Bulk Material Calculator
Figure out how many cubic yards (and tons) of mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, or stone your project needs.
Recommended for mulch: 3 in
Your Estimate
Enter your area and depth to see cubic yards.
Estimates only. Densities vary with moisture and compaction. Not sure? Call us at 724-650-8418 and we will help you size your order.
Coverage Cheat Sheet: What 1 Cubic Yard Covers
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which spreads out to 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Every time you double the depth, the coverage halves. Bookmark this table for quick estimates.
| Depth | 1 yd³ covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | Topdressing lawns, thin decorative layers |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | Refreshing existing mulch, small decorative stone |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | New mulch beds, river rock over fabric |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | New topsoil for lawns, driveway gravel top-up |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | New driveway base, deep bed prep |
| 8" | 40 sq ft | Heavy-duty driveway or pad base |
Rule of thumb: at the standard 3 inch mulch depth, every 100 square feet of bed needs just under 1 cubic yard.
Grass Seed: Pounds per 1,000 Square Feet
Seed is figured by weight per 1,000 square feet, not by volume. Measure your lawn area, divide by 1,000, and multiply by the rate below. New lawns on bare soil take roughly double the overseeding rate.
| Mix | Blend | New lawn | Overseeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Mix | 60% perennial ryegrass, 20% Kentucky bluegrass, 20% creeping red fescue | 5 lbs / 1,000 sq ft | 2.5 lbs / 1,000 sq ft |
| Shade Mix | 60% creeping red fescue, 30% perennial ryegrass, 10% Kentucky bluegrass | 5 lbs / 1,000 sq ft | 2.5 lbs / 1,000 sq ft |
| Sunny Mix | 50% annual ryegrass, 30% rye, 20% chewings fescue | 6 lbs / 1,000 sq ft | 3 lbs / 1,000 sq ft |
Example: a 5,000 sq ft new lawn with our Penn State Mix needs about 25 lbs of seed. Pair it with screened topsoil and straw cover for best germination.
Polymeric Sand Coverage
Polymeric sand fills the joints between pavers, so coverage depends on joint width and paver size rather than area alone. As a planning figure, one 50 lb bag covers roughly 50 to 100 square feet of standard pavers with narrow joints, and closer to 30 to 50 square feet for wider joints or irregular flagstone.
Finishing a new patio? Browse our hardscape products for pavers and wall block, and use limestone sand for the bedding layer underneath.
How to Measure Your Area
Rectangles: measure length and width in feet and multiply. A 20 x 10 ft bed is 200 square feet.
Circles: measure across the widest point (diameter), halve it, then use radius x radius x 3.14. A 10 ft wide tree ring is about 78 square feet.
Irregular beds: break the shape into rectangles and rough circles, calculate each, and add them together. When in doubt, round up; leftover material always finds a use, but a second delivery costs more than a little extra the first time.
Depth matters most: going from 2 to 3 inches increases material needs by 50 percent. Pick the depth for the job: 3 inches for new mulch beds, 4 to 6 inches for new topsoil, 6 to 8 inches compacted for a new gravel driveway base.
Bulk vs. Bagged
One cubic yard equals about 13.5 of the standard 2 cubic foot bags you find at a big box store. Once your project needs more than a few bags, bulk wins on price, quality, and hassle: no pallets, no plastic, and material that has not been sitting sealed in a bag all season.
Bagged still makes sense for very small touch-ups or when you have no spot for a delivered pile. For everything else, buy by the yard. See our full bulk product lineup.
Bulk Delivery in Beaver County and Northern Pittsburgh
Our supply yard is at 3805 Ohio River Blvd in Baden, PA, and we deliver bulk mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, and stone throughout Beaver County and the northern Pittsburgh area. Know your yardage from the calculator above? Call us with the number and your zip code and we will get you a delivered price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many yards of topsoil do I need?
Multiply your area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12, then divide by 27. For example, a 1,000 sq ft lawn at 4 inches deep needs about 12.3 cubic yards of topsoil. Use the calculator above and it does the math for you, including an approximate weight in tons.
How many tons of gravel do I need?
First find cubic yards (square feet x depth in inches / 12 / 27), then multiply by the material density. Crushed limestone runs about 1.45 tons per cubic yard loose, so a 10 x 50 ft driveway topped with 4 inches of 2A limestone needs about 6.2 cubic yards, or roughly 9 tons.
How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 square feet at a 3 inch depth, 162 square feet at 2 inches, or 324 square feet at 1 inch. For new beds we recommend 3 inches; for an annual refresh over existing mulch, 2 inches is usually plenty.
Is bulk material cheaper than bagged?
Almost always, once you need more than about a half yard. One cubic yard equals roughly 13.5 standard 2 cubic foot bags, and bulk pricing per yard is typically well below the equivalent stack of bags. Bulk also means less plastic waste and no loading carts at a big box store.
Do you deliver bulk materials?
Yes. Elements Landscape Supply delivers mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, and stone throughout Beaver County and the northern Pittsburgh area from our yard at 3805 Ohio River Blvd in Baden, PA. You can also pick up at the yard; we load your truck or trailer.
How much does a yard of limestone weigh?
Crushed limestone weighs about 2,800 to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard loose, or roughly 1.45 tons. Compacted 2A modified limestone in place is denser. Topsoil runs about 1.1 tons per loose yard and sand about 1.35 tons, which is why we quote both yards and tons in the calculator.