About this Gravel & Mulch
Bulk landscaping materials like gravel, mulch, and sand are typically sold by the cubic yard (volume) or the ton (weight). Determining the correct amount requires converting your surface area measurements into these bulk units. This calculator handles the density conversions for you.
Who this calculator is for
- Homeowners ordering gravel, mulch, topsoil, or sand for yard projects.
- Landscapers converting bed or driveway dimensions into cubic-yard orders.
- DIY builders estimating both delivered bulk volume and store-bought bag counts.
When to use it
- Estimate gravel for a driveway, path, or drainage layer.
- Calculate mulch or compost volume for landscape beds and planting areas.
- Translate the same dimensions into cubic yards, estimated tons, and bag counts.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the Length and Width of your project area.
- Decide on the Depth (thickness) of the layer.
- Select the Material (Gravel, Mulch, Sand, Soil).
- The result provides Cubic Yards (for ordering bulk) and Tons (for delivery).
Key assumptions
- Length and width are measured in feet, while depth is measured in inches.
- All dimensions must be positive and the selected density preset is used as a planning estimate.
- Bag counts assume standard 2 cubic foot bags and do not include compaction losses.
Accuracy and testing
Review formula sources, default test cases, assumptions, unit handling, rounding rules, and changelog for this calculator.
How this calculator works
Inputs explained
Depth
How thick the layer should be. 3 inches is standard for weed control with mulch. 4-6 inches is common for gravel driveways.
Material
Different materials have vastly different weights. A yard of mulch is light; a yard of gravel is very heavy.
Understanding your results
Example scenarios
Driveway
20x10 ft, 4 inches deep. Gravel. Volume: ~2.5 yards. Weight: ~3.5 tons.
Garden Bed
10x5 ft, 3 inches deep. Mulch. Volume: ~0.5 yards. Weight: ~0.15 tons.
Key Features
- Weight estimation in Tons
- Volume in Cubic Yards
- Bag count estimator
- Density presets
Tips & Best Practices
- Materials compact over time. Order 10% extra for gravel to account for settling.
- A standard pickup truck can hold about 1-2 cubic yards of mulch, but only about 0.5 cubic yards of heavy gravel due to weight limits.
- For weird shapes, break the area into smaller rectangles and sum them up.
Glossary of Terms
- Cubic Yard
- A volume measurement equal to a cube 3ft x 3ft x 3ft (27 cubic feet).
- Aggregate
- A broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, and recycled concrete.
- Compaction
- The compression of material, reducing its volume.