Wheelbarrow for Gravel: Size, Tires and Loads per Ton

For gravel and rock, pick a cart or barrow with two or more wheels, air-filled tires and a weight rating above your load. Ohio State's AgrAbility program says carts with two or more wheels are more stable than traditional wheelbarrows, and that pneumatic tires help in mud and loose gravel. Weight matters more than size: Penn State's road center uses 1.5 tons per cubic yard for #57 stone, about 111 lb per cubic foot, so a 330 lb-rated barrow hits its limit just under 3 cu ft. That works out to about 7 loads per ton.

Free calculator: find out how many tons your job takes with our free gravel calculator, then use the chart below to count loads. No sign-up.

How many loads in a ton of gravel

Loads at the maker's weight rating, using 111 lb per cubic foot of #57 stone. Counts are rounded up, so the last load may be a partial one.

300 lb rating — 2.7 cu ft per load; 7 loads per ton; 10 per cubic yard

330 lb rating — about 3 cu ft (2.97) per load; 7 loads per ton; 10 per cubic yard

400 lb rating — 3.6 cu ft per load; 5 loads per ton; 8 per cubic yard

600 lb rating, 4 cu ft tub — the tub fills first, at about 444 lb; 5 loads per ton; 7 per cubic yard

6 cu ft barrow, filled to the brim — about 667 lb; 3 loads per ton; 5 per cubic yard (check its rating first)

A rating is a limit, not a target. The UNC-Chapel Hill safety office advises taking lighter loads, sized to what you can safely handle.

Topsoil is a little lighter. Penn State lists it at 1.3 tons per cubic yard, about 96 lb per cubic foot.

What to look for in a wheelbarrow for gravel

Two or more wheels. Ohio State AgrAbility says they add balance and stability when you push or pull the cart.

Pneumatic tires. Air-filled tires help on mud, uneven ground and loose gravel, per Ohio State. Check them before you start: UNC notes that flat tires can lead to ergonomic problems or a dropped load.

A rating above your load. A full 5 cu ft tub of gravel weighs about 556 lb. If the rating is 330 lb, fill it partway.

An easy way to unload. Ohio State points to carts with a removable front or back panel, so you do not have to lift things over the side. A dump cart that tips its tub does the same job for loose stone.

How to haul gravel safely

Load light and lift with your legs to get the barrow rolling, per UNC-Chapel Hill's safety office.

Let a tipping load go. UNC says not to try to catch a wheelbarrow that starts to tip, so your hands and feet stay clear.

Dump with both arms. Tip the load up and walk backward as the gravel comes out, then keep tipping until it is empty, per UNC.

Carts and barrows for hauling gravel (#ad)

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Gorilla Carts 600 lb Poly Garden Dump Cart, 4 Cu Ft — a 4 cu ft poly tub with a 600 lb rating, 10-inch pneumatic tires and a quick-release dump, per the maker. A full tub of gravel is about 444 lb, inside the rating, so a ton takes 5 loads. See it on Amazon

Best Choice Products Dual-Wheel Wheelbarrow — a 5 cu ft tub on two 14-inch inflatable wheels, with a padded handlebar that doubles as a stand and a 330 lb weight capacity, per the maker. For gravel, fill it to just under 3 cu ft to stay within 330 lb. See it on Amazon

Hauling mulch or soil instead? Size the job with the mulch calculator.

Wheelbarrow for gravel FAQ

How many wheelbarrows in a ton of gravel? At 111 lb per cubic foot, a ton of #57 stone is about 18 cu ft. That is 7 loads in a 330 lb-rated barrow, or 5 loads in a 4 cu ft cart.

How much does a wheelbarrow of gravel weigh? About 111 lb per cubic foot, based on Penn State's 1.5 tons per cubic yard for #57 stone. A 4 cu ft load is about 444 lb, and a full 6 cu ft barrow would be about 667 lb.

What is the best wheelbarrow for moving rocks? One with two or more wheels, pneumatic tires and a weight rating above your load. Ohio State AgrAbility says two-wheel carts are more stable than traditional wheelbarrows.

How many wheelbarrow loads are in a cubic yard? A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so 7 loads in a 4 cu ft cart. For gravel in a 330 lb-rated barrow, about 10 loads.

Free calculator: get cubic yards and tons for your driveway, path or drain in the free gravel calculator.

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Sources: Ohio State University Agricultural Safety and Health, Garden carts, rolling work seats and storage; UNC-Chapel Hill Environment Health and Safety, Job Safety Analysis: Wheel Barrows; Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, DGLVR Materials Calculator.