Class 5 gravel calculator

Class 5 is almost always used as a flat, compacted base layer rather than backfill for a hole or trench, which is why this calculator works in area mode: footprint times depth, converted to weight. That covers a driveway base, a shed or outbuilding pad, and a road base equally well, since all three share the same basic shape even though the depth and the finish on top differ considerably between them. Measuring the actual footprint rather than a rounded estimate matters more here than it might seem, since a base layer error compounds once a topcoat or surface material is added on top of it later.

The depth that is right for a shed pad is not the depth that is right for a driveway carrying a vehicle, and it is worth matching the number you enter to the actual load the surface will carry rather than reusing a figure from a different project. A shed pad mainly needs to be flat, well drained and resistant to settling under a static load, while a driveway base needs enough depth and compaction to resist rutting under repeated tire loads, which is closer to what the full build in the gravel driveway calculator accounts for. A road base built for regular heavy traffic generally needs more depth again, which is a question worth putting to whoever is engineering that specific project rather than guessing from a driveway figure. The soil underneath also plays a part: a soft, poorly draining subgrade generally calls for more depth than a firm, well drained one carrying the same load, so it is worth having that checked before settling on a final number.

Class 5 and crusher run describe closely related graded aggregates, both relying on a mix of stone sizes down to fine material to compact into a dense, stable layer, and the FAQ above touches on that overlap briefly. This longer explainer on crusher run goes further into why that fines to stone ratio is what makes either material work as a base course, and the broader aggregate calculator or crushed stone calculator are worth checking if your supplier uses a different regional name for a similar graded base material, since naming conventions for this kind of aggregate vary a lot more by region than the material itself does. Asking a supplier for their actual gradation sheet, rather than relying on the name alone, is the most reliable way to confirm you are comparing like for like between quotes.

How much compaction equipment a job needs scales with its size more than people expect. A shed pad is well within reach of a rented plate compactor run over a few passes, while a driveway or a genuine road base needs a vibratory roller and multiple lifts to compact evenly through its full depth, which is usually contractor territory rather than a weekend rental job. This guide to compacted versus loose aggregate explains why the volume you order has to account for that compaction loss rather than matching the finished depth exactly, and underestimating that loss is a common reason a base course ends up thinner than planned once it has been rolled. Checking the compacted depth with a simple probe or stake partway through the job is a cheap way to catch a shortfall before the whole area has been finished and the equipment has left site.

Class 5 is ordered by the ton once a job passes a small quantity, and for a driveway or road base sized project that usually means a full truckload rather than a partial one; the gravel calculator for tons gives you that figure directly if you would rather work in tons than cubic yards. Keep in mind Class 5 is a base material rather than a finished surface in most uses, so if you want something to walk or drive on without a separate topcoat, a firmer finished option like the self binding gravel calculator covers a surface built to be left exposed rather than covered over, which is worth factoring in before ordering Class 5 alone and assuming it will double as the finished surface.