Landscape Material Calculator
Work out how much gravel, topsoil, mulch, sand, or concrete you need in cubic yards, tons, and bags. Enter your measurements in feet and inches and take the result to your supplier.
Material calculator
Gravel paths and beds: at least 2 in, or 4 in if stones or pavers are set into it. Driveways and paver bases: use the depth in your plans.
The sizes below are an example. Type over them with your own.
Allowances
Leave blank to use 10%. Allows for settling into the base and spillage. Clean stone compacts very little.
Leave blank to use 1.40 tons per cubic yard (typical range 1.25 to 1.55). Use your supplier's number if you have it.
Cost (optional)
The cost is your price times the rounded amount in the result, plus delivery. Tax and minimum-order charges are not included.
- Area
- 200 sq ft
- Volume
- 66.7 cu ft2.47 cu yd, before the extra
- Extra
- 10%Adds 6.7 cu ft
- Order quantity
- 2.72 cu yd73.3 cu ft
- Weight
- 3.80 tonsAbout 7,600 lb, at 1.40 tons per cu yd (preset: crushed stone)
- Bags
- 147 bags0.5 cu ft bag, rounded up
Pick a calculator
Each material has its own page with the formula, a worked example, depth guidance, and the sources behind its numbers.
- Gravel calculatorCubic yards, tons, and bags of gravel for any area.
- Topsoil calculatorTopsoil for lawns, gardens, and raised beds, by the yard, ton, or bag.
- Mulch calculatorCubic yards and bags of mulch at 2 to 3 inches deep.
- Sand calculatorPlay, mason, and paver sand in tons, yards, and 50 lb bags.
- Concrete calculatorSlabs, footings, and holes in cubic yards and 40 to 90 lb bags.
- Cubic yard calculatorLength × width × depth to cubic yards, with a coverage chart.
How the calculators work
All the calculators share one engine. It takes your measurements and runs four steps, and you can follow each step in the breakdown under the result.
1. Volume: area × depth gives cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
2. Extra: add a percentage for settling, waste, and compaction.
3. Weight: cubic yards × tons per cubic yard.
4. Bags and cost: cubic feet ÷ cubic feet per bag, rounded up; quantity × your price + delivery.
Cubic yards and tons are shown to two decimals. Bags are always rounded up, because you cannot buy part of a bag. Prices are never filled in for you: enter the quote you were given.
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Extra | Bag sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.40 | 10% | 0.5 cu ft |
| Topsoil | 1.30 | 10% | 0.75 cu ft, 1 cu ft, 1.5 cu ft, 2 cu ft |
| Mulch | not estimated | 10% | 1 cu ft, 1.5 cu ft, 2 cu ft |
| Sand | 1.40 | 10% | 0.5 cu ft |
| Concrete | not estimated | 10% | 40 lb, 50 lb, 60 lb, 80 lb, 90 lb |
Tons per cubic yard are for loose material as delivered and change with the type you pick. Every default can be overridden in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which calculator should I use?
Use the one that matches what you are buying. The gravel calculator suits paths, driveways, and patio bases. The topsoil calculator suits lawns, gardens, and raised beds, and the mulch calculator suits planting beds. Use the sand calculator for sandboxes and paver bedding, and the concrete calculator for slabs, footings, and post holes. For any other material, the cubic yard calculator gives the plain volume.
What do I need to measure?
Measure the length and width of the area in feet and inches, and decide how deep the material will go, usually in inches. For a round bed, measure across the widest part and choose Circle. For an irregular area, split it into rectangles and circles and add each one with Add another area. If you already know the square footage, choose Known area.
Why does the calculator add extra material?
Real jobs use more than the exact volume. Loose material settles, ground is uneven, and some is spilled. The default is 10% in the material calculators, except crusher run, which compacts tightly and gets 25%. The cubic yard calculator adds nothing unless you ask. These are planning allowances, not measured values, so lower or raise the percentage to suit your site.
Should I order by the yard, the ton, or the bag?
Order in the unit your supplier uses to price the material. Suppliers often sell gravel and sand by the ton and mulch and topsoil by the cubic yard, and retail stores sell bags, but practice varies, so ask. The calculators show all three so you can compare quotes. Enter a price per ton, per cubic yard, or per bag to see an estimated total.
Are the weights and bag sizes exact?
No. Weights depend on the stone, the moisture, and the source, and bag sizes differ by brand. The calculators use typical values from published sources, show them next to each result, and let you replace them with the figures your supplier gives you.