Free calculator
Gravel, sand and soil calculator
Enter the area and the depth, pick the material, and get the volume and the weight to order, in bulk or in bags.
Result
- Volume
- 1.5 m³
- With 5% extra
- 1.58 m³
- Weight to order
- 2.36 tonnes (2,363 kg)
- Bags
- —
Loose material compacts when it is laid; the extra percentage covers that. Suppliers sell by weight, so quote the tonnes.
Quoting this job for a client? Pro builds the quote for you.
Labour, extra items, margin and tax on top of the material list. Printed with your logo, saved as PDF. Works from the 3D room planner.
How it works
Volume = length × width × depth. Suppliers sell loose material by weight, so the volume is multiplied by the bulk density: roughly 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre for gravel and crushed stone, 1.6 for sand and about 1.2 for topsoil. Your supplier will quote the exact density for their product; type it in to match.
Gravel density in kg/m³, lb/ft³ and tons per yard
Gravel density is about 1,500 kg/m³ loose (94 lb per cubic foot, 1.26 US tons per cubic yard), the calculator's default. The table has the figure for each stone; the yards to tons guide sets them next to the ranges suppliers publish, and moisture or compaction moves any of them, so the delivery ticket wins.
| Material | kg/m³ | t/m³ | lb/ft³ | US tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone / gravel, 3/4 in | 1,500 | 1.5 | 94 | 1.26 |
| Pea gravel | 1,600 | 1.6 | 100 | 1.35 |
| Crusher run / road base, compacted | 1,700 | 1.7 | 106 | 1.43 |
| River rock | 1,600 | 1.6 | 100 | 1.35 |
| Decomposed granite, compacted | 1,600 | 1.6 | 100 | 1.35 |
| Sand | 1,600 | 1.6 | 100 | 1.35 |
| Topsoil | 1,200 | 1.2 | 75 | 1.01 |
Loose material settles and compacts after it is spread, so a few percent extra is sensible. A common depth for a gravel path is 50 mm (2 in) over a compacted base; driveways usually need more, and the base itself is a separate calculation.
If you buy bagged, enter the bag weight and the calculator converts the tonnage into bags, rounded up.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a cubic metre of gravel weigh?
- About 1.5 to 1.7 tonnes depending on the stone, more when wet or compacted. The calculator defaults to 1.5 (1,500 kg/m³) and lets you enter the supplier's figure.
- What is the density of gravel in kg/m3?
- About 1,500 kg/m³ for loose gravel or 3/4 in crushed stone, 1,700 kg/m³ for compacted crusher run, and 1,600 kg/m³ for sand. In imperial units 1,500 kg/m³ is 94 lb per cubic foot, or 1.26 US tons per cubic yard.
- How many bulk bags of gravel do I need?
- Bulk bags are sold by weight or by volume and the size varies by supplier. Divide the tonnage by the bag weight your supplier states; the bag field above does this for you.
- How deep should gravel be on a path or driveway?
- About 50 mm (2 in) of decorative gravel over a compacted sub-base is common for paths; driveways are usually laid deeper. Ask the supplier for the depth their product is designed for.
Guides
- How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Cubic metres, tonnes and bulk bags of gravel for typical driveway sizes at 50, 75 and 100 mm depth, with the imperial equivalents in cubic yards and tons.
- How much does gravel weigh per yard? Gravel, topsoil, fill dirt and sand in lb, tons and kg
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,528 lb (1.26 US tons), compacted road base about 1.4 tons, topsoil 2,023 lb, fill dirt 2,444 lb; gravel 1.5 t per m³.
- How much gravel for a shed base? 6x8 to 12x16 ft
Cubic yards, tons and bags of gravel for 6x8, 8x10, 10x12 and 12x16 ft shed bases at 4 and 6 inches, why the base runs past the shed, and metric sizes in tonnes.
- How much sand and gravel do I need under pavers?
Gravel base at 4 or 6 inches and 1 inch of bedding sand for 100 to 500 sq ft of pavers: cubic yards, tons and bags, plus the metric patio in tonnes and bulk bags.
- How much mulch do I need? Bags and cubic yards by area
Cubic yards and 2 or 3 cu ft bags of mulch for 100 to 1,000 sq ft at 2, 3 and 4 inches deep, how many bags make a yard, and metric beds in cubic metres and 50 L bags.
- How much gravel for a French drain? Per foot and per 50 or 100 ft
Cubic feet, cubic yards, tons and bags of washed gravel per foot of French drain for 12 in wide trenches at 18 and 24 in deep, minus the 4 in pipe, and per 25 to 100 ft.
- How much sand do I need for a sandbox? 4x4 to 8x8
Cubic feet, pounds and 50 lb bags of play sand for 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 8x8 ft sandboxes at 6, 8 and 10 inches deep, the turtle sandbox, and metric sandpits in 25 kg bags.
- How much soil for a 4x8 raised bed? (3x6, 4x4, 4x12 too)
Cubic feet, cubic yards and bags of soil for 3x6, 4x4, 4x8 and 4x12 ft raised beds at 8, 12 and 18 inches deep, how many 1.5 and 2 cu ft bags, and metric beds in litres.
- How much gravel do I need for a walkway or path?
Cubic yards, tons and 0.5 cu ft bags of pea gravel for 3 and 4 ft wide paths of 10 to 50 ft at 3 and 4 inches deep, the crushed stone base under it, and 1 m wide paths.