Volume and tonnage of aggregate or asphalt to order

Weight to order t
Loose volume
Surface area
Assumption: densities are typical values for dry, loose material — your supplier’s figures may differ. A compaction & wastage allowance is added on top; raise it for material that beds down hard. Always confirm the delivered density with your supplier.

About Gravel & Asphalt Calculator

The gravel and asphalt calculator converts an area and depth into the volume and tonnage of material to order. Define the surface as a rectangle, a circle, or a known area, set the depth in centimeters, and pick a material — loose gravel, crushed stone, sand, topsoil, or hot-mix asphalt — each with a typical density.

Aggregates are sold by weight, so the key step is multiplying volume by density: gravel and sand run about 1.6 t/m³, crushed stone 1.5, topsoil 1.3, and hot-mix asphalt roughly 2.4 t/m³. A custom-density option covers anything your supplier quotes differently, and a compaction-and-wastage percentage is added on top, since compacted layers consume more loose material than the finished profile suggests.

Use it for driveways, paths, French drains, patio bases, and paving jobs — anywhere the question is “how many tons of gravel do I need.” It runs free in your browser; densities are typical dry, loose values, so always confirm the delivered density with your supplier before ordering.

How to use Gravel & Asphalt Calculator

  1. Choose the area shape: rectangle, circle, or a known area in m².
  2. Enter the dimensions and the layer depth in centimeters.
  3. Pick the material — or choose Custom and enter the density in t/m³.
  4. Set the compaction and wastage percentage.
  5. Read the weight to order, the loose volume, and the surface area.

Frequently asked questions

Multiply area × depth to get the volume, then multiply by the density. A 20 m² path at 8 cm deep is 1.6 m³; at 1.6 t/m³ that is about 2.56 t before the compaction allowance.

The presets carry typical loose, dry values: gravel ≈ 1.6 t/m³, crushed stone ≈ 1.5, sand ≈ 1.6, topsoil ≈ 1.3, and hot-mix asphalt ≈ 2.4 t/m³. Moisture and grading shift these figures, so prefer your supplier’s number when you have it.

Compacted layers pack down: a plate-compacted sub-base can lose 10–20% of its loose height, and some material is always spilled or spread beyond the edges. Raise the allowance for materials that bed down hard; the default covers ordinary jobs.

A common build-up is 10–15 cm of compacted sub-base topped with 4–5 cm of decorative gravel. Calculate each layer separately with its own material and density for a realistic order.

Within a few percent if your measurements and density are right — the biggest error sources are uneven excavation depth and the true delivered density. Order with the wastage allowance included, and confirm density with the quarry or plant.

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