucks | N = ceil(mass ÷ payload) |
| Volume per load | payload ÷ bulk density |
| Typical values | sand 1.50, crushed stone 1.50, cobble 1.60 |
| Moisture | Damp sand is 10-15% heavier |
| Versus apparent density | Bulk is 55-60% of apparent, the rest is voids |
10 m³ of medium sand at 1.50 t/m³ is 15.00 t — one 30 t truck at 50% load, only half full; 30 m³ needs two loads.
How to work it out
- Establish whether the figure is bulk (loose) density or particle density. Aggregate is always traded on bulk density; the 2.65 g/cm³ particle density is the rock itself and cannot be used to convert volume.
- Typical bulk densities: medium sand 1.45-1.55 t/m³, coarse 1.55-1.65, fine 1.35-1.45, crushed stone 5-25 mm 1.40-1.50, gravel 1.60-1.80.
- Tonnes = volume × bulk density. Ten cubic metres of medium sand is about 15 t.
- Loads = tonnes ÷ payload, rounded up. Check the body volume too: a 30 t tipper holds 18-20 m³, so 10 m³ of sand half fills it and counting loads wastes trips.
- Moisture changes bulk density sharply: dry sand at 1.45 bulks and wets out at 1.8-2.0 t/m³, which matters at the weighbridge in the rainy season.
Where it goes wrong
- Using particle density 2.65 — 10 m³ of sand becomes 26.5 t on paper against 15 t actual, a 77% overstatement and the commonest error in aggregate measurement.
- Ignoring moisture — rain lifts bulk density from 1.45 to around 1.9, so weighing a load on the dry figure short-changes delivery by 30%.
- Treating crushed stone and gravel alike — crushed 1.4-1.5 against rounded gravel 1.6-1.8, a 20% gap that shows up in the settlement.
- Counting loads on payload alone for light materials — with lightweight aggregate the body fills long before the payload, so payload-based counting understates trips.
Material and cost
Medium sand 100-180 CNY/m³ (70-120 CNY/t), crushed stone 90-160, gravel 120-200, manufactured sand 80-150. Haulage 15-40 CNY/m³ including loading.
On site
- State in the contract whether aggregate is measured by volume or by weight; the gap exceeds 40% and moisture moves the weight of a cubic metre.
- Measure bulk density on site with a standard container rather than trusting the weighbridge ticket, which deducts tare but bills a full load.
- Silt and flakiness content affect concrete strength, so ask for test reports rather than buying on price.
Basis
- GB/T 14684-2022 Sand for construction
- GB/T 14685-2022 Pebble and crushed stone for construction
- JGJ 52-2006 Standard for quality and testing of sand and stone for ordinary concrete
FAQ
Why is a cubic metre of gravel not 2.7 tonnes?
2.7 t/m³ is the density of the solid stone; a heap has 40-45% voids between particles, so the bulk density is around 1.5 t. Concrete mix proportions quote 1150 kg/m³ of gravel in the loose state, not solid — confusing the two puts material quantities out by 80%.
Does wet sand weigh more?
Yes, and it is the commonest way to lose money on deliveries. Dry sand bulks at 1.45-1.50; at 5-8% moisture the surface films separate the grains so it bulks up while gaining weight, measuring 1.6-1.7. Buy by volume and the supplier ships damp sand; buy by weight and you assumed dry — both go wrong.
How do I avoid overweight fines?
Dispatch by payload, not by volume. A nominal 30 t body often holds 20 m³, which is exactly 30 t of gravel level-full but 32-34 t of sand. Use this tool to fix the volume ceiling per load — 30 ÷ 1.5 = 20 m³ — load to that, and weigh at the gate. A fine plus re-handling wipes out the margin on the whole load.
Cite this page
Use this format in reports, method statements or coursework. The link is permanent.
Building Calculator. Sand and Gravel Tonnage Converter. 2026-10-25. https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/sand-ton
Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.