Start with geometry; use the unit the supplier actually sells
Cubic feet are convenient for small boxes and labeled bag content. Cubic yards keep a larger bulk order readable. Neither unit identifies material weight. Use Cubic Yard to retain the same measured quantity in both units: 54 ft³ is exactly 2 yd³. NIST SP 811 Appendix B.9 documents volume and mass conversions; it does not supply a universal gravel density.
A ton quote needs a material and state conversion
Ask for the exact aggregate identity, whether quoted tons mean 2,000 lb US short tons, and the supplier's pounds per cubic foot or short tons per cubic yard on the same loose/compacted and moisture basis as your volume. Record the statement and its conditions. If the supplier cannot supply a reliable conversion, keep volume available and treat weight as unresolved rather than selecting a precise-looking generic density.
For an illustrative 2 yd³ order, an invented 1.35 short tons/yd³ gives an estimated 2.7 short tons. An invented 1.5 gives 3 short tons. The geometry is unchanged; the density assumption changes the estimate by 0.3 tons. These numbers are not product densities. Gravel accepts either density unit and labels the result as estimated.
Finished depth and loose delivery are separate records
A finished compacted layer volume is not automatically the loose delivery volume. Obtain a documented supplier conversion for that material and state before using the weight quote. Extra material is a separate selected allowance and must not silently stand in for compaction. FHWA NHI-05-037 Table 5-17 gives compacted dry geotechnical ranges, not exact loose-delivery density. FHWA's Granular Base description explains why gradation, particle shape, fines, drainage and compaction matter.
Turn the conversion into an order only after the quote is complete
Copy supplier minimums and order increments, delivery, fees and tax terms into Aggregate Ordering. Confirm whether an allowance is already included in the imported volume and add it only once. Compare total delivered scenarios, not just a price per yard against a price per ton. Concrete has its own exact yield and delivery questions in bags versus ready-mix.