CALCULATORS

HOW MUCH
DO YOU NEED?

Measure the bed, pick the depth, get the load size. Add 10–15% for settling and waste.

HOW TO MEASURE
  1. 1
    Measure the bed at its widest points.

    Run a tape along the longest edge for the length, then across at the widest spot for the width. Round up to the nearest foot.

  2. 2
    Pick a depth.

    2 inches is the minimum to suppress weeds. 3 inches is standard for flower beds and around trees. 4 inches for fresh installs that haven't settled.

  3. 3
    Plug it in.

    Enter length × width × depth above. The calculator does the cubic-yard math; we round up to a number we can actually scoop.

IRREGULAR SHAPES

For a curving bed, break it into 2–3 rectangles or one big rectangle minus a corner, then add the pieces together. Don't bother being surgical — mulch packs down, and 10% extra is cheap insurance.

Full guide with worked examples: How much mulch do I need?

MULCH CALCULATOR

Most flower beds want 2–4 inches deep. Around trees, 3 inches is plenty.

0.0cubic yards
0.0with 12% overage
0.0≈ tons (rough)
BROWSE MULCH ↗

The formulas

  • Mulch, soil and compost: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. 100 sq ft at 3 inches is 0.93 cubic yards.
  • Rock and gravel: cubic yards × the material's tons per yard = tons. The gravel calculator lists the weight it uses for each stone.
  • Sod: square feet ÷ 450 = pallets. Add 5% for trimming and round up to a full pallet.

Add 10 to 15% for settling and waste on bulk material. Each calculator above has a coverage table, depth guidance and links to the matching products.