How to use the Aggregate Calculator
- Choose Imperial or Metric for the project.
- Measure the first section's footprint and uniform chosen depth. Choose Rectangle, Known Area, Circle or Triangle.
- Add sections for other areas. Use optional labels to identify them; repeat identical footprints with Repeat quantity.
- Review each section volume, then apply a single project extra if justified.
- Optionally enter density, a supplier rounding basis/increment and applicable prices.
The first section uses hypothetical dimensions to demonstrate arithmetic. New sections start blank, and an invalid active section withholds the combined project rather than being omitted.
Calculating multiple project sections
Each section owns a footprint geometry, depth, optional label and positive whole repeat quantity. Repeat quantity starts at one and multiplies that section's volume. Section diagrams show individual geometry; the project list keeps the quantities readable.
One session represents one aggregate material. Project-level density applies across every included section. Different materials or densities need separate calculations. A section label identifies your area; it never assigns material properties.
Remove a section when it no longer belongs in the project. At least one section remains. Remaining sections retain their own inputs even when visible numbering updates.
Combining aggregate quantities
Combined geometric volume = Σ section geometric volumes. Extra = combined volume × entered allowance% ÷ 100. Project volume = combined + extra. The calculator uses full canonical section precision, not rounded display values.
Optional extra for site variation, handling, leveling or waste starts at 0%. No percentage is recommended and it is not a compaction model. If any active section is invalid, correct or remove it before obtaining a combined project requirement.
Cubic yards of aggregate
Rectangle: length × width × depth. Known Area: area × depth. Circle: π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth. Triangle: ½ × base × perpendicular height × depth. Multiply each single footprint by its entered repeat quantity.
Imperial converts inches to feet by dividing by 12, then cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27. Metric converts centimeters to meters by dividing by 100. Exactly 1 yd³ = 0.764554857984 m³. Unit switches preserve every physical measurement and inactive geometry draft.
Estimating tons using your density
Estimated project mass = project volume × your entered density. Imperial accepts US short tons/yd³ and displays short tons and pounds. Metric accepts kg/m³ and displays metric tonnes and kilograms. A US short ton is 907.18474 kg; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg.
Density starts blank. Bulk density may depend on material, grading, moisture, void space and source/product condition. Confirm an applicable value rather than treating a general number as a standard. Volume and volume pricing remain usable without density.
There is no Aggregate density preset, no imported Gravel density and no density inferred from labels. Weight is an estimate at the density you enter.
Supplier order increments
No supplier rounding is selected initially. Volume increment rounds unrounded project volume upward to your entered yd³ or m³ increment. Mass increment rounds estimated project mass upward to your entered short-ton or metric-tonne increment and requires valid density.
Only the selected order basis produces a recommendation. Both increments start blank and retain their drafts when you change basis or units. Rounded mass is never converted into a new project volume. Project volume and estimated weight remain unchanged by supplier rounding.
Volume pricing vs weight pricing
Project volume cost = unrounded project volume × volume price. Project mass cost = estimated project mass × mass price; density is required. Both prices start blank and zero is a valid entered quote.
With Volume increment and volume price, the recommended volume order has a matching order cost. With Mass increment and mass price, the recommended mass order has a matching order cost. Mismatched bases do not create an invented recommended-order cost; valid unrounded project quotes remain available.
Quotes are separate comparisons, never added or ranked. Delivery, tax, minimum order, fuel surcharge, installation and equipment are excluded unless already included in your entered quote. Confirm the supplier's terms.
Single-section and multi-section examples
Single section: 24 ft × 10 ft × 4 in. Depth = 4 ÷ 12 = ⅓ ft; volume = 24 × 10 × ⅓ = 80 ft³; 80 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.96296 yd³, displayed 2.96 yd³.
Separate two-section example: Section A = 20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in = 66.6667 ft³. Section B = 12 ft × 4 ft × 4 in = 16 ft³. Combined unrounded volume = 82.666666… ft³; divided by 27 ≈ 3.061728… yd³, displayed 3.06 yd³. Allowance is zero and no density is attached.
Four inches is example input only, not a recommended aggregate depth. The formulas show rounded explanatory values; the calculator combines the underlying unrounded quantities. No material suitability, density or supplier increment is implied.
Aggregate vs gravel vs rock vs road base
Aggregate is generic bulk multi-section takeoff for one material. Cubic Yard handles material-neutral volume; Gravel, Rock and Sand keep their own material-specific calculations. Pea Gravel and River Rock own their separate material and coverage workflows.
Road Base Calculator owns separate base-course quantity and optional user-planned lifts. This page publishes no road-base compaction assumptions, lift guidance, depth presets, density presets or installation design.
Aggregate calculator FAQ
How do I calculate aggregate quantity?
Measure each footprint and its uniform chosen depth. The calculator combines section volumes and applies one optional project allowance. No depth or allowance is recommended.
Can I add several project areas together?
Yes. Add separate sections with their own geometry and depth. All included sections must use the same aggregate material. If materials or densities differ, calculate separate projects.
How are cubic yards calculated?
Multiply compatible footprint area and depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. Each section is calculated at full canonical precision before the combined result is displayed.
How do I estimate tons?
Enter a density applicable to your material and condition. Project volume times density gives estimated weight. Imperial output uses US short tons; Metric uses metric tonnes. Volume remains available without density.
Why do I need to enter density?
Aggregate bulk density varies with material, grading, moisture, void space and source/product condition. The calculator supplies no universal density and never chooses one from a section label or geometry.
How does supplier rounding work?
Choose Volume increment or Mass increment and enter your supplier's increment. Only that selected basis rounds upward. Mass ordering also requires density. Project quantities remain unchanged; No supplier rounding is the default.
Can suppliers sell aggregate by volume or weight?
Configure either or both applicable quotes. Unrounded project volume and estimated mass produce independent estimates. Recommended-order cost appears only when the selected rounding basis matches the quote basis. The calculator does not add the quotes or recommend a purchase method.
What's the difference between Aggregate and Gravel calculators?
Aggregate owns generic multi-section bulk takeoff for one material. Gravel, Rock, Sand, Pea Gravel and River Rock keep their own material-specific tools and workflows.
Is Road Base included?
Road Base is a separate live tool for single-footprint base-course quantity and optional user-planned lifts. This Aggregate tool remains generic multi-section takeoff and supplies no road-base-specific compaction assumptions, lift guidance, density or depth presets.