Irregular Stockpile Volume Estimator
Get a quick, rough volume estimate for an irregular stockpile from its base footprint area, peak height, and a shape factor that accounts for the pile not being a solid prism. It is meant for a fast sanity-check figure, not a survey-grade result.
Enter Values
How to use this calculator
- Enter the base area of the pile's footprint in square metres.
- Enter the peak height of the pile in metres.
- Optionally adjust the pile shape factor — leave it blank for the default 0.33 (roughly conical), or use ~0.5 for a long ridge or windrow.
How it works
The estimate multiplies the base footprint area by the height and by a dimensionless shape factor: V = base area · height · factor. The factor scales the bounding box (area × height) down to the actual filled volume — about 0.33 for a cone-like heap and around 0.5 for an elongated ridge — so you don't have to model the exact shape.
Worked example
Worked example. A pile covering 300 m² with an 8 m peak and the default 0.33 factor gives V = 300 · 8 · 0.33 = 792 m³. A 500 m² by 10 m pile at the same factor gives 1,650 m³.
Common mistakes
- Treating the result as accurate — it is a rough order-of-magnitude figure, not a survey.
- Using the conical 0.33 factor for a long ridge; a windrow is closer to 0.5.
- Entering the top area instead of the base footprint area.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this?
It is only a rough estimate. For anything that matters commercially, a drone or GPS surface-to-surface survey is far more accurate.
What shape factor should I use?
Use the default 0.33 for a roughly conical heap, and around 0.5 for a long ridge or windrow. Adjust between these if your pile sits in between.
Related tools
- Pit Volume from Dimensions Calculator
- Mound Volume Calculator
- Capsule Volume Calculator
- Sump Inflow Rate Calculator
- Tank Volume Calculator
- Stockpile Shape Volume Calculator
Explore more in Geometry, Shape, Area & Volume.
Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.
All calculations run in your browser. Your inputs are never saved or transmitted.