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Calculators
Quick answer: Choose the calculator that matches your material. Each one multiplies area by depth for volume, divides by 27 for cubic yards, and optionally multiplies by density for tons or divides by bag size for a bag count. All results are labelled estimates; use your supplier's density and coverage figures for the final order.
The full set
Which one should you open?
The tools share a common core but differ in their defaults and extra outputs. The general gravel calculator includes an optional price field so you can multiply yards by a per-yard quote. The driveway tool starts with a longer, wider shape and a larger compaction allowance, because traffic and soft subgrade swallow stone. Crushed stone and pea gravel start with densities typical of those products, and the pea gravel tool can also return a count of small bags. River rock reminds you that bigger stones need a deeper layer to hide the soil.
For soft goods, the mulch calculator converts to bag counts at any bag size, and bags vs bulk compares total cost including a delivery fee and minimum order. Topsoil adds a settling allowance by default because loose soil compresses. Sand covers bedding layers, sandboxes and fill. The paver base calculator is the only two-layer tool: it estimates the compacted base and the bedding sand separately. Finally, cubic yards to tons is a pure converter for when a quote arrives in a unit you did not expect.
Fields explained
Length and width. Measured in feet along the ground. For irregular shapes, add up the area of several rectangles and enter the total as length with a width of 1. Depth. In inches. Convert centimetres by dividing by 2.54. Extra. A percentage added to the raw volume for uneven ground, spreading losses and compaction. Gardens might need little; driveways and bases need more. Density. US tons per cubic yard. This single number turns volume into weight and is the field most worth asking your supplier about. Bag size. In cubic feet, printed on the bag. Price. Any number you enter; we never pull live prices.Reading the results
Results are rounded for readability. Cubic yards are shown to two decimals so you can decide whether to round up to the next half or whole yard, which is how many yards load. Tons appear in US short tons and metric tonnes. Bag counts always round up because you cannot buy a fraction of a bag. Every result line ends with a reminder that it is an estimate, which is not modesty: the actual quantity depends on things only someone on site can see.
Quick reference table
The table below shows how quickly volume grows with depth. It uses a density of 1.4 tons per yard for the weight figure.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft² | 0.31 yd³ / 0.4 t | 0.46 yd³ / 0.6 t | 0.62 yd³ / 0.9 t | 0.93 yd³ / 1.3 t |
| 100 ft² | 0.62 yd³ / 0.9 t | 0.93 yd³ / 1.3 t | 1.23 yd³ / 1.7 t | 1.85 yd³ / 2.6 t |
| 200 ft² | 1.23 yd³ / 1.7 t | 1.85 yd³ / 2.6 t | 2.47 yd³ / 3.5 t | 3.70 yd³ / 5.2 t |
| 400 ft² | 2.47 yd³ / 3.5 t | 3.70 yd³ / 5.2 t | 4.94 yd³ / 6.9 t | 7.41 yd³ / 10.4 t |
| 800 ft² | 4.94 yd³ / 6.9 t | 7.41 yd³ / 10.4 t | 9.88 yd³ / 13.8 t | 14.81 yd³ / 20.7 t |
| 1,200 ft² | 7.41 yd³ / 10.4 t | 11.11 yd³ / 15.6 t | 14.81 yd³ / 20.7 t | 22.22 yd³ / 31.1 t |
Common pitfalls
Mixing units is the classic error: entering depth in feet when the field expects inches makes a result twelve times too large. A second pitfall is forgetting existing material; topping up a bed needs far less than a fresh one. A third is ignoring compaction: crushed stone with fines can lose a noticeable share of its loose height once rolled or driven on. Finally, delivery trucks often have a minimum load, so a tiny order may cost almost as much as a larger one. That is exactly the trade-off the bags vs bulk tool is built to show.
Privacy and method
All calculations run in your browser with a small script. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. The method for each tool is written out on its page under "How the estimate works", with a worked example you can repeat by hand.
Metric equivalents
Some suppliers in Canada quote in cubic metres and tonnes. This table gives cubic metres for common metric areas and depths, with tonnes at a stone density equivalent to 1.35 US tons per yard.
| Area (m²) | 4 cm: m³ / t | 7.5 cm: m³ / t | 15 cm: m³ / t |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 m² | 0.48 / 0.55 | 0.90 / 1.02 | 1.80 / 2.05 |
| 30 m² | 1.20 / 1.37 | 2.25 / 2.56 | 4.50 / 5.12 |
| 60 m² | 2.40 / 2.73 | 4.50 / 5.12 | 9.00 / 10.24 |
| 90 m² | 3.60 / 4.10 | 6.75 / 7.68 | 13.50 / 15.36 |
Accessibility and printing
Every calculator is a plain HTML form that works with keyboard navigation and screen readers. Labels describe each field with its unit. Printing a page after calculating keeps the result on paper for a trip to the landscape yard, which is surprisingly useful when a salesperson asks how much you need.
Suggesting improvements
If a calculator is missing a material or a field would make your project easier, email hello@charlandandco.com. Corrections to examples are especially welcome; we date every illustrative figure so changes are traceable.
Worked example
Illustrative examples (2026-10-29), not quotes or guarantees.
A homeowner with a 200 ft² patio wants 4 in of base and 1 in of sand. Using the paver tool with 10% extra: base ≈ 2.72 yd³ (≈ 3.8 t), sand ≈ 0.68 yd³. They round to 3 yd³ base and 0.75 yd³ sand when ordering.
FAQ
Which tool for a gravel driveway?
The driveway gravel calculator.
Do results include tax or delivery?
Only the bags vs bulk tool includes a delivery field.
Can I save results?
Copy them or print the page; nothing is stored.
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