Should I order gravel by volume or by weight?

Both are common. Landscapers often order by cubic yards/metres, while many suppliers sell by the ton/tonne. Weight depends on the bulk density and moisture of the material.

What compaction factor should I use for gravel base?

A compaction factor around 1.10 is a common rule of thumb for granular base. Actual compaction varies by material, moisture, and equipment, so confirm with your supplier if precision matters.

How much waste should I add?

For simple rectangular areas, 5–10% is often enough. For irregular shapes, slopes, or rough subgrade, 10–15% may be more realistic.

Gravel Calculator

Gravel & Aggregate Calculator

Estimate aggregate for base layers, pads, paths, and driveways. Enter area and thickness, then apply compaction and waste to get an order volume — plus an optional weight estimate using bulk density.

Gravel & Aggregate Calculator

Estimate order volume and weight with waste and compaction

Shape

Material

Quantity

Length

Width

Thickness (compacted)

Waste allowance

Compaction factor

Bulk density

Results

Enter dimensions above to calculate

Formulas used

The calculator starts with geometry (area × thickness), then adjusts for compaction and waste before converting volume to weight using bulk density.

1. Calculate Area

Formula:

Rectangle: A = L × W | Circle: A = π × (D/2)²

Start with the footprint of the space you want to fill. Use length × width for rectangular pads and driveways, or diameter for circular pads.

2. Convert to Compacted Volume

Formula:

Compacted Volume = Area × Thickness

Thickness is typically the finished (compacted) depth of the base or fill layer.

3. Add Compaction Factor

Formula:

Loose Volume ≈ Compacted Volume × Compaction Factor

Because aggregate compacts, you generally need to order more loose material than the finished compacted volume.

4. Add Waste Allowance

Formula:

Order Volume = Loose Volume × (1 + Waste%)

Waste covers grading, spillage, uneven subgrade, and small measurement errors. 10% is a common starting point.

5. Estimate Weight (Optional but common)

Formula:

Weight = Order Volume × Bulk Density

Many suppliers price aggregate by the ton/tonne. Use a typical bulk density for your material or confirm with your supplier.

Example

Gravel base for a 10 m × 3 m pad, 10 cm finished thickness, compaction factor 1.10, 10% waste, density 1,600 kg/m³.

Compacted volume = 10 × 3 × 0.10 = 3.00 m³
Order volume = 3.00 × 1.10 × 1.10 = 3.63 m³
Weight estimate = 3.63 × 1,600 ≈ 5,808 kg

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I order gravel by volume or by weight?: Both are common. Landscapers often order by cubic yards/metres, while many suppliers sell by the ton/tonne. Weight depends on the bulk density and moisture of the material.
What compaction factor should I use for gravel base?: A compaction factor around 1.10 is a common rule of thumb for granular base. Actual compaction varies by material, moisture, and equipment, so confirm with your supplier if precision matters.
How much waste should I add?: For simple rectangular areas, 5–10% is often enough. For irregular shapes, slopes, or rough subgrade, 10–15% may be more realistic.