TradesHow this works
Bulk aggregate is sold by the ton, but you measure a job by volume, so the trick is converting between them. Area times depth is the volume in cubic yards, and each material has a density in tons per yard. Multiply and you have the weight to order.
The tool adds a compaction allowance, since crushed base tamps down and you order to the finished depth, and it shows the tonnage for every common material so you can compare. Density does the heavy lifting here: the same hole takes very different tonnage in road base versus topsoil, so pick the material before you call the yard.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Work out the volume first, then convert to weight. Area times depth gives cubic feet, and 27 cubic feet is a cubic yard. Then multiply by the material density: gravel is about 1.42 tons a yard, road base about 1.5, sand about 1.2. So 200 square feet at 4 inches of base is about 2.5 yards, or roughly 4.4 tons with a compaction allowance.
Why order extra for compaction?
Crushed base and road rock lose volume as they are tamped down, often around 20 percent. If you order to the loose volume, the compacted layer finishes shy of your target depth and you are back to the yard for more. Adding a compaction allowance up front is cheaper than a second delivery, so the tool includes one you can adjust.
Does the material change the tonnage?
A lot. A cubic yard of dense road base weighs well over a ton and a half, while a yard of topsoil is closer to a ton. Since you order by weight but measure by volume, picking the right density matters. The tool shows the tons for every common material at your volume so you can compare and order the right one.
Sources: Densities (tons/cu yd): gravel 1.42, crushed 1.35, base 1.5, sand 1.2, pea 1.4, topsoil 1.1 (typical) · Volume geometry (evergreen): area x depth, 27 cu ft per cu yd. Engine version 1.0.0. Risk tier 1.