Mulch, Soil & Gravel Calculator

Volume, bags and cost for a garden bed, path or driveway top-up.

Volume needed
Cubic feet
Bags needed
Estimated cost
Volumes are geometric estimates for a flat, evenly filled area. Buy 5-10% extra to allow for uneven ground and settling.
How this works
Volume = Length × Width × Depth Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27 Bags = Cubic feet ÷ bag size in cubic feet
  • 2-3 inches of mulch depth is standard for most garden beds — more than 4 inches can smother roots and encourage rot against stems.
  • Bulk (by the cubic yard) is cheaper than bagged material once you need more than about 2-3 cubic yards.
  • A standard bag of mulch or soil is commonly 2 cubic feet; gravel bags are often smaller — check the bag before buying.

Currency

  • Amounts follow the currency selected above.
How deep should mulch be?

2-3 inches for most garden beds is standard. Go no deeper than 4 inches, and keep mulch a few inches back from plant stems and tree trunks to avoid trapping moisture against them.

Should I buy bagged or bulk material?

Bulk (delivered by the cubic yard) is usually cheaper past roughly 2-3 cubic yards. For smaller areas, bagged material avoids having a large pile delivered and is easier to store the rest of.

Does this work for gravel and topsoil too, not just mulch?

Yes — the volume formula is the same for any bulk material; only the bag size and price per cubic yard change, both of which you can adjust above.

Keep going
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