Measure area or enter square footage.
Use finished dimensions to estimate aggregate for low spots, pads, trenches, and general fill projects.
Verified formulaEditable presetsUS + metric
Purpose-built estimator
Project measurements
Choose a rectangle or enter square footage from a sketch.
Length of the fill area.
Width of the fill area.
Shallowest planned fill depth.
Deepest planned fill depth.
Bulk density for the chosen fill aggregate.
Extra loose material needed to reach compacted grade.
Percent added for cuts, spillage, edge cleanup, and small estimating errors.
Optional supplier price used to estimate material cost before delivery fees and taxes.
Tapered fill measurement
- 1Minimum depth
- 2Average depth
- 3Maximum depth
- 4Finished grade
How to use this calculator
Read full measuring guide Measure, verify, and order
Use average depth when the ground tapers from shallow to deep instead of assuming one uniform depth.
Measure shallow and deep points.
Use the average-depth result for ordering.
What each input means
Area input
Choose a rectangle or enter square footage from a sketch.
Use measured area for irregular shapes.Fill length
Length of the fill area.
Unit: ft or m. Measure the longest side of the fill zone.Fill width
Width of the fill area.
Unit: ft or m. Measure perpendicular to length.Measured area
Total square feet from a drawing or irregular-area calculation.
Unit: sq ft or m2. Break irregular zones into simple shapes and add them.Minimum depth
Shallowest planned fill depth.
Unit: in or cm. Probe or measure from finished grade to current grade.Maximum depth
Deepest planned fill depth.
Unit: in or cm. Measure the deepest point of the low area.Fill density
Bulk density for the chosen fill aggregate.
Unit: lb/ft3 or kg/m3. Use supplier density when available.Compaction allowance
Extra loose material needed to reach compacted grade.
Unit: percent. Use a reasonable shrinkage allowance for compacted lifts.Extra / waste
Percent added for cuts, spillage, edge cleanup, and small estimating errors.
Unit: percent. Use 5 percent for simple square work and 10 percent or more for irregular work.Price per ton
Optional supplier price used to estimate material cost before delivery fees and taxes.
Unit: USD per US ton. Enter the quoted material price per US short ton. Leave 0 if you only need quantity.Check the calculation
Example: a 20 ft by 12 ft area with 2 inch and 6 inch depths uses a 4 inch average depth.
Filling a 20 × 12 ft area 4 inches deep requires 2.96 compacted cubic yards before ordering allowances.
Total loose order 3.62 cu yd Total weight 4.89 US tons
Average depth = (minimum depth + maximum depth) / 2. Volume = area x average depth.
Assumptions to check
- Measure the average depth when the site is uneven.
- Place deep fill in compacted lifts.
- Do not use decorative gravel as structural fill unless specified.
- Average depth may understate highly irregular holes.
- Does not evaluate bearing capacity.
- Use engineered fill for structural loads.
Read our formulas, sources, image credits, and review policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this gravel fill calculator calculate?
It uses project-specific inputs and the formula shown below. Average depth = (minimum depth + maximum depth) / 2. Volume = area x average depth.
Are the presets exact specifications?
No. Presets are editable planning starting points. Confirm depths, materials, and densities with the supplier, manufacturer, or project designer.
Why can delivered weight differ?
Bulk density varies by supplier and moisture level. Moisture, gradation, compaction, and scale accuracy can change the delivered weight.