Sump Pump Calculator
— How Much Do You Need?

A sump pump removes water that collects in a pit, typically located in a basement or crawl space, and pumps it away from your home before it can cause flooding or structural damage. The pump handles the mechanical side of things, but the gravel surrounding and lining the pit does the essential job of directing water toward the pump in the first place. A properly installed gravel drainage bed creates a porous layer that lets groundwater flow freely into the pit rather than pooling against your foundation walls. Without the right drainage stone in place, water cannot reach the pump efficiently, and your foundation stays vulnerable even when the pump is running. Hello Gravel supplies the bulk aggregate you need to build that drainage bed and the surrounding drainage system. The pump itself is a separate purchase from a plumbing or hardware supplier.

Clean, washed drainage stone is the standard choice for sump pit surrounds and drainage applications. A 3/4-inch crushed stone is widely used because its angular shape creates good void space that lets water move freely without compacting over time. Pea gravel is another reliable option thanks to its smooth, rounded shape and naturally high drainage rate. The key in either case is to choose a washed, well-graded aggregate that will not break down, shift, or clog your drainage bed over the years. If you are unsure which material makes the most sense for your specific situation, reach out to the Hello Gravel team and they can help you choose the right stone for the job.

The quantity you need depends on the size of your sump pit, the depth of any surrounding drainage trench, and whether you are also installing a French drain or drainage channel along your foundation. A basic sump pit with a modest gravel surround may only call for a partial ton of stone. A larger drainage system with perimeter trenches can require several tons, depending on the total trench length and depth. For reference, a drainage trench that runs 50 feet at 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep will require a meaningfully different amount than one that runs 100 feet at greater depth, so precise dimensions matter. The most reliable way to get an accurate number for your project is to use the Hello Gravel online calculator. Enter your trench or pit dimensions and the calculator will give you a tonnage estimate based on your actual measurements. Ordering a little extra is always a good idea to account for settling once the material is placed.

Yes, and in most cases they work better together than either one does on its own. A sump pump is effective at removing water that has already collected in a pit, but pairing it with a gravel-filled French drain or drainage swale gives your system a way to capture and channel surface water and subsurface water before it ever reaches your foundation. A French drain uses a perforated pipe wrapped in landscape fabric and surrounded by drainage stone to collect water along its length and carry it toward a collection point, where the pump can then remove it. Hello Gravel delivers the bulk drainage aggregate needed for French drain installations and yard drainage projects. If you are planning a full yard drainage system, the Hello Gravel online calculator can help you estimate how much stone your trenches will require based on your specific dimensions.

A sump pump is an active mechanical system, which means it depends on electricity and moving parts that can fail at exactly the wrong moment. During a heavy storm, when you need the pump most, a power outage or a stuck float switch can shut the whole system down before the water has anywhere to go. Even a well-maintained pump can be overwhelmed if the volume of water rushing in exceeds its capacity. That is why most drainage professionals treat the pump as the last line of defense rather than the only one. A well-designed passive drainage system, including properly graded soil, drainage stone, and French drains, reduces the volume of water reaching the pit in the first place. The less your pump has to handle on its own, the less likely it is to fail when conditions are at their worst. Hello Gravel can supply the bulk aggregate for any passive drainage improvements you want to build alongside your pump system.