Landscaping & Outdoor Calculators

Ordering the Right Amount of Material

Bulk landscape materials like mulch, gravel, and topsoil are sold by the cubic yard. Getting the quantity right on the first order saves money and avoids extra delivery fees, which can run $50-$100 per trip. One cubic yard covers about 162 square feet at 2 inches deep or 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. For larger projects these numbers add up fast. A 20x30 foot patio base needing 4 inches of gravel requires about 7.4 cubic yards, which weighs roughly 11 tons.

Bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per yard than buying bagged material from a home improvement store. A cubic yard of bulk mulch typically costs $25-$50 delivered, while the same volume in bags could cost $100 or more. Bagged materials make sense for small areas under 50 square feet or when you need precise control over placement. If you need to measure an irregularly shaped bed first, our area and volume calculators can help you get an accurate square footage before ordering.

Always round up your material estimate by 5-10% to account for settling, spillage, and uneven ground. Compacted gravel loses about 15% of its volume compared to loose fill, so factor that into driveway and walkway projects. If your outdoor project also involves building a retaining wall, pergola, or deck frame, check our construction and framing calculators for lumber and structural material estimates.