Most projects come down to 3 inputs:
- Area (length × width)
- Depth (in inches)
- A reasonable tons-per-cubic-yard estimate for your material
Because different materials weigh differently, your best estimate will come from the specific product. But you can get very close with a straightforward method.
Quick reference depths (common projects)
These are common starting points (project dependent):
- Landscape beds: often look best around 2–3 inches deep
- Walking paths: often 3–4 inches depending on the material and base
- Driveway/base layers: often measured in inches and depend heavily on soil/traffic/spec
If you’re working from a plan or spec, follow the plan.
Step 1: Calculate cubic feet
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft)
Depth in feet = inches ÷ 12
Step 2: Convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Step 3: Convert cubic yards to tons
For a practical starting point, many aggregates land roughly in this range:
- Tons = cubic yards × (1.3 to 1.6)
If you don’t know what to use, start with 1.5 tons per cubic yard and adjust after you compare to your product.
Examples
Example 1: Landscape bed
- 40 ft × 10 ft bed
- 3 inches deep
1) Depth = 3/12 = 0.25 ft
2) Cubic feet = 40 × 10 × 0.25 = 100 cu ft
3) Cubic yards = 100/27 ≈ 3.7 yd³
4) Tons (using 1.5) ≈ 3.7 × 1.5 = 5.6 tons
Note: Bulk delivery has a 12-ton minimum per product, so small installs are often best combined with more coverage or done with bagged material locally.
Example 2: Driveway base layer (illustrative)
- 100 ft × 12 ft
- 4 inches deep
1) Depth = 4/12 ≈ 0.333 ft
2) Cubic feet = 100 × 12 × 0.333 ≈ 400 cu ft
3) Cubic yards = 400/27 ≈ 14.8 yd³
4) Tons (using 1.5) ≈ 22.2 tons
Example 3: Circular area (fire pit ring / feature bed)
- 16 ft diameter circle
- 3 inches deep
1) Radius = 8 ft
2) Area = π × r² ≈ 3.14 × 64 ≈ 201 sq ft
3) Depth = 3/12 = 0.25 ft
4) Cubic feet ≈ 201 × 0.25 ≈ 50.25 cu ft
5) Cubic yards ≈ 50.25/27 ≈ 1.86 yd³
6) Tons (using 1.5) ≈ 2.8 tons
Again: bulk delivery has a 12-ton minimum per product, so very small features usually aren’t a fit for bulk delivery unless combined with more coverage.
Common mistakes
- Ordering by “yards” without converting to tons
- Underestimating depth (2 inches vs 3 inches is a big change)
- Forgetting that edges and irregular shapes add volume
- Assuming one conversion works for every material
Ordering tip (avoid rework)
When you request a quote or sanity-check, include:
- project dimensions (length/width or a sketch)
- target depth
- which product you want (or what the material needs to do: compact vs drain vs decorative)
Helpful companion guide:
Bulk delivery notes
- Minimum order is 12 tons per product
- One product per truckload (no mixed loads)
- Larger projects ship as multiple loads—commercial quantities may qualify for project pricing