Landscape Material Calculator

One yard of mulch covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep; one yard of rock or soil covers about 81 sq ft at 4 inches. Pick your material below — mulch, rock, decomposed granite, compost, topsoil, sand or gravel — and get cubic yards, tons and bags.

Material

The default depth updates to suit each material.

Area & depth

Shape

Length

Width

Depth (in)

Waste / extra (%)

A small buffer for settling and spillage.

Mulch (bark) needed

2.04cu yd

≈ 0.61 tons (incl. 10% waste).

Weight

0.61 tons

Cubic feet

55 cu ft

Bags

Sold as: 2 cu ft bags or bulk by the cubic yard.

Show the math

area = 200 sq ft

cubic yards = 1.85 → +10% = 2.04 cu yd

tons = cu yd × density = 0.61

How to use this calculator

Choose your material; the depth default updates to a sensible value.
Select the shape and enter the area dimensions.
Adjust the depth if needed.
Add a waste allowance.
Read cubic yards, tons, bags and the "how it's sold" note.

Formula

volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (ft)
cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × material density

Worked example

Mulch over 108 sq ft, 3 inches deep:

volume = 108 × 0.25 = 27 cu ft

cubic yards = 27 ÷ 27 = 1 cu yd (≈ 0.3 tons)

Landscape material calculator diagram with material depth over an area

Reference tables

Recommended depth and density by material

Material	Typical depth	Tons / cu yd
Mulch (bark)	3"	0.3
River rock	2–3"	1.35
Decomposed granite	3"	1.3
Compost	2"	0.6
Topsoil	4"	1.1
Sand	2"	1.35
Gravel	3"	1.4
Crushed stone	3"	1.4

Densities are nominal and vary with moisture; confirm tonnage with your supplier.

Tips & buying advice

Mulch 2–3 inches deep suppresses weeds and holds moisture; deeper can suffocate roots.
Buying in bulk by the yard is usually far cheaper than bags above about 1 cubic yard.
Refresh bark mulch yearly; it breaks down. Rock and decomposed granite last for years.
River rock and gravel are heavy — confirm tonnage and delivery access for large orders.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a yard of mulch cover?

One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches. Spread it 2–3 inches thick for effective weed control and moisture retention.

How deep should mulch be?

Two to three inches is ideal. That is enough to block light to weeds and slow evaporation without smothering plant roots. Keep mulch a couple of inches away from trunks and stems.

How many bags of mulch are in a yard?

A cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2-cubic-foot mulch (27 ÷ 2). Round up to 14 bags to match one bulk yard. Above a yard or two, bulk delivery is usually cheaper.

Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bulk?

Yes, almost always above about one cubic yard. Bulk mulch by the yard typically costs a fraction of the equivalent bagged price, though bags are convenient for small beds and easier to transport.

How much does river rock weigh per yard?

River rock weighs roughly 1.35 tons (about 2,700 lb) per cubic yard. Confirm the exact figure with your supplier, as stone size and moisture change the weight.

Built and maintained by Sikander Mushtaq. Formulas checked against landscape-supply density tables, USDA references. See our methodology and sources, or learn about YardageMath.

Last updated: October 7, 2026

Estimates only. Confirm quantities with your supplier or contractor. Read the full disclaimer.