ToolForage.
CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR

Gravel Calculator

Enter a covered area and layer depth to estimate a gravel order by volume and weight. The density and extra allowance remain editable for your supplier and material.

Calculator

Square metres in metric mode; square feet in US mode.
Centimetres in metric mode; inches in US mode.
kg/m³
Ask the supplier for the density matching your volume basis.
%
YOUR RESULTS
Estimated order weight8.8 t
Volume including allowance
5.5 m³
Volume in cubic yards
7.194 yd³
Weight in US short tons
9.7 US ton
Material cost
396.00

Understanding your result

Weight is shown in both metric tonnes and US short tons. The price field always uses metric tonnes, regardless of the measurement system selected for area and depth.

Plan paving stones and the bedding layer separately with the Paver Calculator .

The formula

Order volume = area × depth × (1 + allowance/100). Metric tonnes = volume in m³ × bulk density in kg/m³ ÷ 1,000.

Convert both measurements to metres before multiplying. One cubic yard is 0.764554857984 m³; one US short ton is 907.18474 kg. Density connects the volume estimate to the weight used on a supplier invoice.

Worked example

An area of 50 m² covered to 10 cm needs 5 m³ before allowance. Adding 10% gives 5.5 m³. At an entered bulk density of 1,600 kg/m³, this is 8.8 metric tonnes, costing 396 at 45 per tonne.

How to use this calculator

  1. Select the measurement system, then enter area and layer depth in its displayed units.
  2. Use the supplier’s bulk density and choose an additional order allowance.
  3. Enter a price per metric tonne and compare the weight units with the quotation.

Loose volume and compacted volume

A depth measured after compaction is not automatically the same volume that arrives on a truck. Density, particle grading, and moisture affect the relationship. Match the density and allowance to the basis supplied by your contractor. The default density is an example for estimating, not a verified property of every aggregate.

Preparing an order

Measure separate driveway or path sections and add their areas when the depth is uniform. Exclude unfilled openings. A supplier may sell in load increments or charge a minimum delivery amount, so the material subtotal is only one part of the quote. This calculation does not select a suitable aggregate, determine a structural layer thickness, or estimate excavation labor.

Assumptions & limitations

What this calculation assumes

  • A uniform layer covers the entered area; density is constant.

What to keep in mind

  • No automatic compaction factor, delivery charge, or truck loading limit is applied.

Common questions

Are a tonne and a ton the same?

A metric tonne is 1,000 kg. A US short ton is 2,000 lb, or 907.18474 kg. Confirm which unit appears in your quote.

Can I use this for pea gravel?

Yes, when you enter a bulk density appropriate to that product. The calculator does not infer density from the product name.

Sources & further reading