What is the difference between buying landscape materials by the cubic yard or by the ton?
The key difference between buying landscape materials by the cubic yard or by the ton lies in how the material is measured—either by volume (cubic yard) or weight (ton). The best option depends on the material type and the project requirements. Below is a comparison:
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1. Cubic Yard (Volume Measurement)
- Cubic Yard (yd³) = 27 cubic feet = a 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft cube.
- Use Case: Common for light materials like mulch, soil, compost, or bark.
- Best For: When you care about how much area the material will cover (e.g., 3 inches of mulch spread over a garden bed).
Pros:
- Easier to calculate coverage.
- Works better for materials that are fluffy, like mulch, which vary in density.
- Delivery is typically easier to visualize—how much space the material will take up.
Example:
One cubic yard of mulch typically covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
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2. Ton (Weight Measurement)
- Ton = 2,000 lbs (in the U.S.).
- Use Case: Common for heavy materials like gravel, crushed stone, sand, or soil mixes.
- Best For: When the material is dense, and weight becomes the limiting factor (e.g., stone for a driveway).
Pros:
- More precise for heavy materials—especially when density affects transport and handling.
- Helps avoid under-ordering when the material compacts significantly during transport.
Example:
One ton of gravel may cover about 80-100 square feet at 2 inches deep, depending on the type of gravel and its density.
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Conversion Between the Two
The conversion between cubic yards and tons depends on the material’s density:
- 1 cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons.
- 1 cubic yard of mulch weighs only 0.4 to 0.6 tons.
This is why dense materials like rock are often sold by the ton, while lighter materials are sold by volume.
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How to Choose:
- If you’re covering an area (e.g., garden beds): Buy by the cubic yard.
- If you’re dealing with heavy material (e.g., stone or sand): Buy by the ton.
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1. Cubic Yard (Volume Measurement)
- Cubic Yard (yd³) = 27 cubic feet = a 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft cube.
- Use Case: Common for light materials like mulch, soil, compost, or bark.
- Best For: When you care about how much area the material will cover (e.g., 3 inches of mulch spread over a garden bed).
Pros:
- Easier to calculate coverage.
- Works better for materials that are fluffy, like mulch, which vary in density.
- Delivery is typically easier to visualize—how much space the material will take up.
Example:
One cubic yard of mulch typically covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
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2. Ton (Weight Measurement)
- Ton = 2,000 lbs (in the U.S.).
- Use Case: Common for heavy materials like gravel, crushed stone, sand, or soil mixes.
- Best For: When the material is dense, and weight becomes the limiting factor (e.g., stone for a driveway).
Pros:
- More precise for heavy materials—especially when density affects transport and handling.
- Helps avoid under-ordering when the material compacts significantly during transport.
Example:
One ton of gravel may cover about 80-100 square feet at 2 inches deep, depending on the type of gravel and its density.
---
Conversion Between the Two
The conversion between cubic yards and tons depends on the material’s density:
- 1 cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons.
- 1 cubic yard of mulch weighs only 0.4 to 0.6 tons.
This is why dense materials like rock are often sold by the ton, while lighter materials are sold by volume.
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How to Choose:
- If you’re covering an area (e.g., garden beds): Buy by the cubic yard.
- If you’re dealing with heavy material (e.g., stone or sand): Buy by the ton.