Use this free estimator for a rough cubic-metre and tonnage figure on a single stockpile. It is a planning aid only — pile geometry in the real world is irregular, so a quick formula always carries meaningful error. For an engineering-grade volume an operator can book against, accounting or reconciliation, a drone survey delivers the measured number with a documented accuracy report.
Rough estimate only. Real stockpiles are irregular; expect material error versus a measured survey. Typical loose-aggregate density runs 1.4-1.7 t/m³ — adjust for your material.
Why a drone survey beats a formula
This calculator assumes a clean geometric shape. Actual piles slump, lean, sit on uneven ground and merge into neighbours — none of which a single height-and-base formula captures. A drone photogrammetry survey measures the true surface of every pile against a defined base, computes volume per pile, and delivers an accuracy report you can stand behind for inventory reconciliation, financial reporting or contract payment.
What a measured stockpile survey delivers
- Per-pile volume computed from the true measured surface, not an assumed shape
- Orthomosaic and 3D point cloud of the site
- Accuracy report documenting ground-control residuals and flight conditions
- CAD-ready surface and a PDF report in the format your mine-planning or accounting system expects
- Repeatable monthly cycles so period-over-period movement is comparable