Estimate exactly how much mulch, gravel, soil, or stone you need for any landscape project. Enter your area dimensions, choose a material and depth, and get cubic yards, weight, bag count, and delivery truck loads — all calculated in real time.
Pro tip: Order 10% extra material for irregular edges and compaction settling. Bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than bags once you exceed 3 cubic yards — that’s roughly 40 large bags of mulch.
Add unlimited zones with different shapes, materials, and depths for a combined project total.
See when you’ll need to reapply and the cumulative cost over time.
| Year | Action | Volume | Cost | Cumulative |
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Estimate linear footage and cost for common edging types based on your area perimeter.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards for Landscaping
The formula for landscaping material volume is simple: multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 (because one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet). For a 200-square-foot garden bed at 3 inches deep, that’s 200 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. Always round up to the nearest quarter yard when ordering bulk material — suppliers rarely deliver partial scoops, and having a small surplus beats running short mid-project.
For rectangular areas, multiply length by width. For circular beds, use π × radius² (or π × diameter² ÷ 4). For triangular sections, use base × height ÷ 2. Irregular shapes are best measured by dividing the space into simple shapes and summing the areas, or by measuring the total square footage with a measuring wheel.
Mulch Depth Guide: How Deep Should You Go?
Organic mulches like hardwood, cedar, and pine bark perform best at 2–4 inches deep. Too thin and weeds push through within weeks; too thick and water cannot penetrate to plant roots. For new beds, start at 3–4 inches because organic mulch decomposes and compresses roughly 30% in the first year. For refreshing existing mulch, add just 1–2 inches on top of what remains.
Gravel and stone require different depths. Pea gravel walkways need 2–3 inches over compacted base material. Crushed stone driveways need 4–6 inches total (2–3 inches of #57 stone over a 2–3 inch base of larger aggregate). Decorative stone like marble chips and Mexican beach pebble works well at 2–3 inches — deeper applications waste money because the visual effect is identical once ground coverage is complete.
Rubber mulch is an exception. Because it does not decompose, 1.5–2 inches provides lasting coverage. Playground safety standards (ASTM F1292) recommend 3–6 inches of rubber mulch depending on fall height, so always check local codes for play areas.
Material Weight and Truck Capacity
Weight varies dramatically by material type. Dry hardwood mulch weighs about 400–500 pounds per cubic yard, while river rock can weigh 2,700 pounds per cubic yard — over five times heavier. This matters for two reasons: delivery trucks have both volume and weight limits. A standard dump truck holds 10–12 cubic yards by volume but is typically limited to 20 tons (40,000 lbs) by weight. Ten cubic yards of mulch weighs only about 2.5 tons, well under the limit. But 10 cubic yards of river rock weighs nearly 13.5 tons, pushing much closer to the truck’s weight capacity.
For heavy materials like crushed stone and river rock, the weight constraint often governs before the volume constraint. This calculator automatically checks both and tells you which limit applies, so you can plan the correct number of delivery trips.
Bulk vs. Bagged: Which Is More Economical?
As a rule of thumb, bulk material costs 40–60% less per cubic yard than the same material sold in bags. A 2 ft³ bag of mulch at $4.50 translates to roughly $60.75 per cubic yard, compared to $30–50 per yard in bulk. The breakeven point depends on your delivery fee: if delivery costs $75 and bulk saves $20 per yard, you need at least 3.75 cubic yards for bulk to be cheaper. Below that threshold, bags from a home center make more financial sense.
Bags do have advantages beyond small projects: they are easier to store, produce less mess, and let you carry material to areas a dump truck cannot reach (raised beds, backyards with no gate access). For large flat areas accessible by truck, bulk is almost always the better value.
Landscape Material Density Reference
Density is measured in pounds per cubic yard and determines both the weight you will handle and the number of truck loads needed. Here are typical values for common materials:
- Hardwood mulch: 400–500 lb/yd³
- Cedar mulch: 350–450 lb/yd³
- Topsoil: 1,800–2,200 lb/yd³
- Compost: 1,000–1,400 lb/yd³
- Pea gravel: 2,500–2,800 lb/yd³
- Crushed stone (#57): 2,500–2,700 lb/yd³
- River rock: 2,600–2,900 lb/yd³
- Play sand: 2,200–2,700 lb/yd³
- Rubber mulch: 1,200–1,500 lb/yd³
- Marble chips: 2,300–2,500 lb/yd³
These figures assume average moisture content. Wet topsoil can weigh 25–30% more than dry. Always confirm density with your supplier, especially for screened or blended products.
Replenishment Frequency: When to Reapply
Organic mulches decompose and need topping off every 1–2 years. Hardwood mulch breaks down fastest (12–18 months in warm climates), while cedar and cypress last 2–3 years thanks to natural oils that resist decay. Pine bark nuggets hold up 2–3 years if properly sized. Inorganic materials like gravel, stone, and rubber mulch are essentially permanent — they may need occasional topping due to displacement, settling, or erosion, but the base layer remains intact for decades.
When refreshing organic mulch, remove any matted or fungus-ridden layers before adding new material. Piling fresh mulch on top of decomposed mulch year after year can create a “mulch volcano” effect that suffocates roots and harbors pests. Keep total depth at 3–4 inches after each application.
Looking for related tools? Try our Paint Calculator for interior projects, or explore all Home & Real Estate tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mulch do I need?
One cubic yard of mulch covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep. A typical suburban yard with 800 sq ft of beds needs 5 to 7 cubic yards for a spring refresh. Bags (2 cubic feet each) take 13 bags per cubic yard.
How deep should mulch be?
2 to 3 inches for established beds; 3 to 4 inches for new beds over bare soil. Never pile mulch against tree trunks ('volcano mulching') - keep a 3 to 6 inch gap around the base to prevent rot and pests. Organic mulch breaks down and needs topping up every 1 to 2 years.
How many cubic yards are in a pickup truck?
A short-bed pickup holds about 1.5 cubic yards of mulch (more by volume, less by weight). A full-size long-bed holds 2 to 2.5 cubic yards. Gravel and soil are much heavier: most half-ton trucks max out at 1 yard of gravel or wet topsoil. Respect the payload rating on the door sticker.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Dry screened topsoil weighs about 2,000 pounds per cubic yard. Moist topsoil weighs 2,200 to 2,400 pounds. Wet topsoil can hit 3,000+ pounds. A cubic yard of pea gravel weighs roughly 2,800 to 3,000 pounds. Delivery trucks bill by the yard regardless of weight.
Is bagged or bulk mulch cheaper?
Bulk is roughly half the price per cubic yard versus bagged, but you pay delivery (40 to 100 dollars) and you need space to receive a pile. For projects over 3 yards, bulk wins. Under 2 yards, bags from a big-box store often tie on cost once you factor in delivery, and bags are easier to handle.