Gravel Tool
Calculate gravel coverage, finished layer volume, compaction and waste allowances, material weight, whole bag quantities and truck loads. Compare ordering methods and estimate material, delivery and tax costs for rectangular, circular, triangular or custom areas.
Figures are estimates. Check actual product density, compaction needs, supplier rounding rules and haulage limits before ordering.
Table of Contents
Highlights
- Supports rectangular, circular, triangular, path and custom-area projects.
- Includes adjustable compaction and waste allowances.
- Estimates volume, weight, whole bags and truck loads.
- Breaks down material, delivery, tax and overall costs.
- Shows interactive shape previews, volume charts and exportable reports.
How Gravel Tool Works?
First, the selected surface shape determines the coverage area. Rectangles and paths use length multiplied by width, circles use the diameter, triangles use base and perpendicular height, and a known-area option accepts the surface area directly.
| Shape | Area formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangle, square or path | Length × width |
| Circle | π × (diameter ÷ 2)² |
| Triangle | Base × perpendicular height ÷ 2 |
| Known area | Entered area |
The specified depth is the finished layer thickness. Multiplying area by this depth gives the base volume:
A compaction allowance is applied to the base volume, then the waste percentage is applied to the volume including compaction. Therefore, the two allowances compound rather than simply add:
Here, c is the compaction percentage and w is the waste percentage. Material density then determines estimated order weight:
Density presets are 1,600 kg/m³ for general gravel, 1,680 for crushed stone, 1,520 for pea gravel, 1,750 for limestone gravel and 1,450 for river rock; a custom value is also available. Whole bags are rounded up from estimated weight divided by bag weight, while truck loads are rounded up from tonnes divided by capacity.
For budgeting, material cost equals the quantity for the chosen buying method multiplied by its unit price. Bulk purchases can be priced per tonne, cubic metre or cubic yard; bags use the rounded-up whole-bag count. Bulk delivery is charged per calculated truck load, while bagged gravel uses a single flat delivery charge. The tax percentage is applied to material plus delivery:
The results show coverage area, order volume, tonnes, whole-bag equivalents, truck loads and an itemised budget. A bar chart separates base volume, compaction and waste, and a top-down illustration reflects the chosen surface shape.
Practical Use Cases
Homeowners: Estimate the gravel required for a rectangular driveway, including a finished depth, extra material for compaction and a delivery budget.
Landscapers: Size circular seating areas or triangular garden beds, choose pea gravel or river rock and check the corresponding weight and bag count.
Groundworkers: Plan long, narrow paths or trenches with a selected depth, then estimate how many truck loads the material may require.
Builders and site managers: Enter a measured surface area, set a supplier-specific density and review bulk order quantities, haulage charges and tax.
DIY shoppers: Choose a bag weight and per-bag price to estimate whole bags, material spending and a flat delivery fee before purchasing.
Accuracy and Limitations
Results assume a uniform finished depth and the selected idealised shape, so slopes, irregular edges, hollows and uneven subgrades are not measured. Preset gravel densities are indicative; moisture, grading and supplier stock can change actual weight. Compaction and waste are user-entered allowances, applied sequentially, not measured material performance. Bag and truck counts are rounded up to whole quantities, but bulk pricing uses the unrounded calculated quantity. Delivery follows the entered truck capacity and per-load fee (or one flat fee for bags), without checking vehicle weight limits, minimum-order charges or supplier rounding. The estimate applies the entered tax percentage to both materials and delivery.
