Compost Calculator
Enter the area and depth to see how much compost you need in cubic yards and bags, for top-dressing a lawn, feeding garden beds or topping up raised beds.
How much does a yard of compost cover?
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | One 1 cu ft bag covers |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 in | 1,296 sq ft | 48 sq ft |
| 0.5 in | 648 sq ft | 24 sq ft |
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 12 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 6 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 4 sq ft |
Compost for common area sizes
At 1 inches deep.
| Area | Cubic yards | 1 cu ft bags | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft (32 sq ft) | 0.1 | 3 | 0.06 |
| 10 × 10 ft (100 sq ft) | 0.31 | 9 | 0.19 |
| 20 × 25 ft (500 sq ft) | 1.54 | 42 | 0.96 |
| 25 × 40 ft (1,000 sq ft) | 3.09 | 84 | 1.93 |
| 50 × 50 ft (2,500 sq ft) | 7.72 | 209 | 4.82 |
| 50 × 100 ft (5,000 sq ft) | 15.43 | 417 | 9.65 |
How much compost to use
- Lawn top-dressing: ¼ inch, once or twice a year.
- Existing garden beds: about 1 inch a year, spread on top or lightly worked in.
- New beds in poor soil: 2–3 inches mixed into the top 6–8 inches.
- Raised beds: top up 1–3 inches each spring as the soil settles. For filling a new bed, see the raised bed soil calculator.
More isn't better: compost is rich in nutrients and salts, and beds filled with pure compost often grow poorly. Mix it with soil.
Planning when to plant? Find your last frost date and planting calendar by ZIP code at our sister site, My Frost Dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much compost do I need for 1,000 square feet of lawn?
At ¼ inch deep, 1,000 square feet takes about 0.77 cubic yards of compost, roughly 21 one-cubic-foot bags.
How much does a yard of compost weigh?
Usually 1,000 to 1,600 pounds per cubic yard, depending on how wet and how finished it is.