Know what
the job needs.
Calculate materials. Check assumptions. Build a practical estimate. Accurate volume, quarry weight, and packaging yields accounting for soil swell, compaction settling, and bag-to-bulk economics.
Start with the material.
Select a trade category or search below to calculate procurement yardage, quarry weights, and packaging.
Material Calculators
Choose a tool. Start with your measurements.
Combine materials into one project takeoff.
Click "Add quantity to project" on any calculator to build a consolidated order list across concrete, excavation, gravel, and masonry. Export clean supplier quote sheets or print jobsite takeoffs directly from your browser.
Cross-Section Takeoff Blueprints & Layer Schematics
All Tons & Yards calculators model practical construction depths and layer interfaces based on published ASTM, ACI, and ICPI technical literature:
Commercial Material Density & Weight Standards
Quarries and suppliers sell aggregate by weight (US Short Tons), while excavation and forming take place by volume (Cubic Yards). Use this field reference for conversion factors:
| Material Description | Standard Specification | Weight per Cu Yd (lbs) | Conversion Factor (Tons/yd³) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dense Graded Aggregate (DGA) | Crusher Run / #21A | 2,800 – 3,000 lbs | 1.40 – 1.50 Tons | Driveway base, paver foundation, road subgrade |
| Clean Crushed Stone #57 | ASTM C33 / 1/2" to 1" clean | 2,700 – 2,900 lbs | 1.35 – 1.45 Tons | Retaining wall drainage chimneys, French drains, concrete |
| Pea Gravel #8 | 3/8" washed uncrushed | 2,600 – 2,800 lbs | 1.30 – 1.40 Tons | Walkways, decorative bedding, pipe embedment |
| Ready-Mix Concrete | 3,000–4,000 PSI normal weight | 3,950 – 4,100 lbs | 1.98 – 2.05 Tons | Slabs, footings, structural walls, cylindrical piers |
| Dry Coarse Bedding Sand | ASTM C33 concrete sand | 2,600 – 2,800 lbs | 1.30 – 1.40 Tons | 1-inch paver setting bed (uncompacted) |
| Clean Screened Topsoil | Moist, loam consistency | 2,000 – 2,400 lbs | 1.00 – 1.20 Tons | Lawn grading, planting beds, seed establishment |
| Double-Shredded Hardwood Mulch | Natural aged organic | 600 – 800 lbs | 0.30 – 0.40 Tons | Garden moisture retention, weed barrier (3" depth) |
Why Tons & Yards? Practical Estimation Methodology
Most online construction calculators treat earth, rock, and concrete as rigid mathematical geometric solids. In the field, soil expands by 15% to 35% when excavated, crushed stone compacts and settles under vibratory rolling, and ready-mix trucks carry minimum batch surcharges if you order under 4 cubic yards.
Tons & Yards was created to bridge the gap between simple geometric formulas and actual material behavior on jobsites. Our calculators reference published ASTM density data, ACI guidelines, and standard packaging yields so you can plan realistic quantities, avoid shortages, and budget accurately.