How to use it
- Enter your project trench or pad length in feet.
- Enter the width in feet.
- Enter your target gravel base depth in inches.
- Read your required material in cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons.
Pouring a patio, laying pavers, or building a driveway requires a solid foundation. If you guess your base gravel requirements, you risk structural sinking, running short mid-job, or overpaying for material you cannot return. This calculator converts your project dimensions directly into cubic feet, cubic yards, and estimated tons.
Suppliers sell bulk aggregate either by the cubic yard or by weight in tons. Our tool provides both metrics simultaneously, using the industry standard conversion of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard. When you contact your local quarry or building supplier, you will know precisely what volume or tonnage to order. Measure your length, width, and target depth to lock in your project budget and eliminate wasted site runs.
Pro tips
- Add 10% to 15% extra to your final order to account for compaction and grading variations.
- Round up to the nearest half-ton because commercial delivery trucks rarely meter fractional loads.
- Confirm beforehand whether your supplier bills by volume (cubic yards) or weight (tons).
- Check excavation depth at several points to ensure you calculate based on the true average depth.
Real-life examples
- Calculating compacted sub-base stone for a new 10x20 foot paver patio.
- Determining quarry rock tonnage for an unpaved gravel driveway renovation.
- Estimating base material needed beneath a heavy timber garden shed foundation.
Case study
Marcus planned a 20-by-15-foot paver patio with a 4-inch base. Instead of guessing and risking a second delivery fee, he used the calculator: 3.7 cubic yards, or 5.18 tons. He ordered 5.5 tons to account for compaction. The delivery covered the excavation perfectly on the first pass, saving him $150 on split-load delivery fees and a wasted weekend.