How Many Truck Loads Do I Need? Pickups and Dump Trucks
A truck load is limited by the space in the bed or by the payload, whichever is smaller. A bed 6.5 × 5 × 1.75 ft holds 2.11 cubic yards, but at 1.4 tons a yard, a payload of 2,000 lb allows only 0.71 yards. So 6 yards takes 9 loads. The truck load calculator works out the loads for your truck and material.
Loads by material
Bed 6.5 × 5 × 1.75 ft, payload 2,000 lb, 6 cubic yards needed. The weights are typical figures: ask your supplier for yours.
| Material | Tons a yard | Yards the payload allows | Yards in a load | Loads for 6 yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 0.5 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 3 |
| Dry topsoil | 0.7 | 1.43 | 1.43 | 5 |
| Wet topsoil, fine sand | 1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 6 |
| Gravel, crushed stone | 1.4 | 0.71 | 0.71 | 9 |
| Wet sand | 1.7 | 0.59 | 0.59 | 11 |
| Heavy, wet fill | 2 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 12 |
Loads by truck
For 6 cubic yards of material at 1.4 tons a yard.
| Truck | Space (yd³) | Payload (lb) | Yards in a load | Loads for 6 yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size pickup, 6.5 ft bed | 2.11 | 2000 | 0.71 | 9 |
| Heavy-duty pickup, 8 ft bed | 2.59 | 2500 | 0.89 | 7 |
| Tandem dump truck | 9.33 | 24000 | 8.57 | 1 |
Loading safely
- Stay under the payload on the door jamb sticker. An overloaded truck brakes and steers badly.
- Load heavy material over the axles, and spread it evenly.
- Keep the load below the top of the sides, or tarp it, so nothing blows out.
- For a large job, delivery is often cheaper than many trips.
See also the cubic yards to tons calculator and the gravel calculator. These are estimates: the weight of a yard varies with moisture.
Frequently asked questions
How many truck loads do I need?
Divide the yards you need by the yards in one load, rounded up. Here a load is 0.71 yards, so 6 yards takes 9 loads.
How many yards fit in a pickup?
A bed of 6.5 × 5 × 1.75 ft holds 2.1 cubic yards, but the payload often allows less of a heavy material.
Where do I find my payload?
On the sticker on the driver's door jamb. It is the weight you can add, including people and gear.
Why does gravel hit the payload first?
A yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons, so a pickup that carries a ton and a bit is full by weight long before the bed is full.
How much does a yard weigh?
It depends on the material and the moisture. Mulch is light, gravel, sand and wet soil are heavy. Ask your supplier.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.