Accurate to 0.01 Cubic Yards

Never buy too much
dirt again.

Q: How many bags of mulch equal one cubic yard?

A standard bag of mulch typically contains 2 cubic feet. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, it takes 13.5 bags to equal one cubic yard.

Q: Should I order by the ton or by the yard?

Mulch and compost are sold by the cubic yard (volume), while gravel and sand are often sold by the ton (weight). Use our calculator to convert cubic yards to tons.

Q: How deep should my topsoil or mulch be?

Mulch should be 2 to 3 inches deep. New topsoil for lawns should be 4 to 6 inches deep. Raised garden beds need 8 to 12 inches of soil.

Whether you're building a patio, filling a garden bed, or spreading mulch, calculate exactly how much material you need in seconds.

Calculate Your Project

Project Diagram

Total Volume Needed

1.85Cubic Yards

or 50 cubic feet

Estimated Weight

2.04Tons

Based on General Dirt density

How to Calculate Cubic Yards

Most landscaping materials (topsoil, mulch, compost, gravel) are sold by the cubic yard. To find out how many cubic yards you need, you use a simple geometric formula.

Volume (Cubic Yards) = (Length × Width × Depth) / 27

Step 1: Measure your length and width in feet.
Step 2: Measure your depth in inches, and divide by 12 to convert it to feet.
Step 3: Multiply Length × Width × Depth to get Cubic Feet.
Step 4: Divide Cubic Feet by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard).

Material Densities & Weight

If you are picking up material in a truck, knowing the volume isn't enough—you need to know the weight. Different materials have vastly different densities. For example, wet topsoil is incredibly heavy, while cedar mulch is very light.

Material	Estimated Weight per Cubic Yard
Topsoil (Dry)	~2,000 lbs (1.0 Tons)
Topsoil (Wet)	~2,600 lbs (1.3 Tons)
Gravel / River Rock	~2,800 lbs (1.4 Tons)
Wood Mulch	~700 lbs (0.35 Tons)
Sand	~2,600 lbs (1.3 Tons)

Common Landscaping Projects

Standard Raised Bed

4ft × 8ft × 1ft deep

1.19 Cubic Yards

Perfect for topsoil and compost mixes.

Foundation Planting

20ft × 3ft × 3in deep

0.56 Cubic Yards

Ideal for wood mulch to retain moisture.

Gravel Driveway

20ft × 40ft × 4in deep

9.88 Cubic Yards

Requires approx. 13.8 tons of gravel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bags of mulch equal one cubic yard?▼

A standard bag of mulch bought from a big box store typically contains 2 cubic feet of material. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, it takes 13.5 bags of mulch to equal one cubic yard. If you are buying 3 cubic foot bags, it takes 9 bags to make a yard.

Should I order by the ton or by the yard?▼

Landscaping yards generally sell light materials (like mulch or compost) by the cubic yard, which is a measurement of volume. However, heavy materials like gravel, sand, and stone are often sold by the ton, which is a measurement of weight. Our calculator converts your volume into estimated tons automatically to help you order correctly.

How deep should my topsoil or mulch be?▼

For mulch, a depth of 2 to 3 inches is recommended to suppress weeds and retain moisture. For a new lawn or topsoil, you typically need 4 to 6 inches of healthy soil. For a raised garden bed, you will need 8 to 12 inches of a soil/compost mix to support root growth.

Never buy too much dirt again.