How we calculate
Every calculator shows its formula on the page. This page collects the constants and price data behind them.
Volumes and units
All lengths are converted to feet before any math. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet; one cubic foot holds 7.48 U.S. gallons; one acre is 43,560 square feet. Bag counts and piece counts are always rounded up.
Material densities
Converting cubic yards to tons uses typical loose bulk densities. Real material varies with moisture and gradation, so suppliers' own figures take priority.
| Material | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Gravel (general) | 1.4 |
| Pea gravel | 1.4 |
| Crushed stone #57 | 1.35 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.5 |
| Crushed limestone | 1.4 |
| River rock | 1.35 |
| Sand (dry) | 1.35 |
| Topsoil | 1.1 |
| Fill dirt | 1.2 |
| Wood mulch | 0.3 |
| Asphalt (hot mix, compacted) | 1.96 |
| Concrete (cured) | 2.03 |
Prices
National price ranges come from published 2025–2026 cost guides:
- Ready-mix concrete: $119–$147 per cubic yard delivered, plus about $53 per yard for loads under 10 yd³ — HomeGuide — Concrete Prices (updated January 6, 2026).
- Gravel: $10–$50 per ton — HomeGuide — Gravel Prices (updated December 19, 2025).
- Hot-mix asphalt: $100–$200 per ton — Inch Calculator — Asphalt Driveway Cost Guide (July 18, 2023); installed driveways $5–$12 per ft² — HomeGuide — Asphalt Driveway Cost.
- Mulch: $25–$100 per cubic yard — HomeGuide — Mulch Prices.
- For context, the USGS reports an average crushed-stone value of about $18.5 per metric ton at the quarry in 2025 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 — Crushed Stone) — retail and delivered prices are several times higher.
State adjustment
State prices multiply the national range by the state's overall price level from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by State (Table SARPP), 2023 — as published in the Hawaii State Data Book, table 14.02. A state with a price level of 110 gets prices 10% above the U.S. range. This is a broad cost-of-living measure, not a construction-specific index, so treat state figures as a starting point for comparing quotes.
What the calculators don't do
They don't size structural members, footings or reinforcement. Span tables, footing sizes, rebar and fill limits are set by your local building and electrical codes and, where required, an engineer.
Prices last reviewed: October 2026.