Soil & Mulch Calculator
Estimate how much topsoil, mulch, gravel, compost, or sand you need for one bed or a full landscaping project. Switch units, add multiple areas, and compare bags versus bulk delivery.
Garden beds & lawns
Beds and Areas
Add multiple areas to total landscaping material for the whole project.
Area
0 sq ft
0 m²
Volume
0 cu yd
0 cu ft
Volume
0 m³
Area 1
Project Totals
Combined topsoil needed across 1 area.
Cubic Yards
0
Cubic Feet
0
Cubic Meters
0
1 cu ft Bags
0
2 cu ft Bags
0
Estimated Bulk Cost
$0
Total coverage: 0 sq ft (0 m²) at 0 in depth.
How to Use
- Choose your material type and whether you want to work in feet and inches or meters and centimeters.
- Add one or more garden beds or landscape areas, then select Rectangle, Circle, or L-Shape for each one.
- Enter the dimensions and depth to calculate the total material volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters.
- Optional: add a bulk price per cubic yard to estimate delivery cost, and use the bag totals to compare store-bought options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inches of mulch do I need?
For most flower beds and around trees, 2 to 4 inches of mulch is common. Two inches is often enough for a light refresh, while 3 to 4 inches offers better weed suppression and moisture retention without piling mulch too high.
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn or garden bed?
It depends on how deep you want the new soil layer to be. Lawn leveling may only need a thin layer, while new garden beds often use 4 to 8 inches or more. This calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters automatically.
Should I buy bags or order bulk soil or mulch?
Small projects are often easier with bags, especially if you need under 1 cubic yard. For larger landscape jobs, bulk delivery is usually cheaper per cubic yard. Use the calculator's bag estimates and bulk price field to compare both options quickly.
Can I total multiple garden beds at once?
Yes. Multi-area mode lets you add separate beds, tree rings, or landscape sections and see the combined material requirement for the full project.
What is one cubic yard in bagged material?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. That means it takes about 27 one-cubic-foot bags or about 14 two-cubic-foot bags to equal one cubic yard, depending on how much you round up.