What These Calculators Cover
Landscaping and site work materials are typically sold by volume (cubic yards) or weight (tons), and the conversion between the two depends on the specific material. Gravel is heavier than mulch per cubic yard. Wet soil weighs more than dry. These calculators handle those conversions so you get the right amount delivered.
Excavation adds another layer of complexity: soil swells when you dig it out. A cubic yard of clay in the ground becomes 1.3-1.4 cubic yards on the truck. These calculators account for swell factors so you plan hauling capacity correctly.
Each Calculator Explained
Gravel Calculator
Calculates the volume and weight of gravel for driveways, paths, and drainage projects. Choose from material types (crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, etc.) and enter your area dimensions and desired depth. Shows cubic yards and estimated tons for ordering.
Use when: Ordering bulk gravel delivery for driveways, French drains, landscaping beds, or paver bases. Material type matters — crushed stone (~1.6 tons/yd³) is denser than pea gravel (~1.4 tons/yd³).
Paver Calculator
Calculates the number of pavers for patios, walkways, and driveways. Enter the area and paver dimensions. Includes waste factors for different laying patterns (running bond, herringbone, basketweave) since more complex patterns create more cut waste.
Use when: Building a paver patio, walkway, or driveway. Remember to also calculate your base materials — use the gravel calculator for the 4-6" gravel base layer beneath the pavers.
Topsoil & Mulch Calculator
Calculates the volume of topsoil, mulch, or compost needed for garden beds, lawns, and landscaping. Enter the area and desired depth. Shows cubic yards for bulk delivery orders.
Use when: Filling raised garden beds (typically 12" depth), spreading mulch (2-4" depth), or topdressing a lawn (0.5-1" depth). For large areas, bulk delivery by the cubic yard is far cheaper than bagged products.
Excavation Volume Calculator
Calculates the volume of material to be excavated from a site. Enter the dig area and depth. Applies soil swell factors based on soil type (sand, loam, clay, rock) since excavated soil expands and takes up more space on a truck than it did in the ground.
Use when: Planning site excavation for foundations, basements, pools, or trenches. The swell factor is critical for estimating hauling costs — clay can swell 30-40%, meaning you need more truck trips than the in-ground volume suggests.
Looking for Excavation Calculators?
We have a dedicated hub with 10 excavation-specific calculators covering trench volume, soil swell and shrink, truckload estimation, backfill, cut and fill, spoil piles, excavation cost, and OSHA trench sloping.
Excavation & Earthworks Calculators →Related Guides
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Tips for Landscaping & Site Work
- Gravel weight varies significantly by type. Always specify the material when ordering by the ton. Use the m³ to tonnes converter if you need to convert between units.
- For paver patios, add 4-6 inches of compacted gravel base to your material list. This base is separate from the pavers themselves.
- Mulch decomposes over time. Plan to refresh mulch beds annually with 1-2" of new material to maintain the recommended 3-4" depth.
- Excavation swell is often overlooked. A 10-yard hole in clay becomes 13-14 yards of material to haul away. Budget accordingly.
- Order bulk materials (gravel, soil, mulch) by the cubic yard for projects over 3 cubic yards. Bagged material costs 3-5x more per yard.
Landscaping & Site Work Calculators
All calculators in this category.
Gravel Calculator
landscaping
Calculate gravel volume in cubic meters and weight in tonnes for driveways, paths, and drainage, with density values by material type.
Excavation Volume Calculator
earthworks
Estimate dig volumes for trenches, foundations, and site clearance, with soil swell factors to plan spoil removal and haulage.
Trench Volume Calculator
earthworks
Calculate trench excavation volume for utilities, footings, and drainage with rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sections. Includes soil swell factors and OSHA depth warnings.
Topsoil Removal Calculator
earthworks
Estimate topsoil stripping volume, weight, and truckloads from area and strip depth for site preparation and grading projects.
Soil Swell & Shrink Calculator
earthworks
Convert between bank, loose, and compacted soil volumes instantly. Enter any one volume state to see all three with soil-specific swell and shrink factors.
Dump Truck Load Calculator
earthworks
Calculate how many dump truck trips you need with both volume and weight limit checks. Compares volume-limited and weight-limited trip counts.
Foundation Excavation Calculator
earthworks
Calculate foundation dig volume for slab, crawlspace, or basement with working room allowance and optional strip footing volume.
Paver Calculator
landscaping
Estimate paver quantities for patios, driveways, and walkways, including waste allowance for cutting patterns and edge trimming.
Topsoil & Mulch Calculator
landscaping
Estimate topsoil, mulch, or bark quantities by area and desired depth for garden beds, lawn prep, and landscaping projects.
Backfill Calculator
earthworks
Calculate backfill material needed after pipe installation with compaction factor and pipe displacement.
Cut and Fill Calculator
earthworks
Calculate cut and fill balance with swell and shrink factors for earthwork grading.
Spoil Pile Calculator
earthworks
Calculate spoil pile footprint, height, and staging area from excavated volume.
Excavation Cost Calculator
earthworks
Estimate excavation costs with itemized breakdown: dig, hauling, disposal, labor, equipment.
OSHA Trench Sloping Calculator
earthworks
Calculate OSHA-compliant trench slope setback and top width by soil type.