Mulch, Topsoil & Turf Quantity Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, tons, retail bag counts, and sod rolls needed for garden mulch, topsoil, gravel, and lawn turf.
Covers 300 sq ft at 3 inches depth (includes 10% settling allowance).
Retail Bag Equivalents (If Purchasing Bags)
🌿 Professional Landscaping Depth Guide
For weed suppression and moisture retention, 3 inches (7.5 cm) is the gold standard for bark mulch. Anything shallower allows sunlight to trigger weed germination; anything deeper than 4 inches suffocates shallow plant root zones.
About this tool
How to use it
- Pick Imperial (feet / inches) or Metric (meters / cm) from the Units selector — every dimension field and label switches to match, and existing values convert automatically.
- Select your landscaping material (Bark Mulch, Topsoil, Gravel/Stone, or Lawn Turf).
- Choose your garden shape: Rectangular (Length × Width), Circular (Diameter), or direct total square footage.
- Specify your target depth (typically 2 to 3 inches for mulch/gravel, 6 to 10 inches for raised beds).
- Read your total bulk cubic yards, metric cubic meters, and equivalent retail bag count.
Why it matters
Ordering bulk materials by eye always leads to either a giant leftover mountain blocking your driveway or running short halfway through a weekend landscaping project. Calculating precise cubic volume with a 10% compaction allowance saves delivery fees and eliminates waste.
When to use it
Use this calculator when mulching flowerbeds in the spring, building raised garden beds, installing decorative gravel pathways, or re-sodding a lawn with fresh turf rolls.
Good to know
1 Cubic Yard = 27 Cubic Feet = 0.765 Cubic Meters. A standard 2.0 cu ft bag of mulch covers 8 square feet at 3 inches depth. One cubic yard is equal to 13.5 bags (2.0 cu ft each).
Common questions
How many 2.0 cu ft bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
There are exactly 13.5 bags (2.0 cubic feet each) in 1 cubic yard. Because you cannot purchase half a bag, round up to 14 bags per cubic yard.
What size is a standard roll of lawn turf (sod)?
In both North America and the UK, standard turf is harvested in rolls measuring 1 square yard (9 square feet), typically 16 inches wide by 81 inches long (or 0.6m × 1.64m).
How deep should I lay garden mulch?
3 inches (7.5 cm) is the optimal depth for organic woodchips or bark mulch. Thinner layers permit sunlight to germinate weed seeds, while layers exceeding 4 inches trap moisture against stems and suffocate shallow feeder roots.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Gravel and crushed limestone weigh approximately 2,600 to 2,800 lbs per cubic yard (1.3 to 1.4 US tons / 1.25 metric tonnes). Ensure your vehicle or pickup bed can legally carry this payload.