Calculate the exact amount of landscaping materials you need for your project. Our free cubic yard calculator helps you estimate soil, mulch, gravel, and more.
Calculating cubic yards for your landscaping project is easy with our free calculator. Simply select your measurement unit, choose the shape of your area, enter the dimensions, and our calculator will instantly show you how many cubic yards of material you need.
| Material | Recommended Depth | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 2-4 inches | Flower beds, around trees |
| Topsoil | 4-6 inches | New lawns, garden beds |
| Gravel | 2-3 inches | Walkways, decorative areas |
| Concrete | 4-6 inches | Driveways, patios |
| Sand | 1-2 inches | Leveling, play areas |
A cubic yard is a unit of volume that measures 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, totaling 27 cubic feet. Most bulk landscaping materials like soil, mulch, and gravel are sold by the cubic yard.
Understanding material weights helps with delivery planning:
Most bagged mulch comes in 2 cubic foot bags. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, you'll need about 13.5 bags to equal one cubic yard. We recommend buying 14 bags to ensure you have enough.
We recommend ordering 10% more than calculated to account for compaction, settling, and measurement variations. This extra material ensures you won't run short during your project.
Break irregular areas into multiple rectangles or triangles, calculate each separately, and add them together. Our calculator supports multiple areas for this purpose.
Now that you know how much material you need, let our AI help you design a beautiful garden that makes the most of your space.
Design Your Garden with AI