Garden and landscaping calculators
How many bags, yards or tons do you need? Mulch, soil, gravel, pavers, seed and sod, so you order once.
What are you working on?
Pick your project — each one opens its own calculator, then the next steps.
- Mulching bedsBags or cubic yards for beds, tree rings and corner beds, and whether bulk or bags is cheaper once delivery is counted.
- Raised bedsSoil for one or more rectangular or round raised beds — bags to buy, cubic feet, cost and a DIY mix breakdown.
- Gravel path or baseTons of gravel or crushed stone for paths, pads and patios, with compaction, bags and what to ask the yard for.
- Paver patioPavers, base gravel, bedding and joint sand, dig depth and edge restraint for a patio or walkway.
- Retaining wallBlocks, caps, buried courses, pad and drainage stone, drain pipe and adhesive for a segmental retaining wall.
- Topsoil & fillCubic yards and approximate tons of topsoil for new lawns, beds and leveling, with an allowance for settling.
- New or patchy lawnPounds and bags of seed for a new lawn, overseeding or winter ryegrass, by grass type.
- Feeding the lawnPounds of product for a target nitrogen rate, from the N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphate, potash) numbers on the bag — or solve for phosphate or potash, or plan a whole season.
Every calculator, by project
Mulch, soil & compost 8
Gravel, stone & sand 6
Lawn 7
Planting 3
Patios & walls 3
Water 4
Edging, fabric & posts 3
Popular sizes, already worked out
- How much mulch for a 10×10 area0.93 cu yd
- How much mulch for 1,000 sq ft9.26 cu yd
- How much soil for a 4×8 raised bed32.3 cu ft
- How much soil for a 4×4 raised bed16.1 cu ft
- How much gravel for a 12×16 shed base6.13 tons
- How much gravel for a 12×50 driveway32.4 tons
- How many pavers for a 10×10 patio495 pavers
- How many pavers for a 12×16 patio564 pavers
- How much grass seed for 1,000 sq ft of tall fescue6 lb
- How much sod for 1,000 sq ft1,050 sq ft
- How much water from 1 inch of rain on a 1,000 sq ft roof623 gal
- How much pea gravel for a 10×10 patio1.4 tons
- How many bags of concrete per 4×4 fence post3 bags
- How much potting soil for a 12 inch pot0.48 cu ft
Guides
- Mulch coverage chart: how far a yard or a bag goes, and how deep to spread itHow many square feet a cubic yard or a 1.5, 2 or 3 cu ft bag of mulch covers at 1–4 in deep, how deep to spread it, and how to measure odd beds.
- Bagged vs bulk mulch: how to find your break-even pointBulk mulch is cheaper per yard, but delivery fees and minimums change the math. How to work out the break-even point for your job with your own prices.
- How to fill a raised bed cheaply (without ruining it)Cut the cost of filling raised beds: bulk soil, log layers, lasagna layering and cardboard — what works, what settles, and what to avoid.
- Gravel types for driveways and paths: #57, crusher run, pea gravel and moreWhat #57 stone, crusher run, #3, #411, pea gravel, river rock and decomposed granite are, what each is used for, and how much a yard weighs.
- How to lay a paver patio, step by stepPlan, excavate, build a compacted gravel base, screed sand, lay and cut pavers, and lock the joints. Materials list and quantities for a DIY paver patio.
- Overseeding vs sod: which fixes your lawn better?Compare overseeding, seeding a new lawn and laying sod: cost, time to a usable lawn, best season, water needs and when each one makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how much mulch, soil or gravel I need?
Multiply the area by the depth. In US units: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. In metric, m² × depth in metres gives m³. The calculators here do that, then convert to bags or tons.
How many bags are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 9 bags of 3 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft. One cubic metre is 1,000 litres, or 20 bags of 50 L. See How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard for more sizes.
How many tons is a yard of gravel?
Typically about 1.4 tons for common gravels, around 1.5 for dense-grade base, and 1 to 1.4 tons for topsoil depending on moisture. Materials vary, so the calculators let you enter your supplier’s own density.
How deep should mulch be?
About 2–3 in for established beds and 3–4 in for new beds or weed suppression. Deeper than roughly 4 in can keep soil too wet. Keep it pulled back from trunks and stems.
Are the results exact?
They are planning estimates. Real beds aren’t perfect rectangles, materials settle and compact, and densities and seeding rates vary by product. Round up, and check the label or ask your supplier for their numbers.
Do the calculators work in metric?
Yes. Every calculator has a US / metric toggle, and results convert between cubic yards and m³, tons and tonnes, gallons and litres — including densities and application rates you type in.
Can I add up several beds or areas?
Yes. Work out each bed, press Add to project list, and the list totals the yards, bags, tons and cost for everything from the same calculator. You can export it as a CSV or print it to take to the supplier.
Why does each result show “How we got this”?
So you can check the math against your own numbers before you spend money. It shows the area, the volume and the conversion to bags or tons, using the values you entered.