Material Stockpile Quantity Calculator

How the material stockpile quantity calculator works

The trapezoidal cross-section is (base width + top width) × height ÷ 2. Multiply that area by length for geometric cubic metres. Top width cannot exceed base width in this tapered-prism model. A zero top width gives a triangular-prism section.

Estimated mass = geometric volume × entered bulk density in tonnes/m³. Material value = unrounded estimated tonnes × entered value per tonne, rounded half-up to cents. Zero cross-section or length gives zero quantity and value.

The assumed cross-section continues unchanged along the entire length and terminates in vertical end faces. Rounded or sloping ends and irregular piles can differ substantially. This is not a surveyed inventory, moisture correction or safe stockpile design. Caterpillar provides bulk-material-state context; the trapezoidal-prism geometry is the stated approximation rather than a universal pile shape.

Worked example

A 6 m base, 2 m top and 2 m height gives an 8 m² cross-section. At 10 m length, volume is 80 m³. An entered 1.6 tonnes/m³ gives 128 tonnes. At an illustrative 25/tonne, value is 3,200. Reducing height to 1 m halves volume to 40 m³, mass to 64 tonnes and value to 1,600.

Sources and assumptions

The source material explains the underlying calculation or pricing structure. Entered prices, costs, schedules and scenario choices are your assumptions; this tool does not obtain supplier quotes or predict actual results.

• Caterpillar: bank, loose and material volume factors