Tonnage Calculator
Plan your construction materials project with our free tonnage calculator. Get precise measurements, material lists, and budgets.
Reviewed by Abdullah, Technical Content Specialist
Formula
Tons = (Length x Width x Depth) x Density / 2000
Multiply the project dimensions to get volume in cubic feet. If depth is in inches, divide by 12 to convert to feet. Multiply by the material density in pounds per cubic foot to get the total weight in pounds, then divide by 2000 to convert to short tons.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Gravel Driveway
Problem:Calculate tonnage for a 50 x 12 ft gravel driveway at 4 inches deep.
Solution:Volume = 50 x 12 x (4/12) = 200 cu ft = 7.41 cu yd\nWeight = 200 x 105 = 21,000 lbs\nTons = 21,000 / 2000 = 10.50 tons
Result:10.50 tons of gravel (1 truck load)
Example 2: Topsoil for Lawn
Problem:Calculate tonnage for spreading 3 inches of topsoil over a 100 x 50 ft area.
Solution:Volume = 100 x 50 x (3/12) = 1,250 cu ft = 46.3 cu yd\nWeight = 1,250 x 75 = 93,750 lbs\nTons = 93,750 / 2000 = 46.88 tons
Result:46.88 tons of topsoil (4 truck loads)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate tonnage of material for a project?
Multiply the length by width by depth of the area in feet to get cubic feet. If depth is in inches, divide by 12 first to convert to feet. Multiply the cubic feet by the material density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2000 to convert to short tons. For example, a 50 x 20 foot area with 4 inches of gravel needs 50 x 20 x 0.333 = 333 cubic feet. At 105 lbs per cubic foot, that equals 34,965 lbs or about 17.5 tons.
References
Reviewed by Abdullah, Technical Content Specialist · Editorial policy