Aggregate Compaction Volume
Use the Aggregate Compaction Volume. Enter Loose volume and Compaction factor for a clear result, formula explanation, and practical planning checks.
Aggregate Compaction Volume measurements
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Result
How to calculate aggregate compaction volume
This calculator converts a loose (uncompacted) aggregate volume into its compacted volume using a compaction factor — useful because material shrinks once it's placed and compacted, so ordering by loose volume alone can leave you short.
How the calculation works
Compacted volume = Loose volume × Compaction factor. The compaction factor (typically 0.85-0.90 for common base materials) reflects how much the material's volume reduces once compacted.
Example
20 cubic yards of loose gravel with a 0.85 compaction factor: Compacted volume = 20 × 0.85 = 17 cubic yards once compacted in place.
Frequently asked questions
Why does aggregate volume change when compacted?
Loose aggregate has air gaps between particles. Compaction (via rolling or tamping) presses particles closer together, reducing those air gaps and shrinking the overall volume, even though the mass of material stays the same.
Aggregate Compaction Volume
Compacted volume = Loose volume × Compaction factor. The compaction factor (typically 0.85-0.90 for common base materials) reflects how much the material's volume reduces once compacted.
Let's understand your aggregate compaction volume result.
Calculate a result above and this guide will help you interpret it using this calculator's own formula and explanation.
Pro Tips for Aggregate Compaction Volume
- Compaction factors vary by material — crushed stone, sand, and native soil each compact differently; check your specific material's typical factor.
- This calculator finds compacted volume FROM loose volume — if you know the finished (compacted) volume you need and are ordering loose material, divide by the compaction factor instead of multiplying.
Common Aggregate Compaction Volume Mistakes to Avoid
- Using this formula backward (to find how much loose material to order for a target compacted depth) without inverting it — that calculation requires dividing, not multiplying.
When to Use This Calculator
This calculator converts a loose (uncompacted) aggregate volume into its compacted volume using a compaction factor — useful because material shrinks once it's placed and compacted, so ordering by loose volume alone can leave you short.