Zerdly

Mound Volume Calculator

Estimate the volume of a conical mound or tipped stockpile from its base diameter and height. When loose material is dumped, it settles into a cone at its natural angle of repose, so a cone is a good first approximation of the pile's volume.

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How to use this calculator

Enter Values

Enter your values and press Calculate to see results.

How to use this calculator

  1. Measure the diameter across the base of the pile and enter it in metres.
  2. Measure or estimate the peak height of the pile from the ground and enter it.
  3. Read the mound volume in cubic metres, along with the base radius and base area.

How it works

The mound is modelled as a right circular cone. The base radius r is half the base diameter, the base area is π·r², and the volume is one third of the base area times the height: V = (1/3)·π·r²·h. This is the standard cone volume formula used for conical stockpiles.

Worked example

Worked example. A tipped pile with a 20 m base diameter and 6 m peak height has a base radius of 10 m, a base area of π·10² = 314.16 m², and a volume of (1/3)·π·10²·6 = 628.32 m³.

Common mistakes

  • Entering the base radius in the diameter field — this tool expects the full diameter across the base.
  • Measuring a leaning or asymmetrical pile as if it were a perfect cone; real piles rarely are.
  • Confusing loose (bulked) volume with the compacted or in-bank volume of the same material.

Frequently asked questions

Does this give tonnes?

No — it gives loose volume in cubic metres. Multiply by the material's loose bulk density (t/m³) to estimate mass.

What if the pile is flat-topped or truncated?

A full cone will overestimate a flat-topped pile. For truncated cones, use a frustum calculation instead of this one.

Related tools

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Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.

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