Guessing on material amounts is the fastest way to blow your budget. Here’s how to calculate the right amount of aggregates - every time.
Step 1: Measure your project space
Measure length × width × depth in feet.
Example: A 20 ft × 10 ft driveway × 0.5 ft depth = 100 cubic feet.
Step 2: Convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Divide cubic feet by 27.100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards.
Step 3: Convert yards to tons
- Gravel & sand: ~1.4 tons per cubic yard.
- Soil: ~1.2 tons per cubic yard.
3.7 × 1.4 = 5.2 tons of gravel needed.
Step 4: Add a buffer
Always order 5–10% more to account for compaction and waste.
Quick reference:
- Driveway (2-car, 50 ft × 10 ft, 4” deep) = ~12–14 tons of gravel.
- Garden bed (10 ft × 10 ft, 6” deep) = ~2–3 tons of soil.
👉 Pro tip: Use AggregateMarkets.com’s homepage bulk material calculator so you know your data!