Road Base Calculator

When you’re building a driveway, road, or any compacted surface, knowing exactly how much road base you need is critical. Ordering too little means delays. Ordering too much means wasted money. Our Road Base Calculator makes it quick and easy to work out the volume, weight, and even cost of road base for your project. Whether you need a Class 2 road base calculator, Class 6 road base calculator, or even a 3/4 road base calculator, this tool is designed for accuracy.

What is Road Base?

Road base is a compactable material made from crushed rock, gravel, or recycled concrete. It forms the foundation for roads, driveways, and pathways. Depending on the job, you might need compacted road base to meet certain engineering standards. The thickness, density, and coverage of road base will determine how much you need.

How to Calculate Road Base

The amount of road base you need depends on your project area and thickness. You also need to factor in compaction (the difference between loose and compacted volume) and waste allowance.

The standard formula to calculate road base is:

1. Compacted Volume (m³) = Length × Width × Thickness
2. Loose Volume (m³) = Compacted Volume ÷ Compaction Factor
3. Weight (tons) = Loose Volume (yd³) × Density (tons per cubic yard)
4. Order Quantity = Weight × (1 + Waste Percentage)

Example:

If your driveway is 50 feet long, 10 feet wide, and you want a 4-inch compacted thickness with a compaction factor of 0.95 and density of 1.4 tons/yd³, you will:

• Convert thickness: 4 inches = 0.333 feet
• Compacted volume: 50 × 10 × 0.333 = 166.5 ft³ = 6.17 yd³
• Loose volume: 6.17 ÷ 0.95 = 6.49 yd³
• Weight: 6.49 × 1.4 = 9.09 tons
• With 5% waste: 9.09 × 1.05 = 9.55 tons to order

How to Use the Road Base Calculator

1. Enter the length and width of your project area.
2. Choose the unit (meters, feet, or yards).
3. Enter the thickness of road base in inches, centimeters, or meters.
4. Input the compaction factor or shrinkage percentage.
5. Enter the density of your material (ask your supplier for exact value).
6. Add a waste percentage for extra material allowance.
7. Click Calculate to get compacted volume, loose volume, and total weight in tons or tonnes.

Road Base Thickness Guide

The required thickness depends on the purpose:

• Light vehicle driveway: 4–6 inches
• Heavy vehicle access: 6–8 inches
• Public road or high-load area: 8–12 inches or more

Always confirm with an engineer or local building codes before finalizing.

Final Verdict

The Road Base Calculator is a fast, reliable, and user-friendly way to work out exactly how much material you need. Whether you’re working with Class 2, Class 6, or 3/4 road base, this calculator accounts for compaction, density, and waste — giving you an accurate order quantity every time.

FAQs

How do I calculate how much road base I need?

Measure the length, width, and compacted thickness of your area, then use the formula above or our calculator to get the total weight.

How much does 1 ton of road base cover?

Coverage depends on thickness. At 4 inches thick, 1 ton typically covers about 80–90 square feet.

How many tons is a yard of road base?

One cubic yard of road base weighs between 1.2 and 1.6 tons, depending on the material’s density.

How thick does a road base need to be?

For light vehicles, 4–6 inches is common. For heavier loads, increase thickness to 8–12 inches.