Mulch/Soil/Gravel Calculator
Estimate cubic yards and tons needed
You need
1.85 cubic yards
50.0 cu ft · ~0.74 tons · ~25 bags (2 cu ft each)
Quick Facts
- •1 cubic yard covers 162 sq ft at 2" deep
- •Mulch: apply 2-3" deep
- •Gravel: apply 3-4" deep for paths
Calculating Landscape Materials
Mulch, soil, and gravel are typically sold by the cubic yard or in bags (usually 2 cu ft). Mulch is usually applied 2-3 inches deep, while gravel for paths needs 3-4 inches. One cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep.
Understanding the mulch/soil/gravel calculator
Landscaping material is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the bag at garden centres, but the depth you need is measured in inches. Getting from a bed area to an order quantity means converting depth into feet first, and knowing that bulk delivery becomes cheaper than bags somewhere around one cubic yard for most suppliers.
Worked examples
Mulch for a 400 sq ft bed at 3 inch depth
- 1Convert depth to feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft.
- 2Volume in cubic feet: 400 × 0.25 = 100 cu ft.
- 3Convert to cubic yards: 100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cu yd.
- 4In 2 cu ft bags: 100 ÷ 2 = 50 bags.
3.7 cubic yards, which is 50 standard bags. Order 4 cubic yards in bulk.
Gravel weight for a 12 by 20 ft driveway at 4 inches
- 1Area: 12 × 20 = 240 sq ft. Depth: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- 2Volume: 240 × 0.333 = 80 cu ft, or 80 ÷ 27 = 2.96 cu yd.
- 3Crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
- 42.96 × 1.4 = 4.15 tons.
About 3 cubic yards, or 4.2 tons of crushed stone.
Coverage of one cubic yard by depth
| Depth | Square feet covered |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 |
| 2 inches | 162 |
| 3 inches | 108 |
| 4 inches | 81 |
| 6 inches | 54 |
Weight per cubic yard by material
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shredded bark mulch | 0.4 to 0.5 | Lightest option |
| Compost | 0.5 to 0.7 | Heavier when wet |
| Topsoil, screened | 1.0 to 1.3 | Varies a lot with moisture |
| Sand | 1.3 to 1.4 | Compacts well |
| Crushed stone | 1.3 to 1.5 | Standard driveway base |
| River rock | 1.2 to 1.4 | Does not compact |
A half ton pickup handles about half a cubic yard of stone or one cubic yard of mulch safely.
Recommended depth by use
| Use | Depth |
|---|---|
| Mulch around perennials | 2 to 3 inches |
| Mulch around trees and shrubs | 3 to 4 inches |
| New lawn topsoil | 4 to 6 inches |
| Vegetable bed soil | 8 to 12 inches |
| Gravel path | 2 to 3 inches |
| Gravel driveway base | 4 to 6 inches |
Frequently asked questions
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This calculator is for educational and reference purposes only. Always verify critical calculations independently.