Material Math Guide
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Gravel Calculator: Cubic Yards and Tons

Estimate gravel volume and optional supplier-basis weight for a rectangular area.

Enter project dimensions plus the density quoted for the exact gravel product.

Measure the rectangular project length in feet.

Measure the rectangular project width in feet.

Enter the planned finished material depth.

Choose the unit used for the entered material depth.

Enter an allowance appropriate to the site and material.

Enter the tons per cubic yard supplied for the exact material.

Estimate boundary

What this result covers

  • Does not design drainage, base preparation, compaction, slope, or load capacity.
  • Use the result as a purchasing estimate and verify product instructions, site conditions, and local requirements before work begins.

How the calculation works

Formula

length × width × depth × (1 + waste percentage), with weight based on entered supplier density

Assumptions used

  • The entered density uses US tons per cubic yard.

The tool keeps user-entered product values separate from the geometry, then rounds the recommended purchasing quantity up where the material is bought as a whole unit.

Worked example

Project inputs
20 ft × 10 ft × 3 in, 10% waste, supplier density 1.4 tons/yd³
Purchase result
About 3 yd³ and 2.85 US tons before supplier rounding.

Enter these values in the calculator to reproduce the estimate. The purchase result uses the same tested calculation logic as the live tool.

Purchasing checklist

  1. Confirm compacted depth.
  2. Ask the supplier for density and selling unit.
  3. Confirm delivery minimums.

Common mistakes

  • Using a generic density.
  • Confusing compacted and loose depth.
  • Mixing short tons and metric tonnes.

Sources and methodology

These references support the product values, units, or planning boundaries shown on this page. Always confirm the current instructions for the exact material you buy.

  1. NIST — NIST Handbook 130 (2026)Checked 2026-07-11

    Handbook 130 (2026), Method of Sale §2.29, p. 135: bulk aggregate/gravel must be sold by cubic meter, cubic yard, or weight; it sets no universal tons-per-yard value.

  2. NIST — NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9Checked 2026-07-11

    One cubic yard equals 0.7645549 m³; density conversions preserve the entered basis.