Free tool
How much gravel do you actually need?
Enter the area you're covering and how deep it needs to be. You'll get cubic yards, tonnes, how many truckloads that is, and what it costs delivered — in one go.
- Works in loads, tonnes, yards, or area
- Converts using real material densities
- Tells you how many truckloads that actually is
That works out to
0 t
≈ 0 yd³
- Loads
- 0
- Trucks
- 0
- On site in
- —
Volume conversions assume typical dry density, so treat these as close estimates. Tell us the jobsite and we'll price it against the real haul.
Common jobs
Typical dimensions to start from
Not sure what to enter? Use one of these as a starting point, then adjust to your actual site.
| Job | Area | Depth | Usual material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway | 40 ft × 12 ft | 4" | 3/4" road crush |
| Double driveway | 40 ft × 20 ft | 4" | 3/4" road crush |
| Paver patio base | 20 ft × 20 ft | 6" | Road base |
| Shed / garage pad | 12 ft × 16 ft | 6" | Road base |
| Perimeter drain trench | 100 ft × 1.5 ft | 12" | Drain rock |
| Lawn topdressing | 50 ft × 30 ft | 2" | Screened topsoil |
Conversion reference
Weight per cubic yard
| Material | Approx. t/yd³ |
|---|---|
| 3/4" Road Crush | 1.50 |
| Bedding & Concrete Sand | 1.40 |
| Road Base | 1.55 |
| Drain Rock | 1.40 |
| Rip Rap & Armour Stone | 1.50 |
| Structural Fill | 1.50 |
| Screened Topsoil | 1.05 |
Typical dry figures. Wet material can run 20%+ heavier — which is exactly why your invoice comes off the scale ticket, not off a volume estimate.
Depth guide
How deep should it be?
Rules of thumb for a compacted finish. Follow your engineer or the spec where one exists — these are a starting point, not a substitute for it.
Questions
Aggregate ordering, explained
How do I work out how much gravel I need?
Multiply length × width × depth to get a volume, then convert that volume to weight using the material’s density. The calculator on this page does both steps for you — enter your area in feet and the depth in inches, and it returns cubic yards, tonnes, and the number of truckloads.
Is aggregate sold by the tonne or by the yard?
It is sold and billed by weight, because every load crosses a pit scale and the scale ticket is the record. Cubic yards are a useful way to think about a job, but volume cannot be verified once material is dumped, so weight is what appears on your invoice.
How many tonnes are in a cubic yard of gravel?
Roughly 1.4 to 1.6 tonnes per cubic yard for most crushed aggregate. Sand is a little lighter and screened topsoil is lighter again, around 0.9 to 1.2 tonnes per cubic yard. Moisture changes these figures significantly, so treat any volume-to-weight conversion as an estimate.
How much does a dump truck carry?
It depends on the truck class. A tandem carries about 14 tonnes, a tri-axle about 20 tonnes, and a quad about 25 tonnes. Larger trucks move more for less per tonne, but need more room to get onto and turn around on a site.
Should I order extra?
Usually yes. Granular material compacts as it is placed, and most sites lose a little to spillage and uneven subgrade. Adding around 5 to 10 percent is normal. Ordering one load short and having to schedule another delivery costs far more than the extra material.
Got your number? We'll bring it.
Every quantity above turns straight into a booking — same material, same tonnage, straight into a quote request.
Still not sure what to order?
Tell us the job and we'll spec it with you. No charge, no obligation.