How Many Cubic Yards in a Dump Truck?

If you're managing a construction site, landscaping project, or hauling materials, one of the first things you'll need to know is: How many cubic yards are in a dump truck? Whether you're moving gravel, dirt, or debris, understanding dump truck capacity helps you plan more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.

What Is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 3 feet long × 3 feet wide × 3 feet high, or 27 cubic feet. It’s the standard unit for measuring materials like soil, sand, mulch, concrete, and aggregate.

Types of Dump Trucks & Their Cubic Yard Capacities

Dump trucks come in a range of sizes, and each type can carry a different number of cubic yards depending on the truck’s configuration and the weight of the material being hauled.

Here’s a breakdown of common dump truck types:

1. Pickup Trucks

• Capacity: 1 to 3 cubic yards
• Use: Small landscaping or DIY home projects

2. Standard Dump Trucks

• Capacity: 10 to 16 cubic yards
• Use: General construction and light commercial jobs

3. Tri-Axle Dump Trucks

• Capacity: 14 to 20 cubic yards
• Use: Medium-duty hauling of dirt, sand, gravel, and stone

4. Quad-Axle Dump Trucks

• Capacity: 18 to 25 cubic yards
• Use: Heavy-duty construction and large material loads; more stability and legal load capacity than tri-axles

5. End Dump / Semi-Trailer Trucks

• Capacity: 20 to 30+ cubic yards
• Use: Long-distance hauling and large-scale commercial projects

💡 Did you know? Quad-axle dump trucks are a favorite on job sites that require heavy payloads without upgrading to a full semi-truck setup. They strike a balance between maneuverability and load capacity.

Weight Limits vs. Volume

Even though a truck may hold a certain number of cubic yards, that doesn’t mean it can legally haul that volume of every material. Heavier materials like wet dirt or crushed concrete may reach the truck’s weight limit before the bed is full.

Key Factors That Affect Load:

• Material Density (e.g., gravel weighs more than mulch)
• Moisture Content
• Local Road Weight Restrictions
• Axle Count and Configuration

How to Estimate How Many Dump Truck Loads You’ll Need

Use this simple formula:

Total Cubic Yards Needed ÷ Dump Truck Capacity = Total Loads Needed

Example:
You need 200 cubic yards of gravel, and you’re using a quad-axle truck that holds 20 cubic yards per load: 200 ÷ 20 = 10 truckloads

Final Thoughts

So, how many cubic yards in a dump truck? It all depends on the type of truck:

• Pickup Trucks: 1–3 cubic yards
• Standard Dump Truck: 10–16 cubic yards
• Tri-Axle Dump Truck: 14–20 cubic yards
• Quad-Axle Dump Truck: 18–25 cubic yards
• End Dump/Semi-Trailer Trucks: 20–30+ cubic yards

When planning your next job, knowing the right dump truck size can save you time and money — and help you avoid overloading or underestimating your material needs.

Need Reliable Hauling Services?

At F&S Trucking and Hauling, we specialize in hauling construction materials across job sites with efficiency and care. Whether you need a single quad-axle load or multiple dump trucks for a large-scale project, we've got you covered.