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Earthwork

Soil Weight Calculator

Turn a volume into a weight. Enter dimensions or a volume you already know, pick a material preset or type your own density, and get pounds, US tons, kilograms and metric tonnes.

Your measurements

Results update as you type. Every unit dropdown converts for you.

Presets are typical loose figures. Moisture changes them a lot, so overwrite the density when you know the real value.

Estimated weight

5,700pounds

Weight in US tons
2.85 tons
Weight in kilograms
2,585 kg
Weight in metric tonnes
2.59 t
Volume used
2.22 cu yd (60.00 cu ft)
Density used
95.00 lb/ft³ (1.28 tons/yd³)
Show the calculationOpen
  1. Volume10.00 ft × 6.00 ft × 1.00 ft=60.00 cu ft
  2. Weight in pounds60.00 cu ft × 95.00 lb/ft³=5,700 lb
  3. Convert to US tons5,700 ÷ 2,000=2.85 tons
  4. Convert to kilograms5,700 × 0.45359237=2,585 kg

Reading your result

Pounds is the headline because it is the number that matters for anything you are lifting or loading. Tons and kilograms are the same weight in the units quotes and tickets tend to use.

Check it against your vehicle's payload rating, not its bed volume. Soil almost always hits the weight limit long before it fills the space.

If you are verifying a delivery against a ticket, expect wet material to come in heavier than a dry-density estimate. That gap is moisture, not a short load.

How this calculator works

Weight is volume times density. The whole calculation rests on the density figure, so the presets are a starting point and the field stays editable.

Density is expressed in pounds per cubic foot by default, and the dropdown converts from tons per cubic yard or kilograms per cubic meter if that is how your supplier quotes it.

Moisture moves the number more than most people expect. Wet material can weigh substantially more than the same material dry, which is why loads delivered after rain come in heavier than the ticket suggested.

The volume mode is useful when you already have a figure from another calculator — a trench volume or an excavation volume — and just want to know what it weighs.

The formula

Volume from dimensions
length × width × depth
Weight in pounds
cubic feet × density in lb/ft³
US tons
pounds ÷ 2,000
Kilograms
pounds × 0.45359237

Worked example

A 10 ft by 6 ft area stripped 12 inches deep, in moist topsoil at 95 lb/ft³.

  1. 01Volume10 × 6 × 1=60 cu ft
  2. 02Pounds60 × 95=5,700 lb
  3. 03US tons5,700 ÷ 2,000=2.85 tons
  4. 04Kilograms5,700 × 0.4536=2,585 kg

About 2.85 tons — comfortably more than a half-ton pickup should carry, and worth knowing before you load one.

How to take the measurements

  • Measure the volume the material occupies where it is now. Loose stockpiled material and undisturbed ground have different densities.
  • Ask your supplier for the density they use, especially if you are checking a delivery weight against a ticket.
  • Note whether the material is wet. Density figures for dry material understate the weight of the same material after rain.
  • For a stockpile, estimate its volume first — a cone is roughly π × radius² × height ÷ 3 — then run that number through the volume mode.
  • Check vehicle and trailer capacity in weight, not volume. Soil usually hits the weight limit long before it fills the bed.

Practical considerations

  • Weight decides equipment. The load a compact tractor can move and the load that needs a machine are separated by a surprisingly small volume.
  • Trailer ratings apply to the loaded trailer, not the cargo. Subtract the trailer's own weight before comparing against your result.
  • Bagged material is priced per bag and bulk material per yard. Converting both to weight is usually the quickest way to compare them.
  • For repeat deliveries, keep one weigh ticket as a reference. It tells you the real density of what that supplier actually delivers.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Density presets are typical loose figures, not measurements of your material. Moisture alone can move them substantially, which is why the field is editable.
  • The calculation assumes uniform density throughout the volume. Layered or mixed material will not be uniform.
  • Weight says nothing about whether a load is safe or legal to transport. Axle limits and load securement are separate matters.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

At 95 lb/ft³ a cubic yard works out around 2,565 lb, or about 1.3 tons. Wet topsoil can run considerably heavier, so treat any published figure as an estimate.

What is the difference between tons and tonnes?

A US ton is 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, about 2,205 pounds. The calculator shows both so you do not have to guess which one a quote uses.

Why is my delivery heavier than calculated?

Usually moisture. Rain adds weight without adding much volume, so a load can come in well above a dry-density estimate.

Can I use this for gravel and sand?

Yes. Pick the closest preset or enter the density your supplier quotes. The arithmetic is identical for any material.

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

At 95 lb/ft³ a cubic yard works out around 2,565 lb, roughly 1.3 tons. Wet topsoil runs considerably heavier, so treat any published figure as an estimate.

What is the difference between tons and tonnes?

A US ton is 2,000 pounds. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms, about 2,205 pounds. The calculator shows both so you do not have to guess which a quote means.

Can I use this for gravel and sand?

Yes. Pick the closest preset or enter your supplier's density. The arithmetic is identical for any material.

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