THE NUMBERS, EXPLAINED
How to use this calculator.
The compaction allowance is entered by you and varies with the material.
Start with your inputs
Enter area (m²), compacted depth (cm), loose-volume allowance (%), loose density (kg/m³). Keep amounts in the units shown on each field. The example is a starting point, not a recommended value.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Area (m²) | 20 |
| Compacted depth (cm) | 10 |
| Loose-volume allowance (%) | 20 |
| Loose density (kg/m³) | 1500 |
A worked example
With the example inputs above, loose volume (m³) is 2.4. Change the inputs to explore your own scenario.
Putting the example numbers into the formula
Loose volume (m³)
(20) × (10) ÷ 100 × (1+(20) ÷ 100) = 2.4
Mass (kg)
(20) × (10) ÷ 100 × (1+(20) ÷ 100) × (1500) = 3,600
| Result | Example answer |
|---|---|
| Loose volume (m³) | 2.4 |
| Mass (kg) | 3,600 |
How this is calculated
Loose volume (m³)
a × b ÷ 100 × (1+c ÷ 100)
Mass (kg)
a × b ÷ 100 × (1+c ÷ 100) × d
Symbols and units
- a
- Area (m²)
- b
- Compacted depth (cm)
- c
- Loose-volume allowance (%)
- d
- Loose density (kg/m³)
Use the units shown. A list keeps the order in which you enter its values. The symbol ^ means “raised to the power of”.
Assumptions and limits
The compaction allowance is entered by you and varies with the material.
Calculations use the values you enter. Blank or invalid inputs show an error instead of silently substituting zero. Results are displayed to useful precision; calculations retain the underlying numeric precision.
Questions about this tool
What does the result tell me?
Loose volume (m³); Mass (kg). The result applies to the method and inputs described above. Check the units and assumptions before using it in a decision.
Why might another calculator differ?
Differences in units, rounding, timing or model definitions can produce different answers. Compare the input definitions and the method, rather than only the final number. For this tool: The compaction allowance is entered by you and varies with the material.
Are my inputs stored or sent to AI?
Calculations on this page happen in your browser. The separate AI question finder sends its submitted conversation to OpenAI; these calculator fields are not sent. Favourites and recent tool names are stored locally. A shared link contains the inputs you choose to include.
Review status
Software example and browser checks are recorded in our quality report. No external expert review is claimed. Created with coding assistance; calculations run as ordinary browser code.
Read the quality report →