About the Material Calculator
Every landscaping or building project starts with the same two questions: how much material will fill the space, and how heavy will it be? The volume decides what you order. The weight decides whether a truck, trailer or wheelbarrow can carry it, whether a floor or deck can bear it, and what it costs when the supplier sells by the ton. Different materials vary enormously in weight: a yard of bark mulch might weigh a third of a ton, while the same yard of concrete weighs two tons.
This material calculator handles any bulk material. Enter the length, width and depth of the area, choose a material from the list or enter your own density, and it gives the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic metres, the weight in pounds and US tons, and the cost when you enter a price per yard or per ton.
How to Use the Material Calculator
Choose the material, or choose Other and enter its density in pounds per cubic foot.
Enter the length and width in feet and the depth in inches.
Optionally enter a price and whether it is per cubic yard or per ton.
The Formulas
cubic feet = length × width × depth ÷ 12
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
cubic metres = cubic feet × 0.0283
weight (lb) = cubic feet × density
tons = pounds ÷ 2,000Densities used, in pounds per cubic foot: gravel 104, sand 100, topsoil 80, clay 110, bark mulch 25, concrete 150 and hot-mix asphalt 145.
Step-by-Step Example
A 20 × 10 ft area of gravel, 4 inches deep, at $40 a cubic yard.
volume 20 × 10 × 4 ÷ 12 = 66.67 ft³ = 2.47 yd³ = 1.89 m³
weight 66.67 × 104 = 6,933 lb = 3.47 tons
cost 2.47 × $40 = $98.77The same area in bark mulch would weigh only about 1,667 pounds, under a ton.
Understanding Density
Density is the weight of a set volume of material. For bulk materials it is quoted loose, as the material sits in a pile or truck, including the air between particles. That is why a cubic foot of gravel weighs about 104 pounds, although solid rock weighs over 160: a third or more of the pile is empty space. Fine materials with a mix of sizes pack tighter. Organic materials such as mulch and compost are mostly air and fibre and are very light. Moisture adds weight to anything porous.
Converting Density Units
Suppliers express density in different ways. To turn tons per cubic yard into pounds per cubic foot, multiply by 2,000 and divide by 27, so 1.5 tons a yard is about 111 pounds per cubic foot. To turn kilograms per cubic metre into pounds per cubic foot, divide by 16.02, so 1,600 kg/m³ is about 100 lb/ft³. Using the supplier's own figure gives the most accurate weight.
Load Limits
Weight matters for transport. A typical full-size pickup can carry around 1,500 to 2,000 pounds, which is less than a cubic yard of gravel or concrete but several yards of mulch. Small utility trailers often carry 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. Before loading, compare the calculated weight with the vehicle's payload and the trailer's rating, and remember that tyres, axles and brakes all have limits.
Loads on Structures
Weight also matters for anything built to hold material. A raised planter on a deck or roof, a gravel ballast layer or a stone patio on a suspended slab all add load. Saturated soil can weigh over 100 pounds per cubic foot, so a planter 1 foot deep adds about 100 pounds per square foot, more than double the 40 psf a typical deck is designed for. Check with an engineer before loading any structure with heavy materials.
Choosing a Material
Each material has its uses. Gravel and crushed stone drain well for paths, drives and drainage. Sand beds pavers and fills joints. Topsoil and compost feed plants. Clay is used where a dense, watertight layer is wanted, such as pond liners. Mulch suppresses weeds and keeps soil moist. Concrete and asphalt form hard, permanent surfaces and are usually priced by the yard or ton delivered.
Allowing for Waste
Spreading any bulk material involves some loss: material left in the truck bed, spilled at the edges, pushed into soft ground or used to fill hollows. For most jobs, adding 5 to 10% to the calculated volume covers this. Compacted materials need more on top of that, as the crusher run and fill dirt calculators explain.
Metric Projects
For a project measured in metres, convert the length and width to feet by multiplying by 3.281 and the depth to inches by dividing millimetres by 25.4. The calculator gives the result in cubic metres as well as cubic yards.
Understanding Your Result
The headline gives the volume in cubic yards.
The working line shows the area, depth, cubic feet and cubic metres.
The weight line gives pounds, tons and the density used.
The cost line applies your price per yard or per ton.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
Use it for any bulk material, especially one not covered by a specific calculator.
Use it to check whether a load is safe for your vehicle or trailer.
Use it to compare the cost of materials quoted by volume and by weight.
Common Mistakes
Using solid-rock densities for loose material. Bulk density includes air.
Mixing feet and inches. Depth is entered in inches.
Ignoring moisture. Wet material weighs more.
Overloading a vehicle. Check the payload before loading.