How Much Mulch, Soil or Gravel Do I Need?
Pick a material, enter your area and depth, and get the amount in cubic yards, tons and bags, with the cost of bags versus a bulk delivery side by side.
Calculators
Mulch calculatorYards and bags for beds, paths and play areasGravel calculatorYards, tons and bags for paths and patiosDriveway gravelYards and tons by driveway sizePea gravel calculatorPatios, dog runs and playgroundsTopsoil calculatorNew lawns, top-dressing and garden bedsCompost calculatorLawns, gardens and raised bedsRaised bed soilSoil volume plus a mix recipeCoverage chartWhat a yard covers at each depth
How the calculator works
- Area: length × width for rectangles, or pick a circle or triangle. Add several areas and they're totaled.
- Volume: area × depth gives cubic feet; 27 cubic feet make one cubic yard, the unit bulk materials are sold in.
- Bags and tons: we convert the volume to bags of the size you choose and, for soil and stone, to tons using typical weights.
- Cost: bag total versus bulk total with delivery, using prices you can edit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. A 10 × 20 foot bed at 3 inches deep is 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards.
How much does one cubic yard cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by your depth in inches: 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches.
Is it cheaper to buy bags or bulk?
Bags are usually cheaper for less than about a cubic yard because there's no delivery fee. For 3 cubic yards or more, bulk is almost always cheaper, often less than half the price per yard.