Gravel, Sand & Topsoil Calculator

The Gravel, Sand & Topsoil Calculator turns a rough plan ("a 12 by 10 foot patio, 4 inches deep") into the four numbers a landscape supplier asks for: volume in cubic yards or cubic metres, total weight in tons or tonnes, number of bags, and dump-truck loads. Pick the bed shape — rectangle, circle, triangle, or ring — set the depth, and choose pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock, paver base, concrete sand, mason sand, play sand, topsoil, fill dirt, compost, mulch, lava rock, or rubber mulch from the preset list. The calculator multiplies the area by depth, applies a compaction allowance for materials that settle (driveways, paver bases, paths), adds a waste percentage for spillage, and returns the loose volume to actually order.

Why "geometric volume" is not enough

Most online calculators stop at area × depth. That number is wrong on a real job in two ways:

• Compaction. Loose gravel and sand take up more space than the same material packed down. A driveway base laid at the geometric volume sits visibly low after the first car drives on it. To finish at the design depth, order 10–30% extra and let the roller take it down.
• Waste & spillage. Some material ends up on the lawn, in the wheelbarrow, or stuck in the truck bed. 5% extra is normal, 10–15% if the bed shape is awkward or the haul is long.

This calculator surfaces both factors so the result matches what the bed actually needs. Toggle compaction back to "none" for decorative top-dressing where settling does not matter.

Bulk densities used

Bulk density is what links volume to weight. The numbers below are typical loose, in-place densities — wet material is heavier, mechanically compacted material is heavier still. For an unusual mix (e.g. sandy loam, mineralised compost), pick the Custom material option and enter a density in kg per cubic metre.

Typical depth recommendations

How to use this calculator

1. Pick units. Imperial uses feet for the bed, inches or feet for the depth, and cubic yards / pounds / tons for the result. Metric uses metres, centimetres, cubic metres and kilograms / tonnes.
2. Pick the bed shape. Only the dimensions used by that shape are shown — you cannot accidentally enter a length when the shape is a circle.
3. Enter the dimensions and depth. The live diagram on the right labels each dimension on the matching shape so there is no ambiguity.
4. Choose the material. The bulk density is filled in for you. Use Custom and enter a kg/m³ figure for unusual blends.
5. Set compaction and waste. Pick a compaction level (none, light, medium, heavy) and a waste percentage (5% by default). The order volume includes both.
6. Optional: enter a price. Type a price per cubic yard, cubic metre, ton, tonne, or bag, and the calculator multiplies it through to a total cost.
7. Click Calculate. Read the order volume, total weight, bag count, dump-truck count, coverage per yard, and the step-by-step formula at a glance.

Where this tool fits in

Common pitfalls

• "Yard" can mean cubic yard or ton. When a supplier quotes "a yard of stone for $40", confirm whether that is a cubic yard (volume) or a US short ton (weight). They are not the same: a cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.35 tons.
• Mulch does not compact. Order the geometric volume + 5–10% spillage and skip compaction. Wood and rubber mulch will settle slightly in the first rain but never enough to justify a 10–30% over-order.
• Topsoil shrinks. Loose topsoil delivered by truck will lose 10–20% of its volume after watering and gravity. For a 6″ finished raised bed, order topsoil as if you wanted 7″.
• Don't over-compact play sand. Play sand is meant to stay loose. Compaction is set to "none" in the preset; skip the plate compactor.
• Pickup truck loads are weight-limited, not volume-limited, for gravel. A half-ton pickup will hit its weight rating at about 1 cubic yard of crushed stone, even though the bed has space for more.

Frequently asked questions

How much gravel, sand, or topsoil do I need? Multiply the bed area by the depth to get the geometric volume. For gravel and sand under a driveway or paver, multiply by 1.10 to 1.30 to allow for compaction. Then add 5 to 15 percent for spillage and over-fill. The result is the loose volume to order from the supplier.

How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh? A cubic yard of dry pea gravel weighs about 2,800 lb or 1.4 short tons (about 1,250 kg). Crushed stone is similar at about 2,700 lb per yard. Topsoil is lighter, around 2,200 lb per yard. Wood mulch is much lighter at roughly 700 lb per yard.

How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard? There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. So a cubic yard equals about 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch, 27 bags of 1 cu ft mulch, or 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft mulch. Most homeowners save money by ordering 1 cubic yard or more in bulk instead of bags.

What is the difference between sand and gravel densities? Loose, dry sand is about 1,500 to 1,600 kg per cubic metre. Gravel is slightly heavier at 1,500 to 1,750 kg per cubic metre, depending on the rock type and how angular the pieces are. Wet sand and gravel can be 10 to 20 percent heavier because the water fills voids.

Why do I need a compaction allowance? Loose gravel and sand take up more space than the same material packed down. If you order exactly the geometric volume of a paver base, the surface will sit low after rolling and traffic. A compaction allowance of 10 to 30 percent extra ensures the bed reaches the design depth after settling.

How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck? A standard half-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup holds about 2 cubic yards level full of light material like mulch or topsoil. With heavy material like gravel and sand, the truck reaches its weight limit at about 1 cubic yard before the bed is full.