How to Calculate How Much material I need for filling like Crush Rock, Topsoil & More

Wondering how to measure how much material you will need for your project? Not sure how much area a ton of filling will cover? Or are you curious how much a load of it is?
 
These are just some of the questions you may be asking yourself when considering a landscaping project with filling. When deciding on the amount of gravel that you will need, your estimate will depend greatly on the type of filling that you choose, such as crushed rock, topsoil, and more. Keep in mind that different grades are found in particles from fine to course and can range from between 2-64mm.
 
Before you begin measuring, it is important to first choose the type of filling you would like to use.
 
For Topsoil and Crushed Rock:
 
Figuring out how much topsoil or crushed rock you need is a tricky business. How to determine how much you will need? The best way to determine how much material you need is to figure out the volume of the area you need to fill. Volume means the total space, including the length, width, and depth of the area.
Volume = Length x Width x Depth
Crushed rock and Topsoil are often measured in cubic yards. To find the number of cubic yards needed for your project you can follow these steps for the area you want to fill or cover:

1. Measure the length (feet)
2. Measure the width (feet)
3. Measure the depth (feet)
4. Multiply length x width x depth
5. Divide the total above by 27

Quick Example: You want to make a crushed stone sidewalk that is 50 feet long by 4 feet wide and 6 inches deep.

• Multiply 50 x 4 x .5 (1/2 foot) = 100
• Divide 100 by 27 = 3.7 cubic yards

You can also use the term “cubic” because the volume formula determines the dimensions of a 3D cube. Use abbreviations like yd³ and ft³ to represent the three-dimensional volume of space in yards or feet.
Why are some materials sold by cubic yards and some sold by tons?

• A cubic yard is a measure of volume while a ton is a measure of weight. The volume of the space you need to fill will always be the same, but the total weight of the materials you need will vary by the material. For example, a cubic yard of crushed rock is lighter than a cubic yard of topsoil.

 
This formula can also be used for other types of materials such as gravel, stone dust, etc.
 
How much can a pickup truck or delivery truck carry?
Yards = Cubic Yards
1 Cubic Yard = 27 Cubic Feet
Pick-up = Up to 2 Yards or 2 Tons
Solo = Up to 12 Yards or 15 Tons
Side Dump = Up to 24 Yards or 30 Tons
Truck Trailer = Up to 30 Yards or 30 Tons
 
 

At Nice Backyard, we offer good quality of different kinds of Landscape Materials that will suit your needs.