How to Calculate Cubic Yards to Tons

You can calculate concrete's weight.

You cannot convert cubic yards to tons directly because the two units measure different things. Cubic yards measure volume, but tons measure weight. Converting one to the other makes little more sense than converting inches to miles per hour. Nonetheless, you can convert between unconnected units if you know the factor that links them. With volume and mass, the factor is density--mass per unit volume. Researchers have documented dozens of substance's densities.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator of computer

Instructions

1. Multiply volume by "81" to convert to cubic feet. For instance, if you have 10 cubic yards of concrete:

   10 * 81

   = 810 cubic feet

2. Multiply your answer by density in pounds per cubic foot. Concrete weighs 150 lbs. per cubic foot.

   810 * 150

   = 121,500 lbs.

3. Divide your answer by 2,000 to convert to tons.

   121,500 / 2,000

   = 60.75 tons

References

• National Institute of Standards and Technologies: Weights and Measures

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Penn State University: Weights