Tools
Work out how many cubic yards your job needs, what it weighs, how many truckloads that actually is, and what it costs delivered. Compaction allowance included where it applies.
Area times depth, in feet, divided by 27 gives cubic yards — the plan volume, or the hole you are filling. Area depends on the shape: length times width for a rectangle,
Length times width times depth, all in feet, divided by 27 gives cubic yards. That is the plan volume — the hole you are filling.
#960; times half-length times half-width for an oval or circle, and half of base times height for a triangle.For base and fill the calculator adds a 20 percent compaction allowance, because those materials lose roughly a fifth of their loose volume once they are watered and rolled. Order the plan volume and you will finish short. Loose-placed materials such as #57 rock, pea rock and topsoil get no allowance.
Drainfield sand gets no allowance either, and that is deliberate — compacting it would destroy the percolation the drainfield exists for.
Cubic yards times the weight per yard gives tons, which is what a scale ticket reads. Yards divided by eighteen — one tri-axle — gives the truck count. Under eighteen is a part load, which is fine: the minimum order is one cubic yard.
Material weights vary between pits and with moisture, and no site matches the drawing exactly. Use it to size the job and get the load count right, then confirm with dispatch before the truck rolls.
Order slightly heavy. Two extra yards in a pile costs very little and always gets used. Two yards short on a Friday afternoon costs a whole extra delivery and a crew standing around.
Worked examples
20 by 30 ft, 4 inches of road base limerock compacted, then 2 inches of #57 rock on top.
Base 7.41 + 20% = 9 cu yd. Topping 3.70 = 4 cu yd. Both part loads.
60 ft long, 18 in wide, 24 in deep, filled with #57 rock around the pipe.
6.67 cu yd, no allowance. Order 7 cu yd, one part load.
16 by 20 ft on 4 in of limerock base with a 1 in paver sand bedding course.
Base 3.95 + 20% = 5 cu yd. Sand 0.99 + 20% = 2 cu yd.
50 by 50 ft lifted 8 inches with recycled crushed concrete, compacted in lifts.
61.73 + 20% = 75 cu yd. Five tri-axle loads.
Reference
Tons per cubic yard, and whether the material earns a compaction allowance.
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Compaction allowance | Price per cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Base Limerock | 1.65 | +20% compacted in lifts | $31.25 |
| #4 Ballast Rock | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $37.50 |
| #57 Gravel Rock | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $37.50 |
| #89 Pea Rock Gravel | 1.40 | None, placed loose | $37.50 |
| Sand and Pea Rock Mixed | 1.40 | +20% compacted in lifts | $31.25 |
| Artificial Turf Sand | 1.35 | +20% compacted in lifts | $18.75 |
| Paver Sand | 1.40 | +20% compacted in lifts | $31.25 |
| Recycled Concrete Sand | 1.40 | +20% compacted in lifts | $31.25 |
| Recycled Crushed Concrete | 1.40 | +20% compacted in lifts | $18.75 |
| Top Soil | 1.15 | None, placed loose | $12.50 |
| Silica Sand | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $43.75 |
| Drainfield Sand | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $31.25 |
| Asphalt Millings | 1.40 | +20% compacted in lifts | $22.25 |
| #67 Rock | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $37.50 |
| Rip Rap | 1.40 | None, placed loose | $47.50 |
| Limerock Screenings | 1.50 | +20% compacted in lifts | $31.25 |
| Limerock Fill | 1.50 | +20% compacted in lifts | $25.00 |
| Shell Rock | 1.50 | +20% compacted in lifts | $27.50 |
| Mason Sand | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $35.00 |
| Fill Sand | 1.35 | +20% compacted in lifts | $18.75 |
| Fill Dirt | 1.25 | +20% compacted in lifts | $11.25 |
| White Marble Chips | 1.35 | None, placed loose | $quote |
| River Rock | 1.40 | None, placed loose | $quote |
| Black Lava Rock | 0.70 | None, placed loose | $quote |
| Red Lava Rock | 0.70 | None, placed loose | $quote |
| Mexican Beach Pebble | 1.40 | None, placed loose | $quote |
| Crushed Coquina Shell | 1.20 | None, placed loose | $quote |
Pick your material, enter how many cubic yards and see the delivered number before you talk to anyone.