Aggregate Quantity Calculator
About This Calculator
This aggregate calculator helps you determine the quantity of gravel, sand, crushed stone, MOT Type 1, or ballast you need for your construction project. Whether you're building a driveway sub-base, laying drainage, or mixing concrete, getting the right amount of aggregate is essential.
Results are provided in cubic metres, cubic yards, tonnes, bulk bags (0.75m³), and loose 25kg bags.
Material Types
Gravel (Pea Shingle)
Used for driveways, paths, drainage, and decorative purposes. Density: ~1,600 kg/m³
Sharp Sand / Building Sand
Essential for mortar, concrete, and laying paving. Density: ~1,600 kg/m³
MOT Type 1 (Sub-base)
Crushed stone sub-base material for driveways, patios, and roads. Density: ~2,000 kg/m³
Ballast
Mixed aggregate for concrete production. Density: ~1,750 kg/m³
Crushed Stone / Hardcore
General construction aggregate for foundations and fill. Density: ~1,600 kg/m³
Example Calculations
Driveway Sub-base (MOT Type 1)
A driveway 10m × 5m with 100mm sub-base:
- Volume: 5.0 m³
- Weight: 10 tonnes
- Bulk bags needed: 7
Patio Bedding Sand
A patio 6m × 4m with 50mm sand bed:
- Volume: 1.2 m³
- Weight: 1.92 tonnes
- 25kg bags: 77
Concrete Ballast Mix
Ballast for a concrete pad 5m × 4m × 0.1m:
- Volume: 2.0 m³
- Weight: 3.5 tonnes
- Bulk bags needed: 3
Ordering Tips
- Bulk bags (jumbo bags) typically contain 0.75m³ of material
- Loose loads are more economical for orders over 5 tonnes
- Add 5-10% extra for compaction and wastage
- MOT Type 1 compacts approximately 15-20% when rolled
- Ensure adequate access for delivery lorries (typically 3m width needed)
Ready to Calculate?
Enter your measurements and get instant aggregate quantity calculations.
Open Calculator →Related Calculators
References & Sources
Standards Cited
- BS EN 12620 — Aggregates for concrete
Defines aggregate properties, grading, and density values for concrete aggregates (gravel, sand, crushed stone) - BS EN 13242 — Aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials for use in civil engineering work and road construction
Specification for MOT Type 1 sub-base and other unbound aggregates used in the calculator
Formulas Used
- Volume:
volumeM3 = length x width x depth
Source: Basic geometry - Weight from volume:
tonnesRequired = volumeM3 x density / 1000
Source: BS EN 12620 / BS EN 13242 — Densities: gravel 1600, sand 1600, crushed stone 1600, MOT Type 1 2000, ballast 1750 kg/m3 - Bulk bags:
bulkBags = ceil(volumeM3 / 0.75)
Source: Industry standard bulk bag size (0.75 m3)
Key Assumptions
- Material densities: gravel 1600 kg/m3, sand 1600 kg/m3, crushed stone 1600 kg/m3, MOT Type 1 2000 kg/m3, ballast 1750 kg/m3 — BS EN 12620 / BS EN 13242
- Bulk bags assumed to hold 0.75 m3 each — Industry standard bag size
- Loose bags assumed to be 25kg each — Industry standard bag size