Cubic Meter to Ton Converter
Enter a volume in cubic metres and pick a material to get the weight in metric tonnes, US short tons, or imperial long tons instantly. The converter uses the standard bulk density for each material, and you can type your own density for anything not on the list. Switch the direction to convert from tons back to cubic metres.
Why cubic metres and tons do not convert directly
A cubic metre is a unit of volume; a tonne is a unit of mass. You cannot go from one to the other without knowing how dense the material is. One cubic metre of fresh water weighs exactly 1 metric tonne at 4 degrees Celsius, so for water the numbers are the same. But one cubic metre of concrete weighs about 2.4 tonnes because concrete is 2.4 times denser than water. One cubic metre of pine wood weighs only about 0.53 tonnes. The formula is always the same: mass (t) = density (t/m3) x volume (m3).
Metric tonne, US short ton, and Imperial long ton
Three different units all go by the word "ton", which causes frequent errors in construction and shipping. The metric tonne (t) equals exactly 1,000 kilograms. The US short ton equals 2,000 pounds, which is approximately 907.2 kilograms, about 10.2% lighter than a metric tonne. The Imperial long ton equals 2,240 pounds, which is approximately 1,016.1 kilograms, about 1.6% heavier than a metric tonne. In international commodity trade, "tonne" almost always means the metric tonne. In North American construction quotations, "ton" usually means the US short ton. Always confirm which definition applies before signing a contract or placing an order.
Bidirectional conversion: tons to cubic metres
The same density relationship works in reverse. If a supplier quotes a weight in tonnes and you need to know how many lorry loads or skip bins that fills, divide the mass by the density: volume (m3) = mass (t) / density (t/m3). This converter lets you flip the direction with the "Convert" selector. For example, 10 metric tonnes of dry sand at 1.6 t/m3 occupies 6.25 m3, which is roughly two and a half standard 2.5 m3 skips.
Practical uses: construction, shipping, and excavation
Getting volume-to-mass conversions right matters in several everyday situations. In construction, concrete volume is measured in cubic metres on a pour ticket but crane and mixer truck capacities are rated in tonnes. In earthworks, excavator bucket output is measured in bank cubic metres but haulage trucks have payload limits in tonnes. In shipping, port charges and vessel stability calculations depend on tonnes, while cargo volumes are measured in cubic metres or cubic feet. In aggregate supply, quarry invoices quote cubic metres of material removed but road-base specifications set density requirements per square metre of compacted layer.
Common material bulk densities
| Material | Density (t/m³) | Density (st/yd³) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (fresh, 4 °C) | 1.000 | 0.843 | Reference baseline |
| Water (seawater, 3.5% salt) | 1.025 | 0.864 | Average ocean salinity |
| Soil (loose) | 1.200 | 1.011 | Varies widely with moisture |
| Soil (compacted) | 1.800 | 1.517 | After mechanical compaction |
| Sand (dry) | 1.600 | 1.348 | Fine to coarse dry sand |
| Sand (wet) | 1.920 | 1.618 | Saturated sand |
| Gravel (loose) | 1.680 | 1.416 | Mixed aggregate |
| Clay | 1.750 | 1.475 | Typical clay fill |
| Coal (bituminous) | 1.400 | 1.180 | Run-of-mine bituminous |
| Wood (pine) | 0.530 | 0.447 | Structural softwood |
| Wood (oak) | 0.750 | 0.632 | Structural hardwood |
| Asphalt (compacted) | 2.300 | 1.938 | Compacted road surface |
| Concrete (normal mix) | 2.400 | 2.023 | Standard reinforced concrete |
| Limestone | 2.500 | 2.107 | Crushed or block form |
| Sandstone | 2.200 | 1.854 | Average sedimentary |
| Granite | 2.700 | 2.276 | Igneous, crushed or block |
| Aluminum | 2.700 | 2.276 | Pure metal |
| Steel | 7.850 | 6.616 | Mild/carbon steel |
| Copper | 8.940 | 7.534 | Pure copper |
Approximate bulk densities used by this converter. Actual values vary with moisture content, compaction, and particle grading.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic metres is 1 metric tonne of concrete?
Normal-mix reinforced concrete has a bulk density of about 2.4 metric tonnes per cubic metre. One metric tonne therefore occupies about 1 / 2.4 = 0.417 m3. Lightweight and heavyweight concrete mixes can range from about 1.6 to 3.0 t/m3, so always confirm the mix design when precision matters.
How many cubic metres is 1 tonne of soil?
Loose, undisturbed topsoil typically has a bulk density of about 1.2 t/m3, so 1 tonne of loose soil is roughly 0.83 m3. When soil is compacted (for example after being tipped from a truck and tamped), the density rises to about 1.6-1.8 t/m3, meaning 1 tonne of compacted fill is only about 0.56-0.63 m3. Use the Soil (loose) or Soil (compacted) preset depending on the application.
How many cubic metres is 1 tonne of sand?
Dry sand has a bulk density of about 1.6 t/m3, so 1 metric tonne of dry sand is approximately 0.625 m3. Wet, saturated sand reaches about 1.92 t/m3, putting 1 tonne at only about 0.52 m3. For ordering purposes, builders often allow 0.6-0.65 m3 per tonne of dry building sand.
What is the difference between a metric tonne, a short ton, and a long ton?
A metric tonne equals 1,000 kg (2,204.6 lb). A US short ton equals 2,000 lb (907.2 kg). An Imperial long ton equals 2,240 lb (1,016.1 kg). In everyday use, "ton" in the United States almost always means the short ton, while "tonne" in Europe and in international trade means the metric tonne. Confusion between them can cause errors of up to 10% in materials orders, so always confirm which is intended.
Can I use this converter for liquids?
Yes. The converter includes fresh water (1.0 t/m3) and seawater (1.025 t/m3) as presets, and the "Custom density" option lets you enter the specific gravity of any liquid. For example, diesel fuel has a density of about 0.84 t/m3, so 1 m3 of diesel weighs about 840 kg or 0.84 metric tonnes.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
One cubic yard equals 0.7646 m3. Multiply your volume in cubic yards by 0.7646 to get cubic metres, then multiply by the material density in t/m3 to get metric tonnes. Alternatively, the density column in the reference table above gives values in short tons per cubic yard (st/yd3) directly, so you can multiply cubic yards by that figure to get US short tons in one step.