GaugeYardCalculate. Convert. Construct.
Construction material reference

How much material does the job need?

Estimators that turn a measurement into an order list, with the formula shown beside every result. Gravel, concrete, cubic yards, square footage and the waste factor, worked the way the trade works them. Free to use, no account.

Gravel volume calculator

Length by width by depth, converted to cubic yards and an estimated weight.
Add the right waste factorFull cubic yard calculator and method
Volume to order, loose2.96 yd³
Cubic feet
80.0 ft³
Estimated weight
8.0K lb
In tons
4.00 tons

Weight uses one typical dry density per material. Wet, compacted or differently graded stock weighs more, so confirm the density with your supplier before ordering by the ton.

New here? Start with these

The 6 manuals almost every other one builds on

All manuals →
  1. 01Estimating

    Material Estimate

    Material estimate and materials estimate math: measure the area or volume, apply coverage or density, add a...

  2. 02Estimating

    Cubic Yard Calculator

    Yardage calculator and manual: turn length, width, and depth into cubic yards of gravel, soil, sand, or...

  3. 03Concrete

    Concrete Calculator

    How much concrete do I need? This calculator covers slabs, footings and post holes: enter length, width and...

  4. 04Estimating

    How to Calculate Square Footage and Square Feet

    This manual runs square footage calculations step by step: how to calculate square feet with the area...

  5. 05Gravel & Stone

    How Much Gravel Do I Need? Driveways, Paths, and Drainage

    This manual works the gravel volume formula end to end: area times depth over 27 for cubic yards, the tons...

  6. 06Gravel & Stone

    Tons to Cubic Yards

    This manual shows how to convert tons to cubic yards using material density: tons divided by...

Find your material

Browse by topic

All manuals →
Concrete20 manualsEstimating14 manualsLandscaping12 manualsGravel & Stone7 manualsOutdoor Building6 manualsAsphalt & Paving2 manualsRoofing2 manualsReference2 manualsSite Work1 manual
Newest first

Latest manuals

Browse all 66 →
A pencil sketched floor plan on graph paper with a metal ruler and a calculator resting beside it on a wood tableNewest manual
Estimating

Cost to Build a House

NAHB's 2024 Cost of Constructing a Home survey splits a sale price into construction, lot, and profit, then breaks construction into eight named stages.

23 min read
A square wooden post standing in a freshly dug round hole in bare earth, loose soil piled around the rim, with a plain paper sack lying on the ground beside it in warm low sunlightOutdoor Building

Chain Link Fence Installation Cost

Chain link fence installation cost breaks down by height, wire gauge, and coating, from residential 4 foot runs to...

26 min read
A sheet of graph paper on a dark table under a warm lamp, a wooden pencil lying across it beside a small calculator, with a folding rule out of focus behind, faint pencil lines drawn on the lower part of the sheetOutdoor Building

Fence Cost Calculator Guide

Fence cost calculator guide explains how the linear-foot method turns length, height, gates, and material tier into...

23 min read
A close-up of a hand holding a pencil against a wooden ruler laid across a block of lumber, marking a measurement, with a tape measure visible out of focus in the dark backgroundOutdoor Building

Wood Fence Cost Calculator

Wood fence cost calculator math turns a linear-foot count into an installed price, from picket and rail totals...

23 min read
A partly built wooden fence in a grassy yard, square timber posts standing in a line with two horizontal rails between them and one section already covered with vertical boards, an extended tape measure lying on the grass in frontOutdoor Building

Wood Fence Installation Cost

Wood fence installation cost breaks down by species, height, and picket style, from pressure-treated pine to cedar,...

24 min read
A white dump truck standing on a flush platform weighbridge at a dusty aggregate yard with stockpiles behind it, the weighing that turns a load into a figure in tonsAsphalt & Paving

How Much Asphalt Do I Need? Tons for a Driveway

This manual turns a driveway into tons of hot-mix: measure the area, fix a compacted thickness, work the volume,...

34 min read
A yellow tape measure held vertically against a plain painted wall above white baseboard, one hand steadying the blade at the top and the other holding the case at the floorEstimating

How Much Siding Do I Need? Square Footage in 6 Steps

This manual runs a siding takeoff end to end: wall rectangles, gable triangles, opening deductions, the waste...

33 min read
The estimating method

Buy closer to what the job needs

  1. Measure the area or volume, twice
  2. Divide by real per-unit coverage
  3. Apply the right waste factor
  4. Round up and buy in one batch
Learn the full method →
Quick reference

Concrete mix by volume

MixCementSandGravelWater
3000 PSI123.50
3500 PSI11.52.5.45
4000 PSI11.52.5.42
5000 PSI11.252.40

Parts by volume for a standard mix. Confirm the ratio on your bag or with your ready-mix supplier before batching.

New manuals, with the formula up front

Get new estimating manuals and quantity checklists by email as they publish. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We use your address to send the manuals and nothing else.
How this site works

A formula behind every number

Every figure on GaugeYard is an illustrative planning estimate, not a quote or professional advice. Here is what a number here is, and where the money comes from.

How we build

Each tool is built to match how the trade actually estimates, and every calculator documents the formula behind it so the output can be checked by hand. We are not a contractor and we do not quote work; results are illustrative estimates, never a quote, and code and permit requirements point back to the authority that publishes them.

About and method →

How we make money

At the time of writing this site carries no affiliate links and no advertising. No link earns a commission and no company pays for coverage. If that ever changes, the disclosure page will say so first and any paid link will be marked where it appears.

Read the disclosure →

What a number here is

  • A worked estimate, not a quote. The formula, the inputs and each step are shown on screen so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
  • Only as good as the measurement you feed it. Measure the area twice before you trust any output.
  • Densities, coverage rates and waste allowances vary by material, supplier and site. Ours are a starting point; confirm yours before you order.
  • Depths, thicknesses and code requirements vary by climate and jurisdiction. Check your local building department before you build.
Contact and corrections →
For publishers and suppliers

Take the estimator with you

The material coverage estimator is free to embed on your own site. Copy the snippet, keep the attribution link, done.

Put this free material coverage estimator on your site

Free to use with attribution. Paste this where you want the tool to appear:

Publishers: embed this calculator free

By email

Get a material cost breakdown by email

Tell us what you need hauled and we'll email you a breakdown of what that material and quantity typically costs delivered, and how haul distance moves the price. We are not a supplier or a hauler, we do not deliver, and we cannot quote your site.

We store your details to reply to you. See our privacy policy.