Landscaping Calculators
Estimate mulch, topsoil, gravel, or paver quantities for any outdoor project. Enter your area dimensions and get results in cubic yards, tons, or bags.
Available Calculators
Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, tons, and bags of gravel for driveways, paths, and patios…
CALCULATE →Mulch Calculator
Calculate how many cubic yards or bags of mulch you need for any garden bed or l…
CALCULATE →Topsoil Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and bag count for any topsoil project. Raised beds, lawn t…
CALCULATE →Sand Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, tons, and bags of sand for sandboxes, paver bases, and fi…
CALCULATE →Driveway Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel for your driveway.…
CALCULATE →Pea Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and tons of pea gravel for paths, patios, and drainage.…
CALCULATE →Gravel Patio Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel for a patio with cost estimates.…
CALCULATE →How Much Mulch Do I Need?
Find how many cubic yards and bags of mulch you need for your yard or beds.…
CALCULATE →Mulch Bags Calculator
Calculate how many 2 cu ft bags of mulch you need for any garden bed.…
CALCULATE →Topsoil Calculator in Cubic Yards
Convert square footage to cubic yards of topsoil with settling allowance and cos…
CALCULATE →How Much Topsoil Do I Need?
Find exact cubic yards and bag count for gardens, lawns, raised beds, and backfi…
CALCULATE →Topsoil Calculator for Raised Beds
Calculate cubic yards and bags of topsoil to fill any raised garden bed size.…
CALCULATE →How Much Sand Do I Need
Calculate exactly how much sand you need for any project. Enter dimensions and d…
CALCULATE →Sandbox Sand Calculator
Calculate how many bags or cubic yards of play sand you need for a sandbox. Ente…
CALCULATE →Paver Sand Calculator
Calculate bedding sand and joint sand for paver patios and walkways. Get cubic y…
CALCULATE →Tips for Landscaping Material Estimates
Measure area first
For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and add the totals together. Our square footage calculator can help.
Depth matters most
A 2-inch depth vs 3-inch depth is a 50% difference in material. Measure existing depth before reordering to avoid over-buying.
Order 10% extra
All our calculators add a 10% waste factor automatically. This covers settling, edges, and uneven ground. Standard practice for any landscaping job.
How to Estimate Landscaping Materials
Landscaping material calculations all follow the same core formula: cubic yards = (length × width × depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Length and width in feet, depth converted from inches to feet, multiplied together for cubic feet, then divided by 27 for cubic yards. Suppliers deliver mulch, topsoil, gravel, and sand by the cubic yard, so that is the number to call in with.
Depth is where most people go wrong. Two inches of mulch uses half the material of four inches. For new garden beds, 3 inches is the standard. For existing beds being refreshed, measure the current depth first; you may only need 1 to 2 inches to top up. Always measure before ordering; it is the single biggest factor in whether you over-buy.
For irregular shapes and curved beds, break the area into rectangles. Measure the longest and widest points of each section and treat it as a rectangle. This overestimates slightly, which is acceptable since you need the 10% settling buffer anyway. Add the cubic yard totals from each section and order the combined amount from your supplier.
Common Landscaping Projects
Garden Beds and Tree Rings
Apply 3 inches of mulch for new beds, 2 inches to top up existing ones. Never apply more than 4 inches around plants; excess mulch traps moisture against stems and invites crown rot. Pull mulch back 2 to 3 inches from tree trunks. The mulch calculator gives cubic yards and 2-cubic-foot bag count.
Raised Beds and Lawn Leveling
A 4×8 raised bed at 12 inches deep needs about 1.3 cubic yards of topsoil mix. Order screened topsoil with compost blended in; it drains better than pure topsoil and feeds plants through the season. For lawn leveling, 1 inch or less per application; more than 1.5 inches smothers grass. Use the topsoil calculator for any depth.
Gravel Paths and Drainage
Garden paths need 2 to 3 inches of gravel for foot traffic. French drains typically use 3/4-inch clean stone at 18 inches deep in the trench. Pea gravel and river rock are popular for decorative paths; use crushed stone for driveways and areas with vehicle traffic. The gravel calculator handles all gravel types with weight-corrected ton estimates.
Paver Patios and Sand Bases
Pavers require a 4-inch compacted aggregate base and exactly 1 inch of coarse bedding sand. The 1-inch sand limit is a firm rule: thicker beds let pavers flex and sink unevenly. After setting pavers, sweep polymeric sand into joints and activate with water. Use the sand calculator to estimate both the bedding and joint sand separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of mulch do I need?
One cubic yard of mulch covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, or 81 square feet at 4 inches. For a 20×10 bed at 3 inches, you need about 2.2 cubic yards including the 10% settling factor. Enter your specific dimensions in the mulch calculator for an exact result and bag count.
What is the difference between topsoil and compost?
Topsoil is the upper layer of native soil; it provides the mineral base that plants root into. Compost is decomposed organic matter that improves drainage, feeds soil biology, and adds nutrients. For raised beds and garden preparation, a 50/50 blend of screened topsoil and compost is the standard recommendation. Pure topsoil without compost is often too dense for raised beds; pure compost without topsoil does not hold moisture well enough.
When is bulk delivery better than bags?
For mulch and topsoil, the break-even point is roughly 2 cubic yards. Below that, bags from a hardware store are often more convenient than scheduling a delivery with a minimum order. Above 2 cubic yards, bulk delivery from a landscape supplier is almost always cheaper per cubic yard. Gravel follows the same rule; the crossover is around 1 cubic yard because gravel is denser and bags are heavier to haul.