Calculate gravel, mulch, soil, sand, or decomposed granite by area and depth, then compare cubic yards, bag count, weight, and optional bulk-versus-bag cost. Use it to test different inputs quickly, compare outcomes, and understand the main factors behind the result before moving on to related tools or deeper guidance.
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Landscape material order helper Estimate gravel, mulch, soil, sand, or decomposed granite by area and
depth, then compare bulk quantity, bag count, weight, and optional
delivered-versus-bagged cost.
Unit system
Pea Gravel
Typical installed depth: 2 to 3 in
Best for: paths, decorative borders, drainage layers
Material order
0.93 cu yd
25 cu ft | 0.71 m³
for 100 sq ft at
3 in depth.
Weight
1.25 tons
Metric weight
1,133.98 kg
Bag count
13
Coverage per cu yd
108 sq ft
Bulk cost
—
Bagged cost
—
Order note A cubic yard covers about 108
square feet at this depth. Typical installed depth for pea gravel
is 2 to 3 in.
Gravel, mulch, and soil calculator for cubic yards, bag count, weight, and bulk ordering
Use this gravel, mulch, and soil calculator to turn area and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet, bag count, and approximate delivered weight. It is useful when you need to compare bulk ordering with bagged material, check whether a trailer or delivery load can handle the weight, and avoid overbuying decorative stone, mulch, topsoil, or sand.
What this gravel, mulch, and soil calculator covers
The calculator starts with the main landscape-material question: how much volume is needed to cover a measured area at the installed depth you want. From that one geometry step it reports cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic metres, bag count, and estimated weight for common materials such as pea gravel, crushed stone, mulch, topsoil, sand, and decomposed granite.
That makes the page useful for more than one buying workflow. Bulk suppliers usually quote cubic yards and sometimes tons. Retail stores often force the same job into bag count and bag price. A practical landscape calculator should therefore show both worlds in one place instead of making the user convert the order twice.
How the volume and weight are calculated
Volume comes from area multiplied by depth. In imperial mode, the calculator works from square feet and feet of depth, then converts cubic feet into cubic yards by dividing by 27 because one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. Metric mode uses square metres and metric depth first, then translates the same result into cubic metres and cubic yards for supplier-style ordering.
Weight is an estimate rather than a scale ticket. Each material uses a representative pounds-per-cubic-yard density so the tool can translate the required volume into pounds, tons, and kilograms. Real delivered weight can still shift with moisture, fines content, compaction, and supplier blend, which is why the number is most useful for planning rather than for legal load certification.
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) x depth (ft)
The basic landscape-material volume formula in imperial units.
Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27
One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. This is the specific relationship the calculator applies when building the result.
Estimated weight = cubic yards x density per cubic yard
Material-specific density turns volume into an approximate order weight.
Worked examples for mulch and gravel orders
A 10 ft by 10 ft bed covered to 3 inches deep needs about 25 cubic feet of material, which is roughly 0.93 cubic yards. If you buy 2-cubic-foot bags, that same order becomes 13 bags after rounding up. For mulch, the volume is the main challenge because the weight stays relatively low. For dense aggregate such as crushed stone or gravel, the same cubic-yard figure can become a hauling problem surprisingly quickly.
That is why bag count and weight should be read together. A decorative gravel order may look modest in cubic yards but still be too heavy for a small trailer or pickup payload. Mulch is the opposite: the volume looks large, but the weight remains much lighter. The calculator keeps both visible so the order can be planned as a supplier, transport, and installation decision rather than only as a geometry exercise.
What the calculator does not know
The page does not know your supplier's exact product blend, moisture level, settlement allowance, compaction method, or how much material will be lost to slope, spill, edge spread, or uneven grade. Those are the reasons contractors often add a practical waste margin or round up to the next easy delivery quantity.
It also does not replace a project-specific build-up spec. Driveway base stone, decorative river rock, mulch in planting beds, lawn topdressing, and paver bedding can all use different installed depths even when the material label looks familiar. Use the depth guidance as a planning reference, then confirm the actual target depth against the exact landscape task before ordering.
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. That is why landscape calculators often start with area in square feet and depth in feet, then divide by 27 to convert the result into cubic yards for supplier ordering.
Why does the same volume of gravel weigh more than mulch?
Because the materials have very different densities. Gravel and crushed stone pack far more mass into the same cubic yard than shredded wood mulch does. The volume can be identical while the hauling weight is completely different, which is why the weight estimate matters for truck, trailer, and delivery planning.
Should I buy bulk material or bags?
That depends on the volume, the bag size, the supplier price, and how easily you can move the material once it arrives. Bulk orders often become cheaper at larger volumes, but bags can be more convenient for small jobs or locations with difficult access. The calculator compares both when you provide optional prices.
What depth should I use for mulch, gravel, or topsoil?
There is no single universal depth. Decorative mulch is often planned at around 2 to 3 inches, many decorative gravels at around 2 to 3 inches, and some compacted stone bases at 3 to 4 inches or more depending on the application. Topsoil depth varies even more by whether you are topdressing, filling low spots, or building a new bed. Use the tool's guidance as a planning start, then confirm the actual build-up for your project.
