Calculate aggregate quantities for construction materials including gravel, sand, crushed stone, and fill. Estimate volume, weight, cost, and truck loads for your project.
The Aggregate Calculator estimates the volume, weight, and cost of construction aggregates — gravel, sand, crushed stone, recycled concrete, and other fill materials — for any project area. Enter the length, width, and desired depth to get tonnage, cubic yards, truck load counts, and material cost estimates.
Construction and landscaping projects require surprisingly large quantities of aggregate. A simple 20×30-foot driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 7.5 cubic yards (roughly 10 tons) of gravel. Underestimating leads to project delays; overestimating wastes money. This calculator eliminates guesswork.
The tool supports rectangular, circular, and irregular areas, multiple aggregate types with their specific densities, and shows both volume (cubic yards/meters) and weight (tons) — critical because aggregate is sold by weight in some regions and by volume in others. Cost estimates adjust for material type and include a waste factor. That makes it easier to compare a delivered quote with the actual project footprint.
Use this calculator before ordering gravel, sand, base rock, or fill so you can translate a project footprint into cubic yards, tons, and likely truckloads. It is especially useful when suppliers quote by weight but the job is laid out by depth and area. That helps keep delivery quantities aligned with the actual site plan.
Volume = Area × Depth. Weight = Volume × Material Density. Truck Loads = Weight / Truck Capacity. Rectangular Area = L × W. Circular Area = π × r². Cost = Weight × Price per ton.
Result: 7.41 yd³, 10.0 tons, ~$350
30×20 ft at 4" depth = 200 ft³ = 7.41 yd³. Gravel at 2,700 lbs/yd³ = ~10 tons. At $35/ton, cost ≈ $350 before delivery.
Crushed stone is quarried rock mechanically broken to size. It has angular edges that interlock well, making it ideal for driveways and foundations. Common types: limestone, granite, trap rock (basalt), and recycled concrete.
Natural gravel is river-rounded stone. Smooth surfaces provide less interlocking but better drainage. Pea gravel (3/8" diameter) is popular for walkways and decorative use. River rock (1-3") is used in landscaping and drainage.
Sand types include concrete sand (sharp, angular), mason sand (fine screening), fill sand (unprocessed), and play sand (washed and screened).
For L-shaped or complex areas, break the project into rectangles and calculate each section separately. For curved areas like around pools, approximate with a series of rectangles or use the circular area calculator. When in doubt, add 15% to your estimate.
Loose aggregate settles 15-25% when compacted. If you need 4 inches of compacted gravel, order enough for 5 inches of loose fill. Plate compactors work well for gravel up to 4" lifts. Vibratory rollers handle thicker lifts and larger stone sizes.
A typical residential driveway (20×30 ft, 4" deep) needs 7-8 cubic yards (~10 tons). For heavy vehicle traffic, use 6" depth (15 tons). Add 10% for waste and compaction.
A standard tandem dump truck holds 12-16 tons. A tri-axle holds 18-22 tons. A transfer dump truck can carry 25-30 tons. Volume capacity varies by truck bed size.
Common densities: Gravel 2,700 lbs/yd³, Crushed Stone 2,700, Sand 2,800, Pea Gravel 2,600, Crushed Concrete 2,500, Topsoil 2,200, River Rock 2,600, Decomposed Granite 2,500. Use supplier data when possible because moisture and gradation can shift the actual delivered weight.
Most suppliers sell by the ton (weight). Volume varies with moisture, compaction, and particle shape. Weight is more precise and consistent. If ordering by cubic yard, confirm whether it's loose or compacted volume.
5-10% for well-defined rectangular areas. 10-15% for irregular shapes. 15-20% if the ground is uneven and will need extra fill in low spots. Compaction reduces loose volume by ~20%.
Layer 1 (base): #3 stone (1.5-2.5"). Layer 2 (middle): #57 stone (0.75-1"). Layer 3 (surface): #8 stone (3/8-1/2") or crusher run. Total depth: 6-8 inches for heavy traffic.