Garden SurveyorQuick Aggregate Calculator
Sand, ballast, MOT or gravel — volume, tonnes and the cheapest way to buy it for a given area and depth.
2 advanced inputs hidden. Switch to Advanced to fine-tune.
Order what you need for this job
MOT Type 1 sub-base — bulk bags
Building Materials Nationwide
Need ~4 tonne
£35–£60 / tonne · ~£140–£240
Check price
Heavy-duty weed control membrane (for under gravel)
Amazon
Need ~17 m²
£15–£40 / roll · ~£15–£40
Check price
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Quantities pre-filled from your calculation (15.0 m²). Partner links — we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no cost to you.
Essentials for this job
Heavy-duty weed control membrane (for under gravel)
Amazon
Need ~17 m² for your job (≈1 roll)
Woven, UV-stable geotextile — lay it under the gravel so weeds can't grow through and the stone stays out of the soil. One 2×10 m roll covers ~20 m².
Check price at AmazonGuide price: £15–£40 / roll(~£15–£40 total)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
MOT Type 1 sub-base — bulk bags
Building Materials Nationwide
Need ~4 tonne for your job
Crushed limestone MOT sub-base in 800 kg bulk bags, delivered to kerbside.
Check price at Building Materials NationwideGuide price: £35–£60 / tonne(~£140–£240 total)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
Self-binding gravel — bulk bags
Building Materials Nationwide
Need ~2 tonne for your job
Breedon-style hoggin for paths and informal drives.
See options at Building Materials NationwideGuide price: £55–£90 / tonne(~£110–£180 total)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
Pea gravel 10 mm — bulk bag
Building Materials Nationwide
Need ~2 tonne for your job
Rounded gravel for paths, borders and drainage layers.
See options at Building Materials NationwideGuide price: £45–£75 / tonne(~£90–£150 total)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
Slate chippings — bulk bag
Building Materials Nationwide
Need ~2 tonne for your job
Plum or blue slate for borders and low-maintenance beds.
See options at Building Materials NationwideGuide price: £180–£280 / tonne(~£360–£560 total)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
- Cotswold stone chippings — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Honey-coloured limestone chip for traditional gardens.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
Guide price: £160–£260 / tonne(~£320–£520 for your job)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
- Granite aggregate — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Hard-wearing chip for driveways and contemporary schemes.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
Guide price: £55–£110 / tonne(~£110–£220 for your job)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
- Golden gravel 20 mm — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
The UK's most popular driveway gravel — hard-wearing golden flint.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- 20 mm shingle — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Rounded shingle for paths, borders and decorative ground cover.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- White marble chippings — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Bright Polar-white marble for borders, beds and contemporary schemes.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Black basalt chippings — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Deep black 'black ice' chip for striking modern gardens and drives.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Plum slate chippings — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Rich plum slate plates for borders and low-maintenance beds.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Scottish pebbles / cobbles — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Large rounded pebbles for borders, water features and splash zones.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Horticultural grit 10 mm — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Fine grit for soil conditioning, mulching and potting mixes.
Pre-filled qty: 1 tonne
- MOT Type 3 (permeable sub-base) — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Open-graded sub-base for SuDS-compliant permeable driveways and patios.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
Guide price: £35–£60 / tonne(~£70–£120 for your job)
Indicative · reviewed May 2026
- Scalpings / 6F2 — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Economical crusher-run capping and hardcore fill below a Type 1 layer.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Recycled Type 1 (crushed concrete) — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Budget recycled sub-base for paths, patios and light driveways.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Clean stone 20 mm (drainage) — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Single-size clean stone for French drains, soakaways and pipe bedding.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Grano / granite dust — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Fine blinding and bedding layer over sub-base, under block paving.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
- Hardcore / crushed brick — bulk bagBuilding Materials Nationwide
Bulk fill and capping below a compacted Type 1 sub-base.
Pre-filled qty: 2 tonne
Quantities include a ~10% waste allowance. Guide prices are indicative UK ranges (materials only, inc. VAT) — always confirm with the supplier before ordering.
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Compare quotes from vetted local trades using this exact spec.
Ad · Some links are sponsored. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Suppliers are chosen for fit, not commission.
This app provides general UK guidance and material estimates only. It is not legal, planning, engineering or building-control advice. Always confirm requirements with your local planning authority, building control, utility providers, manufacturers or qualified professionals.
Worked example
Sharp sand spread 50 mm deep over a 6.0 m × 4.0 m area.
Inputs
- Material
- Sharp sand
- Area
- 6.0 m × 4.0 m
- Depth
- 50 mm
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 6.0 m × 4.0 m | 24 m² |
| Volume | 24 m² × 0.05 m | 1.2 m³ |
| Weight | 1.2 m³ × 1.6 t/m³ (sharp sand) | 1.92 t |
| 25 kg bags | tonnes ÷ 0.025 t per bag | 77 |
| What to order | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Volume | 1.2 m³ |
| Tonnes required | 1.92 t |
| 25 kg bags | 77 |
| Indicative material cost (£ ex VAT) | 134.4 £ ex VAT |
In short: Order 1.92 t of sharp sand, which is 77 maxi bags if you are buying by the bag.