Construction Volume Calculators
Ten calculators that turn a measurement into an order — cubic yards, tons, bag counts and truckloads for concrete, soil, gravel, sand and asphalt.
- ✓ Yards, tons & bags
- ✓ Density & coverage tables
- ✓ Waste allowance guidance
Concrete
2 toolsReady-mix and bagged concrete, with the waste allowance suppliers expect you to add.
Soil, stone & landscaping
5 toolsBulk materials sold by the yard or ton — each with the density and compaction figures that change the order.
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Soil Volume Calculator
Garden beds, raised beds and pots — yards, bags and compaction allowance.
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Dirt Volume Calculator
Excavation and fill, with the swell and shrink factors that decide truck counts.
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Gravel Volume Calculator
Driveways and bases in yards and tons, with depth guidance by use.
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Sand Volume Calculator
Paver bedding, sandboxes and fill — dry and wet densities.
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Asphalt Volume Calculator
Driveways and paths in tons of hot mix, with compaction factored in.
Volume by the unit
3 toolsWhen you already know the material and just need the number in the unit your supplier quotes.
No calculators match that search.
The two numbers that matter: cubic yards = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27, and tons = cubic yards × density. Suppliers sell stone and sand by the ton but soil, mulch and concrete by the yard, so almost every order needs both — which is why every calculator here reports them together.
Material density and weight per cubic yard
Density is what converts a volume into a delivery. These are typical figures for loose material as delivered; actual weights shift with moisture and source:
| Material | lb per ft³ | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | yd³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (mixed) | 150 | 4,050 | 2.03 | 0.49 |
| Asphalt (hot mix) | 145 | 3,915 | 1.96 | 0.51 |
| Sand (wet) | 120 | 3,240 | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Pea gravel | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 0.71 |
| Limestone screenings | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 0.71 |
| Gravel / crushed stone | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Sand (dry) | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Fill dirt | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Topsoil (screened) | 80 | 2,160 | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| Compost | 45 | 1,215 | 0.61 | 1.65 |
| Mulch (bark) | 25 | 675 | 0.34 | 2.96 |
Notice the spread: a yard of mulch weighs 675 lb, a yard of concrete 4,050 lb — six times more. A pickup that swallows three yards of mulch without complaint will be overloaded by a single yard of wet stone.
How deep should it go?
| Job | Depth | yd³ per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative stone / mulch top-dress | 2–3 in | 0.62–0.93 |
| Walkway gravel base | 4 in | 1.23 |
| Driveway gravel base | 4–8 in | 1.23–2.47 |
| Paver bedding sand | 1 in | 0.31 |
| New lawn topsoil | 4–6 in | 1.23–1.85 |
| Garden bed topsoil | 8–12 in | 2.47–3.70 |
| Patio concrete slab | 4 in | 1.23 |
| Driveway concrete slab | 4–6 in | 1.23–1.85 |
| Asphalt surface course | 2–3 in | 0.62–0.93 |
The right-hand column is the quickest estimating shortcut on this page: measure your area in square feet, divide by 100, and multiply by the figure shown. A 400 ft² patio at 4 inches needs 4 × 1.23 ≈ 4.9 cubic yards.
Ordering: waste, compaction and trucks
Add for waste and settlement
Concrete wants 5–10% extra for uneven subgrade and spillage. Aggregates and soil want 10–15%, because loose material compacts once spread and rolled — a 4-inch layer of gravel delivered loose finishes closer to 3.5 inches after compaction. Order the loose volume, not the finished one.
Excavation works the other way
Dig a cubic yard of ground and you get more than a cubic yard of loose spoil to haul away — soil swells 15–25% when broken up, clay more. That swell factor decides truck counts on any excavation job, and it is covered in detail on the dirt volume calculator.
What a truck actually holds
| Vehicle | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete truck | 8–11 yd³ |
| Tandem dump truck | 10–14 yd³ / 12–16 tons |
| Single-axle dump truck | 5–8 yd³ |
| Full-size pickup (mulch) | 2–3 yd³ |
| Full-size pickup (stone or soil) | ≈ 1 yd³ — payload-limited |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material's density in pounds per cubic foot, times 27, then divide by 2,000. Concrete at 150 lb/ft³ gives 2.03 tons per yard; gravel at 100 lb/ft³ gives 1.35 tons; topsoil at 80 lb/ft³ gives about 1.08 tons. Suppliers sell stone and sand by the ton but soil and mulch usually by the yard, so you often need both numbers.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Twenty-seven. A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet. The most common estimating error in construction is dividing by 9 instead of 27 — nine is the number of square feet in a square yard, which is a different thing entirely.
How much material does a truck carry?
A standard tandem dump truck carries about 10 to 14 cubic yards of soil or 12 to 16 tons of stone, depending on axle limits. Ready-mix concrete trucks hold 8 to 11 cubic yards. Small pickup beds hold roughly 2 yards of mulch but only about 1 yard of stone before exceeding their payload.
How much extra material should I order?
Five to ten percent for concrete, and ten to fifteen percent for aggregates and soil that will compact. Loose material settles once it is spread and rolled, so the yardage you order is always more than the finished volume you measured.