Cubic Yard Coverage Chart
How many square feet one cubic yard covers at each depth, for mulch, soil, compost, sand or gravel. The volume math is the same for every material: 324 square feet ÷ depth in inches.
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard | Sq ft per 2 cu ft bag | Yards per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 in | 1,296 | 96 | 0.77 |
| 0.5 in | 648 | 48 | 1.54 |
| 1 in | 324 | 24 | 3.09 |
| 2 in | 162 | 12 | 6.17 |
| 3 in | 108 | 8 | 9.26 |
| 4 in | 81 | 6 | 12.35 |
| 6 in | 54 | 4 | 18.52 |
| 8 in | 40 | 3 | 24.69 |
| 12 in | 27 | 2 | 37.04 |
Weight and bags per cubic yard
| Material | Weight per yard | Tons per yard | Bags per yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 400–800 lb (sold by volume) | — | 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft |
| Gravel | about 2,800 lb | 1.4 tons | 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft |
| Pea gravel | about 2,700 lb | 1.35 tons | 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft |
| Topsoil | about 2,200 lb | 1.1 tons | 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft |
| Compost | about 1,250 lb | 0.62 tons | 27 bags of 1 cu ft |
Weights are typical and rise a lot when the material is wet. Ask your supplier for theirs if you're buying by the ton.
The formula
Cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. For example, 500 square feet at 3 inches deep is 500 × 3 ÷ 324 = 4.6 cubic yards.
For exact amounts with several areas, bags and costs, use the calculator.